More on Our Lady of El Cisne -- The Miraculous Water

The Ecuadorian members of our parish family are very devoted to Our Lady of El Cisne -- who's feast day is celebrated on August 15th. As I have previously mentioned our parish celebration is scheduled for Friday, August 12th, & Saturday, August 13th. Come and join the fun!!

There are many miracles attributed to Our Lady of El Cisne. With apologies to our Ecuadorian brothers & sisters, who being more familiar with the "Miraculous Water" would do a better job of enlightening us and with thanks to the web sites dedicated to "La Santísima Reina del Cisne" the following is what I have learned regarding this miracle. If anyone knows the name of the Campesino, I would appreciate hearing from you!

According to legend in 1800 a Peruvian campesino made a novena to our Lady of El Cisne requesting healing of his serious illness. He promised that if his request were granted he would make a pilgrimage to personally thank the Virgin at the Cathedral of El Cisne. After experiencing a miraculous healing, he set out in August to fulfill his promise and to realize his life long ambition of participating in the feast day celebration of Our Lady of El Cisne. The journey through the Andes Mountains was difficult with steep precipices leading to deep gorges and the trip was long and tiring. To make matters worse, he ran out of water and there was no village in sight. He earnestly searched for water, but to no avail. When he arrived in an area called Huasir, he collapsed from exhaustion & thirst. He didn't realized that he very close to arriving in El Cisne. He called out in prayer to the Virgin requesting that she save his life. While he was praying he noticed that the ground under his face became damp, and was turning into mud. He scraped the mud and it brought forth a trickle of water that grew into a stream from which he was able to drink. Thus refreshed he was able to successfully complete his pilgrimage. To this day the stream is venerated as the miraculous water of the Virgin of El Cisne.