Catholics celebrate the Lord of Miracles

Intermountain Catholic

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Father Javier Virgen, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Magna, leads the procession for The Lord of Miracles. The ?Hermandad de el Señor de los Milagros' participated in the event. IC photo/Laura Vallejo

MAGNA — On Oct. 28 at our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Magna, hundreds of Peruvian Catholics gathered to celebrate the Lord of Miracles (in Spanish, El Señor de los Milagros de Nazarenas), which is a painted image of Jesus Christ that is venerated in Lima, Peru.

This celebration is the main Catholic festivity in Peru and one of the biggest processions around the world. The name ‘Lord of the Miracles’ originated after a massive earthquake in Lima in the 18th century, which destroyed most of the city but left the mural standing.

"For the first time ever the diocese is participating in the organization and in the celebration," said Fernando Silva, a member of the ‘Hermandad De El Señor de los Milagros,’ a group devoted to the Lord of Miracles.

Before this year this celebration in Utah was tied to a regular Mass, but "this year the diocese gave us the opportunity to celebrate a Mass especially for our Lord of Miracles," said Silva. "Everyone here has arrived to celebrate him."

Among those at the celebration was David Utrilla, Honorary Consul of Peru.

"This celebration is not only a religious celebration, it is a cultural celebration," Utrilla said. "It is something that all Peru celebrates. I am very happy that the Peruvian community can gather and have a Mass and a procession to celebrate the Lord. This is an opportunity to gather and get united for a good cause, which ultimately is to follow our Lord Jesus Christ."

Men, women and children dressed in purple tunics gathered outside the church, surrounding a big carriage that carried the image of the Lord of the Miracles – a painting showing Christ enduring the pain of the crucifixion. Above the cross is the Holy Spirit and God the Father. Below and to the right of Jesus is his mother, the Virgin Mary, with her heart pierced by a metaphorical sword of sorrow. To her right, at the foot of the cross, is St. Mary Magdalene. The image was painted by a black slave in the 17th century.

"All our family has been very devoted" to the Lord of Miracles, said Freddy Robles, a Hermandad member who participated in the celebration with his wife and daughter. "It’s an honor to participate in this celebration. This is a very sacred event for us. We have been believers of our Christ of Peru; it’s part of our culture and of our Catholic faith."

Every October, hundreds of thousands of faithful from all races and economic backgrounds celebrate the Lord of Miracles in a religious procession through the streets of Lima. The boulevards are dressed in purple to celebrate the Lord of Miracles on Oct. 18, 19 and 28 during the annual procession through the streets of Lima.

"More than 200 cities in the world celebrate this festivity and beginning this year we can say that Utah is celebrating it too," said Silva.

In Utah about 350 people from West Valley City, Orem and Salt Lake City participate in the Hermandad.

"It’s an honor, a great joy and a pleasure to be able to celebrate my roots and heritage here in Utah," said Piero Macu, part of the Hermandad.

At the Mass, Father Javier Virgen, Our Lady of Lourdes pastor, welcomed everyone, saying that the parish was open to them.

"This day Christ calls us to walk together so we welcome this celebration with great joy," said Fr. Virgen.