feast of the Assumption

Magnificat - The canticle of Mary

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rrejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favour on his lowly servant....

From this day all generations will called me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name ....

He has morcy on those who fear him
in every generation....

He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.....

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.....

He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich has has senty away empty....

He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever....

(The photo is of the image or Our Lady of Urkupina that I bought the other day in a religious store near the church of San juan de Dios - St. John of God here in Cochabamba. - today. August 15th, is the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven as well. )

Virgin of Urkupina - August 15th, 2010

Virgin of Urkupina means Virgin of the Mountain - It was in the mountians of Bolivia in the 1800's that Our Lady appeared to a young girl as she was watching the sheep.The woman told the girl to pick up stones at her feet and take them home to her family. When the girl arrived at her home the stones had turned to silver, therefore releaving her family of poverty.The people of Quillacolla heard the news they began to have faith in the miraculous virgin of Urkupina.

The festival is held in Quillacolla which is 10 miles or 16 km from Cochabamba. The dates are August 14th to 16th.People from all over the country of Bolivia as well as from other countries such as the United States, Spain, and other latin America countries come here for this festival.


Prayer -

Oh Mary, assumed into Heaven, in you we find every virtue shining resplendently. In you. is the fullness of grace because you are united to God.Oh Virgin of Urkupina, work amidst the thorns that grow in the arid deserts of our hearts, that roses of goodness and virtue might sprout forth! Weed out the vanities of this world and replant in us the flower of Life - that our souls might become as nature in springtime to the delight of Christ our Redeemer!

thursday evening

I took this picture of myself in the hallway of our bedrooms in the Maryknoll Society house here in Cochabama, Bolivia
The nice plant that is on the left side of me was in my bedroom and due to the weather changes since it is Winter here which means cooler temperatures. Some of the leaves died on me but new leaves are coming up.  I have no idea what is the name of this plant but I enjoy it very much.
It is now 7:32 p.m. on this Thursday evening and so I am testing out this new page.
I was told this afternoon, that there is a plant show downtown in plaza colon which is in front of the Franciscan church of Hospicio.  This is where I am teaching English as a second languae to a Franciscan priest Father Irineo Vargas.  He is 35 years old. A priest for five years.
So this is what I have to say at the moment on this Thursday evening.