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A pilgrimage to Mexico to find Sto. Niqo de Atocha
Source: Inquirer
Author: Josephine Darang
Date: 1999-12-08
 
SINCE fashion designer Nolie Hans started a devotion to the

Sto. Niqo de Atocha in 1989, he had always wanted to go on a

pilgrimage to Zacatecas, Mexico where one could find the

Sanctuary of the Holy Child of Atocha, specifically in a small

place called Plateros in the town of Fresnillo.



It was also in 1989 that Nolie's mother Teodora Hans contracted

cancer and almost at the same time an antique dealer offered

Nolie a 2-ft image of the Sto. Niqo de Atocha sitting down.



Nolie prayed to the Sto. Niqo to prolong the life of his mother

and promised to propagate the devotion to the Sto. Niqo de

Atocha in the Philippines. And so it was that Tita Doray went

on to live seven more years defying the doctors' findings that

she would only have six months more to live.



Journey to Mexico



The chance to fly to Mexico came when Ben Farrales decided to

go on the third week of November asking Nolie and Jay Carino

to make the trip with him. Mang Ben went ahead to Los Angeles

where he would meet the two friends.



Nolie and Jay arrived at the L.A. airport where Noel Hermogeno

met them. He drove them around the city first before checking

them into the flight bound for Mexico.



After one night in Guadalupe where the three pilgrims visited

the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and stayed for the night

in a hotel, they took the flight to Zacatecas the following

morning. A car was hired to take them to Fresnillo where they

could find Plateros.



A 200-year-old baroque church



The Sanctuary of the Holy Child of Atocha is more than 200

years old and was designed in a baroque style.



One hall of the church called The Miracle Hall is the repository

of letters written to the Holy Child, asking for a favor or

thanking Him for favors granted.



The walls are pasted with letters, even tiny clothes of children,

tiny shoes and other memorabilia indicating miracles that

happened before.



The main altar contains a life-sized image of Our Lady of Atocha

on the left holding the Child Jesus: a tiny chair containing the

Holy Child in the middle and an image of St. Expeditus on the

right. It is said that the Josephine Fathers used to run the

Sanctuary.



Walking on their knees



According to Nolie, some pilgrims walk on their knees when

they approach the steps leading to the church and still kneeling

as they go inside. The devotion is spread throughout Mexico

and even in Madrid, Spain.



Legend of the devotion



This legend was gathered from the devotion that sprang in

Madrid. During the time when the Moors were persecuting the

Christians, men would be arrested and thrown in jail.



One night, the Child Jesus, dressed like a pilgrim and enthroned

in Our Lady of Atocha Church in Madrid, slipped down from the

lap of His Mother and left the church.



He went to the prison bringing with Him bread and water and

fed the hungry men there. The image is portrayed with a

pilgrim's hat on his head, holding fruit or food in his right hand

and a wooden jug of water that is hanging on a cane in His left

hand. The Child Jesus here looks much older.



Holy Child in Mexico



The Holy Child of Atocha worshipped in Plateros, Fresnillo,

Mexico is portrayed differently with the things He is holding in

His hands interchanged. And He looks very much younger.

However, the devotion to Him is strong, especially when people

are begging Him for good health. Miracles recorded in the

Sanctuary tells of miraculous healings of sick people.



Novenas available



Those who want to have free novenas to Sto. Niqo de Atocha

can write me, but please enclose a self-addressed stamped

envelope for easier mailing.



Nolie Hans had novenas printed. His image of the Sto. Niqo de

Atocha will be exhibited on the ''Fiesta del Sto. Niqo 2000'' from

Jan. 20-29 at the PNB on Roxas Boulevard.



Feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe



THE FEAST of Our Lady of Guadalupe falls on Dec. 12 in all

churches all over the world. But since Dec. 12 falls on a Sunday

in Advent, Oor Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Guadalupe Nuevo

is holding the fiesta on Dec. 11 with a High Mass at 12 nn with

Bishop Tom Yalung as main celebrant.



Parish priest Msgr. Daniel Sta. Maria is asking for clothes,

medicines and food for the poor to be brought on fiesta day as a

special offering to Our Lady.



Happy feast day, Our Lady of Guadalupe.
 

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