The days leading up to the anniversary of the founding of Loreto brought an unusual thing--clouds and rain. Though I cursed the bland gray sky as I tried to photograph the procession with the statue of the Virgin of Loreto, I couldn't help but remember that the Jesuits had coincidentally encountered similar weather when they first arrived.

From a November, 1697 letter from Padre Salvatierra to Padre Ugarte (reproduced in Loreto, Baja California by Ann & Don O'Neil):

"That night, October 23, a downpour drenched us who were so sure that it never rains in California. The next day, we brought ashore the Holy Madonna, who found the ground all drenched. We recited with the Indians the Ave Maria in their language and sang the litany of Loreto. The Virgin was carried in procession to the Real, Captain Juan Antonio Romero and others taking turns. She was received at the Real with more salvos...

The Indian men and women gave expression to their intense joy at the arrival of the sacred image which reached here Friday evening; and on Saturday, October 26, Mass was celebrated. Two days previously we had set up the Holy Cross surrounding it with many flowers; first, all the Spaniards and then many of the Indians insisted with me that they be permitted to kiss it."

Two days ago, the statue of the Virgin of Loreto made this journey, much as she did 307 years ago...