Milagros: A Book of Miracles - Hardcover

Thompson, Helen; Bruce, Paddy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0062515632 ISBN 13: 9780062515636

Publisher: HarperOne, 1998

Synopsis

Let the ancient power of milagros work miracles for you! Based on traditional Latin American talismans, these tiny silver charms are reminders that a miracle can fit in the palm of your hand. Throughout Latin America and the American Southwest, milagros are offered at shrines and sacred sites by believers as requests for divine assistance, or as thanks for blessings received. Modern day milagros may be carried in a pocket to protect from illness or harm, kept in the office to insure success, or placed in the car to avoid accidents--whenever you need a little magic in your life.

Milagros: A Book of Miracles is a wonderful introduction to this ancient tradition. Filled with beautiful milagro-inspired imagery, thoughtful meditations and reflections to enhance your daily life, and inspiring true stories of real people who have been touched by the magic of these ancient charms, this book proves that miracle do happen!

IF YOU BELIEVE ...

A young newlywed pins a milagro to a statue of St. Francis after her husband suffers a near-fatal accident. After his miraculous full recovery, she returns every year to give thanks. A heartbroken man carries a heart-shaped milagro in his pocket after losing the love of his life-shortly after, they are reunited. A surgery patient fastens a milagro above his heart and is restored to better health than his doctors ever anticipated.

Milagros--Spanish for miracles--come in an endless variety of shapes and sizes. Since before recorded history, these offerings to the gods have been an essential part of Latin American culture. More than just symbolic gifts, milagros are thought to be magical: if you believe and make your desire known with good faith, the milagro may work its wondrous power. This book is an inspiring introduction to the beauty anddivine blessings of these ancient talismans.

About this title

From the Author:

Life is full of every day miracles, just look around!
My painted milagros first appeared a couple of years ago and were the vehicle for a form of automatic writing and symbols I was playing around with. I first presented the painted "body parts" at Meloy & Co Gallery Christmas show here in Bellingham, WA. I made a metal and wooden "shrine" for a display. People loved them. They found them humorous, endearing, beautiful, fun, approachable, unique and affordable. I realized then that they could become something much more, and at this time began working with a publisher to develop the idea into a book form with a more secular appeal and presentation. Although associated with the Catholic tradition (which I grew up in), the church can't lay claim to a world of miracles. Face it, they haven't got a prayer! Milagros give a visual form to our hopes and dreams, our most sacred prayers for healing for ourselves and others. There is nothing exclusive about that. Since the beginning of time people the world over have practiced rituals and traditions to entreat, and work in concert with, their preferred gods and spirits. By including milagros in my work, expanding their singularity into an entire shrine or altar, I wanted to help focus attention on the ordinary and commonplace. Provide a reverence and mindful attention to things as close as hands and feet. By reinterpreting the milagros for myself, yet keeping elements of their Latin roots, I felt I could wrest them from their religious associations and claim them for a more mainstream population that seems more than ready for a little healing. The author, Helen Thompson, worked some real miracles in interpreting my vision for the book in her own way. I feel as those our little book was a miracle just meant to be. We're very proud of it and hope others will enjoy it too. Hasta luego, Paddy Bruce

About the Author:

Helen Thompson is an editor and writer for Metroploitian Home and the author of the In Celebration series. A former writer and editor at Texas Monthly and managing editor of Domain, an arts and lifestyle magazine, she has written for Worth, Men's Journal, and Southern Style. She lives in Austin, Texas.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperOne
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0062515632
• ISBN 13: 9780062515636
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 96