Monday, October 27, 2014

Unusual Ex Votos ...

"Doña Josefa Peres Maldonado offers this monument of her gratitude to the Most Holy Christ of Encino, venerated in the Church of Triana, and to the Most Holy Virgin Mary of El Pueblo, in perpetual memory of the benefit, due to her piety, that resulted from an operation that took place on 25th of April 1777, when the surgeon Don Pedro Maillé removed six cancerous tumors from her breast, in the presence of the gentlemen and ladies depicted on this canvas. Although the wound closed perfectly on the 25th of July 1777, other accidents befell her from which she died on Friday, the 5th of September, at 3 p.m., with clear signs of the patronage of the Holy Image and of her salvation." - Translation of what is written.

In thanksgiving for favors granted.

Ex Votos are often small to shoe box size paintings on tin depicting a miracle or answer to prayer, created and offered in thanksgiving to a particular saint.  Such paintings are left at shrines and altars in churches - especially in Mexico and Latin America.  Canon Law (Can. 1234 - 2) states that ex votos and such must be kept and maintained by the shrines.

I found a few even more 'unusual' ex votos on Tumblr ...





To see more and read the translations go here.



5 comments:

  1. Wow. All of that since the synod.

    What?

    ReplyDelete
  2. At Fatima they had body parts in wax for ex-voto offerings. Very unusual. What's with the guys in their underware?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That should be underwear. My phone like Nan's is a drunken illiterate:-).

      Delete
    2. Better not ask. Haha!

      Delete
  3. Will translate, since Father asked.

    The picture of the swim suit clad men refers to one man giving thanks to St. Sebastian for his "having met Javier in Cancun and thus finding friendship and a mutual understanding of each other while having a wonderful time at the beach "knowing I am gay."

    "He has accepted to come and live with me and our happiness, without any fear of society because such is the way of life."

    Interesting but why San Sebastian?

    ReplyDelete


Please comment with charity and avoid ad hominem attacks. I exercise the right to delete comments I find inappropriate. If you use your real name there is a better chance your comment will stay put.