Carmel Mission's Our Lady of Bethlehem
The Oldest Shrine of Our
Lady on the West Coast of America
 The
devotion to Our Lady of Bethlehem dates back to the 15th century. Her
image was venerated in a small chapel granted to the Order of Christ located at
Restelo near Lisbon, Portugal. In 1495 the chapel was given to the Jeromes Order
and King Don Manuel transformed the chapel into a monumental church. The statue
was transferred to the new church, and it was here that navigators and sailors
came before and after every voyage to seek her intercession and to offer
thanksgiving for their successes and safety. With the union of Spain and
Portugal, Spanish navigators began to seek her intercession as well.
After 277 years of exploration and
colonization in the New World, Spain, aware of the encroachment of the Russians
from the north, made plans to guard the northern frontiers of these New World
colonies by taking possession of Alta California. The year 1769 saw much
activity toward accomplishing this end.
The Archbishop of Mexico City, the Most
Reverend Francisco de Lorenzaña, gave to the expedition to Monterey a beautiful
statue of Our Lady of Bethlehem to be the Conquistadora of this new land.
On the arrival in Monterey in 1770 the image was placed on the temporary altar
by Father Junipero Serra. The Eucharist (Mass) was celebrated, at the conclusion
of which the Salve Regina was chanted in her honor. The statue was highly
venerated at San Carlos Mission at Carmel.
The second expedition to explore the
northwest coast of America reached the 49th degree but because of the
storms was compelled to return to Monterey arriving there on October 7th.
On October 15th, officers and crew went to Carmel to have a High Mass
offered , at which all received Communion in honor of Our Lady of Bethlehem and
in thanksgiving for a safe journey.
In 1798 a further offering was made by
Captain Matute in the form of a silver crown inscribed as a thanksgiving for
relief. As the Mission grew and prospered the statue of Our Lady continued to be
held in esteem and veneration.
When the Mission was abandoned, after
secularization, her image was cared for by the last Indian family to remain at
the Mission. Dona Ignacia, the daughter of this family, became custodian of the
image, and when she took up residence in Monterey, the statue was enshrined in
her home. At her death she requested that the statue be given to Gertrude
Ambrosia, a descendant of one of the soldiers who had accompanied Father Serra.
It was she who in 1948 returned the statue to the restored Mission church… and
so again Our Lady of Bethlehem is venerated in her ancient shrine.
Thousands of pilgrims come every year and
pray to our Lord through her intercessions. We join our voices with theirs as we
echo the ancient prayer, Our Lady of Bethlehem, pray
for us.
PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF
BETHLEHEM
Dear Lady of Bethlehem, Virgin most pure, Mother
of our Savior, may the memory of the cold on the night Thy Divine Child was born
bring Thy powerful intercession to bear upon the world’s coldness towards the
Babe of Bethlehem. Send down into the hearts of all people some warmth of the
flames of love that Thy Immaculate Heart gives forth.
Do Thou who suffered such great loneliness when
Thy Son was taken from Thee, look with pity upon the void in the hearts of those
who know and love Him not. Bring Him to them and with Him His Angels and Saints
that they too may be our intimate friends. Do Thou who journeyed wearily to
Bethlehem look down with mercy upon humankind trudging along the way of evil,
lost and confused. Do Thou guide us to the path of Thy Son and the habitation He
had prepared for us.
Look down with compassion upon us, as we commend
to Thy maternal care the needs of Holy Mother Church, our beloved Country, our
families. We all place all at Thy blessed feet. Through Thy powerful
intercession may God grant to us and to the whole frightened world the grace of
mutual understanding and the sacred Peace of Bethlehem.
Do Thou also regard with favor our beloved Father
Junipero Serra, who brought Thy image to this land and whose remains rest in
peace in Thy sanctuary. May he who in life held Thee in such great honor and who
first made Thy Son known on these shores, be found worthy to have his name
entered on the list of those whom the Church calls Saints.
Our Lady of Bethlehem, pray for us now, pray for
us in every need, and be Thou with us at the hour of our death. Amen.
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