Events

The Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven, informally known as The Assumption, was the Virgin Mary ascending into Heaven at the end of her earthly life. The Assumption is Mary’s heavenly birthday.  Her acceptance into the glory of Heaven is seen as the symbol of the promise made by Jesus to …

On August 17th the Virgin of the Three Hail Marys is a popular San Miguel festival continuing to celebrate Mary’s ascent into Heaven. It is said that in 1960 Father Benjamin Grimaldi Balderas built the chapel to the right of the main altar in the Templo …

Beatrice was a Portuguese lady-in-waiting to the Queen in the 1400s.  Having good looks that raised the jealousy of the Queen, Beatrice left courtly life to become a nun and was the founder of the monastic Order of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady.  A small cloister of this …

If you dare to look up while walking in San Miguel, you will often find a cross with a smaller crossbar placed above the main one, near the top. This is called the Patriarchal Cross thought to have been given to Saint (then King) Stephen by the pope as the …

August 27th is the feast day of Saint Monica.  She is remembered for her suffering caused by her prayerful life dedicated to the reformation of her son, Augustine.  Augustine led an immoral life until in his thirties when he embraced the Catholic religion becoming a philosopher …

Fire trucks and ambulances approach centro with sirens blaring to receive a special blessing while parked around the jardin.  It is a festive occasion and fascinates children.

During the war for Independence from Spain the insurgents from San Miguel chose the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe (that Fr. Hidalgo plucked from Atotonilco) to show how God’s mother was on their side. Did you know the Spanish side had their own Mary supporting them too? …

Most are familiar with devotion to the Baby Jesus at Christmas but fewer know about devotion to the Virgin Mary.  Devotion to “little Mary” is strong here in San Miguel, and Mexico as a whole. On 6 January 1840, the Feast of the Three Kings, Sister Magdalena knelt …

Our Lady of Loreto is an image of Mary that graces the city from many niches and doors.  Dressed in a wide dress, in the shape of a fan, Mary holds the baby Jesus.  Mary’s dress features grapes and wheat depicting the Eucharist.  Her towering …

Independence marked the end of 10% of your resources belonging to the church including livestock, seeds, fruit and, of course, money.  The items from this tithing were stored at La Casa del Diezmo on the street named Jesus.  The funds were used to support the clergy …

St. Michael the Archangel is one of Catholic Church’s three archangels (Garbriel and Raphael are the others).  He vanquished Satan from Paradise.  He is also the Angel of Death, weighing souls in his perfectly balanced scales (hence the saint is often depicted holding scales). Since archangels are considered …

Late one afternoon on, or near, October third around 100 taxis in town will parade down the Real a Queretaro into the jardin festively decorated.  Once parked and the driver’s family exits the vehicle, the hoods are opened and a priest with give a special …