"...my spirit rejoices in God my Savior..." **

Yesterday was the start of the Novena to La Conquistadora. It started with a Vespers Service at the Cathedral, the knighting of the young man portraying Don Diego DeVargas and the coronation of the Fiesta Queen, the Indian Princess and the Fiesta Court and Cuadrilla followed Vespers and then La Conquistadora was taken from the church to the chapel where she'll stay during the Novena.

I've been taking pictures like crazy, though some of these are a bit blurry, I thought I'd post them anyway. These are from the procession from The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi to the Rosario Chapel where La Conquistadora will remain for 8 days, while the city holds a Novena in her honor.




The Holy Spirit Window at the Cathedral
Basilica of St. Francis. Seen as you leave the
church.

The crowds await the arrival of La Conquistadora at the Rosario Chapel.

















Banners Start Arriving with penitents as they make their way from the cathedral to the chapel on this first day of the Novena.

Others arrive after the short journey from the church to the chapel.

She makes her way into the cemetery grounds, always handled with such care and affection.

She is the patroness and protectoress of this City of Holy Faith. Because she is the Mother of Our Lord, Jesus, for Generations, she has been cherished, revered and adored, most especially here in this culturally rich and old city.

She has arrived and now awaits to be placed upon the nicho behind the altar of this two-century old chapel. The site where Don Diego DeVargas and his Caudrilla once camped.




(Monsignor Jerome Martinez y Alire, rector fo the Cathedral Basilica stands behind.)

This tradition lives on and will continue to carry on as long as there are people who remember.

Awaiting her arrival. This is the nicho where she will be placed and remain for the Novena until the day she is carried back, with the same great care and devotion to her Chapel at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.

She is placed upon the nicho.

Hail Mary Full of Grace
The Lord is with Thee,
Blessed art thou among women and
Blessed is the Fruit of Thy Womb, Jesus

Holy Mary, Mother of God
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our Death,

Amen

And Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.

He has mercy 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 he has sent 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 for ever.”

** from Mary's Magnificat as written in the Gospel of Luke 1:39-56