Myths and Legends Beyond Our Borders/The Picture and the Storm
THE PICTURE AND THE STORM
THE church of Our Lady of Piety, in Mexico City, was founded by the Dominicans in 1652. Shortly before that time a member of the order went abroad on some business to the Holy City, and was directed, while there, to order a picture of the Virgin and the dead Christ from the most famous painter in Rome. This commission he fulfilled, but the artist, being of a postponing dis-position, made such slow progress that when it was time for the monk to start back to America the work had been merely sketched, and not a brushful of color had been applied to it. In those times a journey of such distance was not undertaken every day, and as it might never fall to the Dominican to visit Rome again, he concluded to carry the picture with him, slight though it was. He paid the artist a small sum, jogged on muleback and trundled in carriages to Spain, and there took a vessel for Mexico, the canvas, closely rolled, forming a part of his luggage.
Not many days from port a furious storm set in, and it seemed doubtful if the ship could weather it. Sails were torn, cordage broken, bulwarks staved, and all on board were in terror, until, at the monk's suggestion, they vowed to build a church to the Virgin in Mexico if she would permit them to reach that land in safety. She allowed the storm to rage a little longer, the better to impress them with their peril, then the clouds were scattered, the waves stilled, the winds abated, and the ship rode serenely into harbor. The sailors were as good as their word. They spent their time ashore in collecting money, and with it the Dominicans laid the foundations of this church. After the altar had been completed the monk bethought him of the drawing he had brought from Rome. He unrolled it, and, to the astonishment and admiration of all, it was finished in color, to the last brush-stroke. It hangs above the altar, and is greatly venerated.