Fr. Francisco Vizcarra Ruiz

 

BUILDING THE CHURCH OF OUR LORD OF FORGIVENESS

Padre Francisco Vizcarra Ruiz devoted his life on this earth to loving the faithful as Jesus loves him. The result of his work continues to yield fruit in many ways in the rural town of Zapotiltic, Jalisco, Mexico.

He died in 1958 but his spirit is seen and felt throughout this arid, mountainous area – the parish organizations, annual community events he established, and of course in the amazing 2,000 seat “Church of Our Lord of Forgiveness”  (Spanish:  El Templo de Nuestro Señor del Perdon) which he and the townspeople erected to replace the earthquake weakened parish church.  The parish church was completed and dedicated in the 1950’s.  Even today it dominates the town plaza and the city’s skyline.  It is said visitors would ask Father Francisco, “isn’t this too big for Zapotiltic?” Father Francisco would answer, “don’t you think it’s still not big enough for Jesus?”

THE TRANSFER OF FR. FRANCISCO’S REMAINS FROM THE CEMETERY TO THE CHURCH SANCTUARY

Following a long illness, Fr. Francisco, 75, died November 1, 1958 – the date the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints.   He was buried in the Zapotiltic cemetery.   Soon thereafter townspeople began to observe an oily substance seeping from his crypt.  The seepage continued for six years.  Some remember the liquid “smelled like roses.” Others were amazed “the seeping liquid did not have a disagreeable odor” even after six years.  Individuals would go to the cemetery to gather the liquid into vials and small bottles to keep in their homes.
On May 9, 1968, the Archbishop of Colima ordered Father Francisco’s remains should be transferred from the cemetery to the church’s sanctuary.  The pastor, several visiting priests, a Bishop and thousands of parishioners and visitors from nearby communities witnessed the events of that day – the casket’s exhumation, procession to the church and solemn Mass.

Pictures of the church’s construction and Fr. Francisco’s funeral were preserved by Mr. Guillermo Martinez Hernandez,  who had assisted Fr. Francisco as one of the key coordinators of the hundreds of laborers and support volunteers who built the church as well as parish choir master. The photographs appearing below are published with the permission of Mr. Martinez’s daughter, Beatriz, of Zapotiltic.

At the funeral in 1958, the townspeople showed the deep affection and love they had for the energetic, dedicated, holy pastor.  Throngs of mourners from Zapotiltic and surrounding towns attended the Mass, then accompanied his casket to its resting place in the Zapotiltic community cemetery.