Behold Thy Mother

A Publication of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Ghost

Winter 2012 Volume 14 Issue 40

Veni Sancte Spiritus per Mariam! Missionary Sisters of the Holy Ghost La Conquistadora P.O. Box 589 • Veradale, WA 99037 the Dear Readers, It took 14 years and 40 issues before Our Lady introduced herself to us in Lovely Lady the sweetest little depiction that I have ever seen. dressed in Blue

The Lady Conqueror, La Conquistadora, what an awesome, powerful title, Lovely Lady dressed in blue which should inspire in us such great confidence when we pray to her. Teach me how to pray! God was just your little Boy, Small in stature, yet mighty as a conqueror, La Conquistadora is a Madonna tell me what to say! you will fall in love with, for she represents to us everything we have ever known and loved about the Mother of God. Did you lift Him up, sometimes Gently, on your knee? Why, you may ask, was it not widely known that this little replica of our did you sing to Him, the way Mother, was the first in our native land of the United States of America? Mother does to me? Why? Well, I believe that she has saved herself for a time in our country that we would need Mary more than ever before. ...Do you really think He cares If I tell Him things-- 2012 is a year that God is giving us the chance, as Catholics, to begin Can He hear me if I speak low? again, and La Conquistadora, the “Lady Conqueror”, is just the strength Does He understand me now? we need to lean on, in our quest to bring this country back to God. Known Tell me, for you know! by three titles, this great lady will be the instrument needed for victory over sin in America. Lovely Lady dressed in blue, Teach me how to pray! As the Lady of the Assumption, she will help us to think of our heavenly God was just your little boy, home and realize that the way we live on this earth, helps or hinders us in And, you know the way. eternity. As the Immaculate Conception, she will crush the serpent’s head and help us to lead this nation to purity of heart, mind and body. As the Lady of the Rosary, she will gain for us the graces we need, as a country, Morning Offering Intentions for: to turn our lives around and begin leading God-fearing, God-loving lives, (In the spirit of Holy Slavery) January: Sancification of home free from every kind of sin. She will lead voters away from approving O Jesus, through the Immaculate laws that cry out to heaven for vengeance, such as those of abortion and and family, truly Catholic Heart of Mary, in reparation for my marriages. homosexual marriages. sins, I offer Thee all my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this February: The spread of the true La Conquistadora will give you the strength and courage that you never day and of my entire life, for all the thought you had, to vote with a convicted conscience. She, along with intentions of Thy Most Sacred Catholic Faith through the spread prayerful, dedicated voters, will once again turn this great Nation, to Heart, in union with the Holy of devotion to Mary. “One Nation Under God”, in the true meaning of that phrase. Sacrifice of the Mass validly and licitly offered this day throughout March: An increase in pious and My prayers and the prayers of our Sisters are with you. We thank you for the world, the infinite graces and holy religious vocations. your prayers and for your support. merits thereof to be dispensed in In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, accord with Thy Divine Will for the April: For all of the missionary salvation of souls, the conversion endeavors throughout the world of sinners, and the special intention and unity among the members of recommended for this month: Behold Thy Mother is published three times a year. Subscription rates are the Church Militant. $16.00 per year within the United States. Foreign rates, $22.00 per year. 2 3 connected with every impor- tant phase and crisis of our history. The people would La feel drawn to it by the very Conquistadora thought that their grandpar- Queen ents and great-grandparents, all the way back to 1620, had of seen and handled and hon- the ored this very same portrait of Our Lord’s Mother. Southwest People from all over the country would go to view it By in its shrine at Concord or Fray Angelico Chavez, O.F.M. Lexington or in a special Lady Chapel built for it in St. Anthony Messenger Boston’s Cathedral or St. Our Lady, known as May, 1948 Patrick’s in New York. The La Conquistadora, Catholic papers would “The Lady-Conqueror”, was brought to the New World always be referring to it, and by Spanish Colonists. Suppose the Pilgrim Fa- Bunker Hill, and again later all kinds of “shots” of the thers had been Catholics and on when the Declaration of beloved image would appear background of more than had brought a statue of Our Independence was drafted from time to time in the three centuries, that one Lady with them to enthrone and the Liberty Bell was illustrated Catholic maga- cannot for long refer to the in the first church they built. being rung. Suppose still zines. charming figure as “it.” Suppose that they had taken further that George Wash- There is such a statue in the Every year, on the Feast of it out in procession as the ington had carried it across American Southwest. It did Corpus Christi, Vespers are Patroness of their Sodality the Delaware and had not come with any settlers of sung in her honor and then during those cold months referred his victory at the Atlantic seaboard, of she is carried in a mile-long when there was so much Yorktown to Mary’s interces- course, but with the earlier procession from the Cathe- suffering from the weather sion. And generations later, Spanish colonists of New dral to a chapel outside of and from fear of Indian imagine Abraham Lincoln Mexico. It may be seen in the town. There an early morn- attacks, and that it had stood proclaiming days of prayer north Lady Chapel of the ing Mass is sung every day on the main table of that first for her intercession during Cathedral in Santa Fe, a for a whole week, at which Thanksgiving Day in New the most crucial period of the lovely little image, about the faithful attend in large England. Then suppose Civil War. thirty inches tall, very throngs. On the following that, some generations later That statue would be the queenly in her real-gold dress Sunday Vespers are chanted the descendants of those most prized relic of our and her mantle of old blue at the chapel, and again she people had borne it in pro- Nations’s birth and develop- brocade. So precious is she is borne back in procession to cession during the Battle of ment for being so intimately in her historical and religious her ancient place at the 4 5 Cathedral. Her name is “Our the first “conquistadors” or Lady of the Rosary,” but for conquerors of the land long three hundred years the before the Pilgrims landed in faithful have also called her New England. familiarly “La Conquistadora,” The first Spanish colony which means “The Lady- arrived in New Mexico in the Conqueror.” Some translate year 1600. The Spanish this long word as “Our Lady families formed the little of Victory,” but this is not town of San Gabriel on a correct, for Our Lady of pretty spot where the head- Victory is a distinct title and waters of the Rio Grande and devotion of Our Lady with the Chama River meet, while head quarters and a shrine in the Franciscan missionaries Paris, France, while repro- spread out among the Indian ductions of that statue are to Pueblos, from the neighbor- be found all over the world. ing ones of San Juan, Santa But there is only one La Clara, and San Ildefonso, to Sierra de la Sangre de Cristo Conquistadora, and she got others hundreds of miles “The Mountains of the Blood of Christ” this name from early Catholic away. Those were naturally settlers of the Southwest hard times, far more severe because she had come with than the English Pilgrims ever experienced when they ment. Unlike San Gabriel, it landed at Plymouth many was also situated well away years later. By 1610 the from any Indian village. The Spanish Governor had snow-capped range directly founded the Villa or Royal behind the new City of the Town of Santa Fe (the Holy Holy Faith came to be known Faith) as the permanent as the Sierra de la Sangre de Capital of “the Kingdom of Cristo -- “The Mountains of the New Mexico,” as the the Blood of Christ.” colony was called for centu- In this first and oldest ries. Santa Fe stood on a Capital in the United States plateau seven thousand feet was founded perhaps the above sea-level, some thirty first and oldest Parish in the miles south of San Gabriel, country, not merely a chapel overlooking the vast expanses or a “Mission” as in earlier or of mountains and plains and later Spanish settlements, but deserts, and more centrally a real canonical parish, to La Conquistadora, being borne in procession. located than the first settle- serve the inhabitants of the 6 7 the beautiful mountains for a plaster over which thick backdrop. In front of it gold-leaf was laid; this bright everything took place, from gold surface was then military parades and market- painted over to give a gold- ing with Indian tribes, to blue red brocade effect on her religious processions and tunic and mantle, while the popular fiestas. face and hands were done in The man responsible for natural colors. this building was Father Not only were the Span- Alonso de Benavides, the iards delighted with her, but new Custos or head of the the Indians as well. Even Franciscans, who had arrived wild Apache chiefs who in December 1625. He was came from the far eastern one of those men who think prairies to barter with the big and like to do things big, Spanish, stopped in the as we say, and was also church to admire her and inclined to exaggerate in Capital. The title of it was inquired about the truths of Apache chiefs writing reports. The large Our Lady of the Assumption. our Holy Faith. The Span- visited new parish church of Santa The original church was not iards in Santa Fe itself, and “The Lady Conqueror”, Fe was one of the many great an imposing one, being those who were scattered in and inquired things that he did accomplish meant to be just a temporary haciendas, had formed a about the truths during his brief three year structure until the royal Confraternity or Sodality of of our Holy Faith. government buildings and term. With rare foresight he Our Lady before or after the the homes were completed. also worked for the establish- statue arrived, without doubt gods. One of them in 1626, In the eyes of the Franciscans ment of a bishopric in Santa the first Blessed Virgin Mary went so far as to hang a man the work of the Indian Fe for the better progress of Sodality in this country. on trumped-up charges of Missions was of first impor- the great Mission program Things indeed looked rosy for sedition simply because it tance, so that in many which was soon after ham- all concerned and especially irked him to see the good Indian Pueblos really impos- pered by meddlesome and for the conversion of all the man so active in the affairs of ing Mission churches were impious Governors. In this, Indians in the vast surround- the Church and the Sodality. being built, some of which however, he failed. He also ing territory. But evil influ- Father Benavides himself have survived to this day as had the happy foresight, a ences were already at work wrote of a Governor who objects of wonder to those little thing then, but impor- to bring ruin and sorrow. sent some rival Indians to who behold them. It was tant to us now, to bring a Some of the Governors in murder those Apache chief- not until 1626 that the first beautiful little statue of Our those times were fiendishly tains who had shown so permanent parish church Lady of the Assumption for her impious men, fortune-seekers much interest in the Faith on was begun in Santa Fe, parish church in the Capital. who finding themselves far beholding the statue of the facing the large two-block She was carved out of wood, away from higher authority, Assumption. Plaza from the east and with coated with a thin layer of looked on themselves as little Matters went from bad to 8 9 Invasion by Apache and Navajo Indians

worse with each year. But all years a change took place the while the common people with regard to the devotion were calling their Sodality were put on her, as also a clung to their Faith and their to Our Lady among the and beloved statue “Our little Infant Jesus on her left devotion to Our Lady in spite children of those pioneers, Lady of the Rosary, La arm, a Rosary on her right of so many hindrances and not a lessening of their devo- Conquistadora”. It was hand, and a gilt-silver crown scandals. The King’s court in tion, but a curious transfor- during this period, between on her head! It was the style Spain and even the Viceroy’s mation in the names and 1620 and 1680, that a big to dress statues this way in in Mexico City, were too far titles that they used. The change also took place in the those days, and she really did away to learn about the second generation of Span- image itself. In order to have look beautiful dressed to abuses in time and correct iards now called the Santa Fe her dressed with real clothes represent Our Lady of the them; many a time that a bad parish “Our Lady of the to represent “Our Lady of Rosary. But without the Governor was being tried for Conception” instead of “Our the Rosary,” someone cut off dress and mantle she surely his evil deeds, his successor in Lady of the Assumption”. the shoulders and gouged presented a sad spectacle as Santa Fe was already doing Already around 1656-59, the out the chest down to the compared with her original the same thing or worse. Sodality was referred to as waist, and then put the carved glory. There were also years of that of “Our Lady of the carved hands on moveable The year 1680 was a heart- famine and of invasions by Rosary”. And by 1684, some arms, jointed at the elbows breaking one for the fierce Apaches and Navajos of these people who were still and shoulders like those of a Franciscan Fathers and the on both Pueblo Indians and living, as well as their chil- puppet. Then dresses and colonists. The troubles Spanish folk. During these dren and grandchildren, mantles of precious materials brewed up by evil men for 10 11 eighty years finally broke the Indians. However, in into flames, like an explosive spite of all their hardships Governor and fire that burns a house to the the people of Santa Fe did ground before the inmates not abandon their Lady- Captain-General can do anything to stop it. Conqueror. With their old Don Diego de Vargas The Pueblo Indians had people and their wounded, managed to unite at last in with their women and their He carried a battle- an effort to exterminate the children, they also had saved flag with a picture of Spaniards. On August 10, their Patroness and brought Our Lady on it. they killed twenty-one her along. The exiles spent Franciscans in various Mis- thirteen full years of hunger The Governor sions and several unpro- and discouragement, of referred to tected Spanish families at having to fight other wild La Conquistadora their ranches. They laid tribes down there, but all the as “the Queen and siege to Santa Fe for several while they kept up their days, finally crowding the Sodality and devotion of Patroness of the defenders into the large their Lady of the Rosary, Kingdom and of its courtyard of the government their Conquistadora who had Villa of the houses; they burnt and tore come to New Mexico in the Holy Faith”. down the parish church days of their conqueror which Father Benavides had grandparents. Some of the built. After many days of Sodality’s records have where their forefathers had who returned, naturally, suffering and continuous recently been discovered, died and were buried. Their was La Conquistadora, whom skirmishing, the Spaniards and these tell us how annual leader was a great soldier the Governor referred to as managed to break through dues were paid, except in and a real Catholic gentle- “the Queen and Patroness of the lines, the ranks of soldiers extra hard years, by all and man, the Governor and the Kingdom and of its Villa fighting as they went, pro- sundry, the high-born as Captain-General Don Diego of the Holy Faith.” Writing tecting their women and well as the humble, even the de Vargas. He had peace- to the Viceroy, he vowed children in their midst. After Mission friars themselves. fully recieved the submission more than once that the first a long and arduous journey Individuals donated new of the Pueblo Indians the year thing he intended to do was of more than three hundred dresses and mantles of before under the patronage of to rebuild her church and miles southward the refugees precious cloth, like Oriental Our Lady whose picture he personally place on a new reached the district of el Paso silks and gold lame, while carried on the battle-flag. throne “Our Lady of the del Norte, across the Rio Masses were said twice a Now he returned trium- Conquest, who is the one Grande from the present city week for both the living and phantly with the families of that was rescued from the of El Paso, Texas. There they the deceased members. colonists and all their house- fury of the savages.” joined other refugees from At last, in 1693, the New hold goods, their livestock All was well when the the ranches south of Santa Fe Mexicans returned to the and their farming imple- columns of soldiers and who had escaped the fury of severe but enchanting land ments. And among those settlers and lumbering ox- 12 13 carts reached Santa Fe. On away had prayed meanwhile church, and the people still feast. They really believed December 16, the Governor to their beloved Lady of the venerated her under the they were doing something and the friars took formal Rosary who had been same long title. But now altogether new when in fact possession in the great Plaza brought as the Governor they thought that she was these very things had been with the ceremonial raising of himself wrote, “enclosed in a called “the Lady-Conqueror” started by their forefathers a large cross while the Litany wagon.” becasue she had helped more than a century and a of Our Lady and the Te Deum The Spaniards had so Governor de Vargas re- half before, and they had were chanted. Then the much to do after this victory, conquer Santa Fe in 1693! In lasted almost that long! Sad Spaniards encamped outside and were hampered by other fact, they believed that he to say, it was at this period the city walls because the rebellions and by Apache was the one who first that someone mercilessly Governor had given the invasions, that the parish brought the statue to New hacked her head so that she Tanos Indians a few days to church of Santa Fe was not Mexico! That’s what hap- might wear a wig of human gather their belongings and rebuilt until twenty-two pens when things are not hair. move back to their Pueblos. years later. This time it was written down, or when We can realize, then, how Suddenly the weather grew dedicated in honor of St. records are lost. We know of old this statue and the bitter cold and flurries of Francis of Assisi. But the this state of affairs from people’s devotion were even snow started to descend from records show that the Rosary documents relating to this at this late period, if we the mountains. Seeing this, Sodality countinued as year of 1770, when condi- consider that it was six years the Indians barricaded them- vigorous as ever. The large tions had become almost before the Declaration of selves inside the walls and north chapel of the new intolerable for the people; not Independence and the found- taunted the Spaniards to church of St. Francis was only were times bad for ing of the California Missions leave immediately or else die built by the Sodality and was farmers and stock-raisers by Father Junipero Serra. of cold and starvation. Then known there after as the because of drought, but the By the end of that century it was that the Governor “Chapel of Our Lady of the Apaches, Comanches, and the Blessed Mother’s devotees ordered his soldiers to attack. Rosary, La Conquistadora.” Navajos had become so bold had decided to build a special The battle lasted for a whole Good Governor de Vargas as to raid the settlements chapel of Our Lady of the day, the Spaniards having to had died in 1704 during an year after year, and often Rosary on the spot where the fight other Indians who had Apache campaign, and so he several times in one year. No civilian camp had been arrived and attacked them did not have the pleasure of re-inforcements were being during the battle of Santa Fe, from the rear. At dawn the placing the image on her sent by the Spanish Govern- thinking that de Vargas had next day, the troops suc- new throne. ment which had its own vowed to build a chapel there ceeded in scaling the walls Then something mysterious troubles at home. So the when he really meant to and soon the battle flag with took place between the years pious people turned to God. rebuild the parish church Our Lady on it was planted 1726 and 1770. The Sodality In that year they solemnly where Our lady had been on the highest building; this not only died away, but it chose their Conquistadora as enthroned since 1626. Fa- flag had been all through the was completely forgotten by Patroness of the Kingdom, ther Francisco de Hozio, the fight with the soldiers, while the latter year. Only the founded a Sodality, under Franciscan chaplain of the their women and children in statue remained in its chapel her name and patronage, military garrison in Santa Fe, civilian camp a good distance attached to the parish and inaugurated a yearly got the permission from the 14 15 Conquistadora Chapel built in 1714

The mountains that tower behind the chapel, are called the Mountains of the Blood of Christ. “Sangre de Cristo Mountains”

Bishop of Durango in 1806, with the Cathedral, and her are quite old. They will be a crushing his head with her and the chapel, now called “summer country-house” on century and a half old. heel through the Passion and the Rosario, was finished the the outskirts of town which La Conquistadora is not a Death of her Son on the following year. At this time, she visits every year. Virgin of miracles and Cross. Appropriately, the or shortly before, began the The second Sodality, the prophecies as in many mountains towering behind double procession and one of 1770, died away famous shrines throughout her throne are the mountains novena of Masses at the around 1846 when the the world. She is the tradi- of the Blood of Christ. Rosario chapel which have United States took over this tional symbol of a true been observed every summer territory, but the devotion of Catholic people’s undying  to this day. When the famed the people continued as devotion to the Mother of Archbishop Lamy built his strong as it had been for two God in her Assumption and La Conquistadora beautiful stone Cathedral hundred years. The beautiful Immaculate Conception as around the old adobe parish summer processions were the Queen of Heaven and patroness church, he left the 1714 never interrupted; although their own Queen, the Lady of Conquistadora Chapel stand- they are relatively modern Conqueror who not only The first and oldest ing, and some years later it when compared with the came with their conqueror- canonical parish in was connected with the new coming of the statue to New fore-bears and upheld their the United States. Cathedral to form its north Mexico and the founding of spirits through wars and also chapel. So now Our Lady of the original Sodality, still, pestilence and famine, but The first the Rosary has two chapels - when compared with other also long before that con- Blessed Virgin Mary the ancient one connected American institutions, they quered our chief Enemy by Sodality in this country. 16 17 Southwest with the Spanish Lord and I know, and a lady, pioneers who called them- even a wooden one, will not selves conquistadors. Such tell her exact age. All I can La Conquistadora an endearing term cannot be say is that long, long ago, put into English without there was a big willow tree in America’s losing their color and flavor. a far away land. On the Oldest Madonna “The Lady Conqueror,” for meadow all around it example, is quite literal, but bloomed flowers of every Excerpts taken from: much too cold. The most color and shade, and the The Autobiography correct rendering is “Our willow wept because it was of an Lady of the Conquest,” but, always green, while the Ancient Statue while it carries all the color of meadow wore dresses of by Spanish arms, it does not every hue as the seasons Fray Angelico Chavez convey the warmth of Span- varied. Then one day a man ish hearts. So you might as came and chopped the tree to well call me, as you would the ground. Both the bole spell it, “La Con-kees-tah-do- and the branches were to be rah.” cut into smaller parts, and Did you ever wonder what it procession, and not a day has Nor do I mind being com- these split into smaller pieces, would be like to sit at Our passed without someone pared with actresses, for, like and all would be burned to Lady’s feet and gaze up into breathing a tender prayer to one, I have played the part of ashes in somebody’s hearth. her eyes and listen to her soft the Mother of God in my Mary in different glorious This was the end, the willow voice? Have you ever won- presence. This not only roles. In the begining I was knew, and it was just as well, dered what she would say? makes me the oldest repre- “Our Lady of the Assump- for this was the usual fate of Well, sit back and enjoy this sentation of Mary in this tion,” then for a short time trees. wonderful story as it is told by nation, but also one which “The Immaculate Concep- Every bit of the willow Fray Angelico Chavez, as if has continually received daily tion,” and finally “Our Lady went into the fire when the Our Lady is telling you it homage as an unworthy of the Rosary.” In these titles pieces had dried out, all herself. proxy of heaven’s Queen. I was regarded by my people execpt one. And this was I am a small wooden statue Since the day I came, I have as Queen of New Mexico and because another man picked of the Blessed Virgin Mary, never been consigned to an of Santa Fe, but all the while, up a small section of trunk dressed in real clothes of silk attic or a storeroom; I have as with a beloved actress, I and took it home, to his little and gold braid like a Spanish always been in the midst of have been popluarly known shop filled with chisels and Queen of old, and I have my people, in their joys as as La Conquistadora. mallets and unfinished been in this country for more well as in their sorrows -- yes, As I said at the start, I have statues. From the moment he than three hundred and even in battle. been in this country for more saw it, the wood carver liked twenty-five years. Every My name for centuries has than three centuries and a this piece of wood for being single year of that long span, been “La Conquistadora.” quarter, but I am much older. so light and firm, as well as I have been taken out in This is because I came to the Exactly how old, only the flawless and easy to carve. 18 19 cesses who once brightened the halls and courts of the Alhambra -- truly, the dress also of a Lady of Palestine. My two slender hands were held folded before my breast. My light brown tresses showed slightly above my From the willow, he clear brow and again, re- carved vealed themselves at the sides Our Lady. of my neck underneath the ears. With my head raised a little, faintly smiling, I gazed heavenward in expectation. On seeing me complete for the first time, the good sculptor’s wife recognized “How beautiful! Then one day I was no breasts, and was caught in me right away and ex- How precious! longer a short willow load, folds under my bent forearm. claimed: “How beautiful! It is the Assumption of but a beautiful woman The other edge fell behind How precious! It is the holy Mary into heaven!” standing on a graceful my right ear to cover my Assumption of holy Mary pedistal. Beneath my feet entire back, and then was burning candle or a bunch of into heaven!” was a cloud from which brought over my right thigh home-grown flowers, the If ever you should come to peered the chubby faces of and slightly bent knee to be quiet presence of an aged Santa Fe, you will find me in three happy cherubs. tucked with the other folded woman or a young man my same old Conquistadors My long gown showed edge beneath my left arm. praying. If there are bou- chapel in the Cathedral of St. only at the hem in front and All the garments were first quets of more costly blooms Francis of Assisi. It is not a for a short space above my covered with velvet-smooth about, you can be sure that sumptuous shrine, but the left foot, and at the narrow plaster, which was painted some happy bride left me the venerable adobe walls and sleeves of my entire right arm crimson and then covered flowers from her wedding the curved round ceiling are and up to the elbow of my with gold leaf. On this that morning. napped with soft rich memo- left arm. The rest was cov- golden surface were traced You will now find me ries. The dust beneath the ered by an Oriental scarf tiny scrolled and ribbed dressed in the attire of an flooring is all that remains of wrapped across my breast, designs, arabesques, in red ancient Spanish Queen, as in many, who centuries ago, and by a large gracefully orange, and blue. It was a the days of Ana Robledo and paid me living tribute and in folded mantle that dropped unique dress, not the classic Diego de Vargas, though death keep me faithful lightly from my head down gown and mantle usually what the color of my mantle company. From the living to my feet. One edge of the seen on pictures and statues may be at the moment I you will find tokens of large veil fell over my left ear of the Virgin, but rather the cannot say, for I have sev- humble remembrance, like a onto my left shoulder and costume of Moorish prin- eral. The favorite one is of a 20 21 are sad. But my wistful look with antique rococo molding is also the result of so much to go with my ancient self damage and poor repair and the style of my garments, down the centuries. Several it is really a modern work of years ago a fine symapthetic precision underneath; it is an artist of Santa Fe was asked eight-sided block of white to restore my features, but he pine that was cut and fitted merely repaired the parts together, and purposely, in that were crumbling and the humming shops of the repainted my face exactly as atomic city of Los Alamos, it appeared at the time; for not long after the first bombs he rightly felt that I ought went off at Alamogordo, not to look according to his then at Hiroshima and own fancy, but as the years Nagasaki. For, as I myself pale blue brocade, made dered in front; they were and my people had brought am, allegorically speaking, a from what was left of a two- made for me last year in the me to look. And I myself prayer to her who crushed hundred-year-old cope, and German city of Speyer. might as well reflect in my the infernal serpent’s head, the dress that best goes with Also changeable without expression the many sorrows so this pedestal under my feet it is one of white and silver notice are the Sevillian lace that my people have bravely represents a continual prayer figured silk embroidered mantilla that covers my hair undergone these many long that Mary may hold van- with minute roses, and and is held in place by a centuries, and also appear as quished underfoot, whatever bordered with a brilliant gold crown, and the earrings though I am always thinking there may be of evil in atomic braid that never tarnishes, showing beneath it among of my loving knights and power. though centuries old; this my dark locks. Or I might courtiers who are no more. Every year, on a late Sun- dress once belonged to an have my little Infant Jesus on But at the same time I day afternoon in June, as my image of the Virgin in Guate- my left arm, which is fastened manage to keep the trium- procession winds slowly mala. Or I may be wearing a to my mantle, or both my phant air of that Lady down the narrow streets of reddish mantle of Chinese hands might be empty save concieved without sin being Santa Fe to my chapel at figured silk edged with for a rosary of gold colored borne aloft into eternal glory. Rosario, I can make out the bright silver lace; this is one beads. Neither age nor mishandling atomic city against the blue of my old mantles that My imperial crown is of have erased the dignity and mountain flank, a thin white survived: it was done over stamped brass, but hand- poise that belong to a blur that turns into a neck- again and strengthened with some, with imitation stones. Conquistadora, a Lady who lace of lights as darkness a new sturdy lining. My This is for everyday wear. A has conquered. falls. And the soft Spanish newest and costliest dress precious one of filigree is now Beneath my feet may also syllables of the Ave Maria go and mantle are of cloth-of- being made for me. be seen a small gold-painted up to heaven pleading in a gold brocade, with golden My expression, you will pedestal, which replaces the haunting old Spanish cords and tassels on the back note, is somewhat sad. Al- one sawn off and lost long melody: “Santa and a family crest embroi- most all Spanish Madonnas ago. Though it is covered Maria...ruega por nosotros 22 23 “I would love to visit their great La Conquistadora skyscraping cities someday, and go into Known by Three Titles, Beloved to All Catholics, their precious churches, from the coast of the Atlantic all the way across this Our Lady of the Assumption, Our Lady of the vast continent to the pacific shore.” Conception, and Our Lady of the Rosary

The Assumption was proclaimed a Dogma on August 15, 1950 by Pope Pius XII pecadores...” and dear to me. Borne high on the slender For this reason, and be- shoulders of white-veiled cause my old kingdom is a girls, I see in my bearers, and sister state of all the other in the thousands of persons United States of North Pope Piux IX forming my entourage, the America, whose faithful proclaimed same people who took me out Catholic subjects long ago the Dogma of the year after year these three placed themselves under the centuries and a quarter. Like Immaculate mantle of Mary Immaculate, Conception their forefathers, they bear I would love to visit their on uninterrupted witness to my great skyscraping cities December 8, glory, and I bear witness to someday, and go into their 1854 their ancestry. And now, precious churches, from the besides them, there are other coast of the Atlantic all the people here, new faces that way across this vast conti- Our Lady increase with every year. gave the Rosary nent to the pacific shore. They are those who revered to the Mother of God in other Now that men can travel St. Dominic places, and whose forebears overland in as many days as in 1214, rendered her homage in other it look oxcarts months, now and lands. Having come to live in that they can outfly the eagle proclaimed herself “The Lady of this my land and love it as and even the eagles own the Rosary” their home, they also love its scream, this wishful dream at Fatima in 1917 Queen. They, too, are mine could well come true. 24 25 God pronounced in the terrestrial being beaten and punished by a paradise against the serpent. It is little and humble handmaid of to our purpose to explain this here God, and her humility humbles The Lady Conqueror for the glory of the most holy him more than the divine power; Virgin, for the salvation of her and secondly, because God has first children and for the confusion of given Mary such great power foretold the devil: “I will put enmities against the devils that -- as they in between thee and the woman and have often been obliged to confess, thy seed and her seed: she shall in spite of themselves, by the Sacred Scripture crush thy head, and thou shalt lie mouths of the possessed -- they in wait for her heel.”: (Gen. 3:15) fear one of her sighs for a soul La Conquistadora, God has never made and formed more than the prayers of all the but one enmity; but it is an saints, and one of her threats a devotion irreconcilable one, which shall against them more than all other needed for our times. endure and grow even to the end. torments. It is between Mary, His worthy ...God has not only set an Mother, and the devil -- between enmity, but enmities, not simply the children and the servants of between Mary and the devil, but Taken from: Sacred Scripture and True Devotion to Mary the Blessed Virgin, and the between the race of the holy children and tools of Lucifer. The Virgin and the race of the devil; most terrible of all the enemies that is to say, God has set which God has set up against the enmities, antipathies and secret “I will put enmities between support us with all the graces devil is His holy Mother Mary. He hatreds between the true children thee and the woman, and thy we need, for God grants His has inspired her, even since the and servants of Mary and the days of the earthly paradise -- children and slaves of the devil. graces through her seed and her seed: she shall though she existed then only in They have no love for each other. crush thy head, and thou shalt Immaculate Heart. His idea -- with so much hatred They have no sympathy for each lie in wait for her heel.” Sometimes sin overpowers against that cursed enemy of God, other. The children of Belial, the Yes, “The Lady us, but, as foretold in Sacred with so much ingenuity in slaves of Satan, the friends of the Conqueror” was spoken of Scripture, she is waiting to unveiling the malice of that world (for it is the same thing) for the first time in the crush the serpent that is ancient serpent, with so much have always up to this time garden, when Adam and tempting us, if we but call power to conquer, to overthrow persecuted those who belong to Eve had succumbed to the upon her in that hour. and to crush that proud, impious our Blessed Lady, and will in the snares of the devil. As St. Louis de Montfort rebel, that he fears her not only future persecute them more than Mary is our life, our tells us in his great work, more than all the angels and men, ever; just as Cain, of old, but in a sense more than God persecuted his brother Abel, and True Devotion to Mary, “It is sweetness, and our hope Himself. Not that the anger, the Esau his brother Jacob, who are principally of these last and cruel especially in our hour of hatred and the power of God are figures of the reprobate and the persecutions of the devil, which temptation. If called upon, not infinitely greater than those of predestinate. But the humble shall go on increasing daily till the she will help us conquer sin the Blessed Virgin, for the Mary will always have the victory reign of Antichrist, that we ought and temptation. If we are perfections of Mary are limited; over that proud spirit, and so to understand that first and her faithful child, she will but first, because Satan, being great a victory that she will go so celebrated prediction and curse of ever be there ready to proud, suffers infinitely more from far as to crush his head, where his 26 27 before all like the heel, trodden underfoot and persecuted as the heel is by the other members of the body. But in return for this they shall be rich in the grace of God, which Mary shall distribute to them abundantly. They shall be great and exalted before God in sanctity, superior to all other creatures by their lively zeal, and so well sustained with God’s assistance that, with the humility of their heel, in union with Mary, America’s they shall crush the head of the devil and cause Jesus Christ to Oldest Madonna triumph.” La Yes, we need La Conquistadora, the “Lady Conquistadora Conqueror”, today, more than La Conquistadora ever before. Just like those “The woman shall conquer.” early conquistadors, we must One day through her Rosary fight side by side with Our and Scapular, the world Lady, for the truths of our Let us draw near to America’s oldest Madonna will be saved! Holy Catholic Faith. We must brought by Fray Alonso Benavides to the Royal fight fearlessly, even being Villa of Santa Fe in 1624, and found in this pride dwells. She will always ready to shed our blood, as discover the malice of the serpent. magnificent Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi. the early Fransicans did in She will always lay bare his infernal plots and dissipate his Santa Fe, and the early Let us beg her, during this election year, to shower diabolical councils, and even to Christian martyrs did in so many parts of the world. blessings upon our country, dedicated to her the end of time will guard her Immaculate Conception. faithful servants from his cruel Under the banner of our claw. Mother, La Conquistadora, let us But the power of Mary over all fear nothing. Remember what Let us implore her to help each and every American the devils will especially shine she said at Guadalupe to Juan to conquer sin, and bring our forth in the latter times, when Diego, “Am I not here who am beloved country back to the Christian principles, Satan will lay his snares against your Mother? Is there anything on which she was founded over 200 years ago. her heel: that is to say, her else you need?” Under her humble slaves and her poor banner, let us follow her children, whom she will raise up command from La Salette, May La Conquistadora, the Lady Conqueror, guide to make war against him. They “Fight, my children of light...” each one of us back to the Heart of her beloved Son. shall be little and poor in the and fear nothing, for your world’s esteem, and abased Mother will conquer all. 28 29 A Special  Thank you! Please pray for the repose of the soul of We could not close Mary Theresa Fournier, this issue without a mother of our very special thank Mother Foundress, you to the person Reverend Mother Marie that introduced us to de Montfort, CMSS, such a wonderful who passed away Madonna, La August 7, 2011. Conquistadora. How greatful we Nothing happens in life, “just by chance”. Divine Provi- have been to come to dence lovingly unfolds the details of each and everything know a source of that takes place in our life, moment by moment, day by day. every single Marian We just need the courage to accept things as they take place, devotion wrapped in with loving patience and resignation to the Will of God. In one “little Lady”, yet this light, we look at the timing of the death of Mary Theresa such a “conqueror!” Fournier, on August 7. Mary was a very staunch defender of La Conquistadora the Roman Catholic Faith, a leader, not just in her home State His Excellency, represents to us the of Michigan, but throughout the Nation, in spreading Catho- the Dogma of the Im- lic truths, unalterted, without compromise. The Church was maculate Conception, her life, so it was no small thing that she died on the feast of Most Reverend the Dogma of the St. Cajetan, also a staunch defender and lover of the Catholic Bishop Daniel L. Dolan Assumption, the Church and Her rites and cermonies, as well as the first to Lady of the Rosary, introduce Forty Hours Adorations of the Blessed Sacrament. and her mighty Queenship, as she holds the scepter in her It is no small matter that this is our first issue since her death, hands. She is a reminder to us of the power of the Scapular, as she had her children pray, in their daily Rosary, for a as it hangs so gracefully, along with the Rosary, in front of young seminarian, Daniel L. Dolan, that he would become a her. Finally we see depicted the crecent moon, a powerful good and holy priest. Yes, that is right, the same Bishop reminder of all she stands for, the conqueror over sin and the Daniel L. Dolan that introduced us to this wonderful little devil. Lady, La Conquistadora. Coincidence? No! Divine Provi- Thank you, Bishop Daniel Dolan for leading us to such a dence, for La Conquistadora is in the hands of the Franciscans powerful devotion, most necessary in our times, especially for of Santa Fe, and Mary was a Third Order final professed our beloved homeland, the United States of Amercia. As La Franciscan, who loved Our Lady so much, that one could say, Conquistadora is America’s oldest Madonna, let us pray for after the Church, “Mary was her life”! Mary was able to our country, during this election year, that this “Lady Con- defend the Mystical Body of Christ, for she had a burning queror” will conquer the hearts of men and women and lead love for what we have come to know in this issue as, “The them to vote with their conscience, the voice of God! Lady Conqueror”, La Conquistadora!

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