The Lord of the Column will arrive at the San Juan de Dios temple on March 21

Published March 15, 2021 (sp)

The Brotherhood of the Lord of the Column announced that next March 21 the sacred images will arrive to San Miguel de Allende, there will be no procession due to the pandemic. The reception will be private.

This year on March 21 the Lord of the Column, together with the image of the Virgin of Sorrows and the Apostle St. John will make their visit to the temple of San Juan de Dios from the Sanctuary of Atotonilco.

The visit will be private due to the pandemic. In the temple of San Juan de Dios the capacity will be of 30% with the corresponding sanitary measures. During the days of visitation, masses will be held at 8 am, 12 pm and 6 pm. During the day visitors will be able to enter through the side door, pass in front of the altar and exit through the main door.

To participate in the Eucharistic celebrations, visitors should arrive 20 minutes before the beginning of the mass. So far it is not known if the processions of Wednesday and Good Friday will take place.

HISTORY OF THE BRINGING OF THE LORD OF THE COLUMN

This is how Don Franco Barajas related this ancient tradition: “On Saturday of the week of Lazaro -provided with lanterns, bandanas, candles, blankets and staff-, in the late afternoon, the pilgrims go on their way to Atotonilco. At the stroke of midnight, the Lord of the Column leaves the temple, wrapped in blankets and silks to protect him from the rain and dust, and the 12-kilometer procession slowly begins during the night. From time to time the pilgrims change to share in carrying the images on their shoulders, and they sing and pray.

When the roosters crow, the towers and domes of the city emerge; the machones de ocote consume their last embers; the voice of the prayer leader has become hoarse and some handkerchiefs are moistened with tears.

The townspeople go to the surrounding hills of the Barrio de San Juan de Dios. The first posas appear; firecrackers and firecrackers explode; the hullabaloo grows and Christian devotion flows. Some tourists watch with blue eyes as impassive as their cameras. The little streets are adorned with Chinese paper lace, and their floors are swept, watered and sprinkled with mastranto, heliotrope, ash and fennel and rose petals”.