The Chapel of the Miracles

Subject: The Chapel of the Miracles Sun 17 Jun 2007, 12:53 am

Could a large crucifix in a tiny, private chapel -- just hairbreadths away from I 35 -- be the original crucifix which hung in Mission San Antonio de Valero .... the Alamo?

Many people would respond, 'yes.' I never had heard of this unique focus of devotion, nor the chapel which holds it, before discovering it through Charles Ramsdell's wonderful book, 'San Antonio: A Historical and Pictorial Guide' (UT: 1959; 1976, pages 12; 19, and 174-176).

The story goes that when the this revered mission was secularized in 1798, many of its sacred objects were removed to San Fernando Cathedral. One of these may have been a tall cross which first was described in 1745, in a report made by Father Xavier Ortiz (though he described this crucifix as having been made of stone, while that found in the Chapel of Miracles today is carved of wood). Fray Ortiz stated that this cross had been present at the second location of Mission San Antonio de Valero, " ... in the time of the Venerable Father [Antonio] Margil," and was "greatly venerated." The faithful of the fledgling settlement sought out this treasured cross at which to pray in their times of need. Furthermore, a crucifix of "two varas" (over five feet) in height is listed in the inventories of the Mission. By 1802, candles were being lit before a crucifix known as 'Our Lord of Miracles' by parishioners of the Church of San Fernando. (pages 19 and 176)

In 1813, a fire is believed to have taken place at San Fernando Cathedral .... a troubled year for the city, as the Spanish colonial government was aggressively attempting to silence insurgents. It was at this time that the some five-feet-tall crucifix is said to have been rescued from the flames, and taken to a chapel attached to the a home of the pioneer Ximenez and Rodriguez families. Interestingly, this chapel was in the vicinity of the first location of the Alamo. Charles Ramsdell suspected that this was significant. It is possible that these devoted families returned the crucifix to the site at which it originally had been venerated -- ca. 1718.

In any event, the descendents of these 'rescuers' remain its protectors, and at that very spot. The trickle of San Pedro Creek -- long since rerouted (?) -- has been replaced by the roar of the Interstate. But the faithful still visit, and healings are said to take place in the presence of this ancient crucifix. Its address: 113 Ruiz Street, San Antonio, Texas. The doors of the chapel are opened every day but Tuesday, from 9:00 AM till 2:00 PM (please check).

Ramsdell drew much of his information from,'The Silver Cradle,' by Julia Nott Waugh (UT: 1955, and reissued more recently). Following are a couple of links to pages relating to the Chapel and the Ximenez family.

http://nationalhistoricalregister.com/tx/Bexar/state3.html (scroll about 3/4 of the way down)

http://texas.i-found-it.net/ximenes.html

Holly
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The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves