El Santurario De Chimayo
in New Mexico

The Lourdes of the U.S.
A Holy Place Where People are Healed

By Marianne Schwab | Best Travel Deals Tips Blog

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El Santurario De Chimayo in Chimayo, New Mexico is known as the Lourdes of the U.S. due to stories of people who are crippled, handicapped or afflicted with illnesses that have been miraculously healed by the holy dirt located inside this church.

Since many people who visit El Santurario De Chimayo in New Mexico are crippled and handicapped and are seeking a miracle cure, there is an overwhelming number of handicapped parking spaces for this small church parking lot. There may have been about ten or fifteen spaces to park your car, but 75% were designated as handicapped parking. A statement to how many people visit this faraway place to be healed. Each year during Holy Week, approximately 30,000 people from all over the world will make pilgrimages to the Santuario de Chimayó.

Normally you'd want to "exit through the gift shop," but stop here first and you can purchase a few souvenir containers to place your holy dirt in that you'll want to collect inside or you could bring a ziploc bag.

Be sure you check the Mass schedule for El Santuario de Chimayó as this is an active church.

Always be respectful when you step inside and although you'll see photos here, they request that you don't take photos inside the church. You can purchase postcards or lovely photo books at the gift shop and these purchases help support the every day expenses of keeping this holy place open.

In the very back of the church is a small room called El Pocito which means the little well. It contains a round pit that is the source of what many believe is "holy dirt" because it is said to have healing powers.

There is a Prayer Room adjacent to the El Pocito and displays many photographs, discarded crutches, and other testimonials of those people who have been purportedly healed by the holy dirt. El Santuario de Chimayó is a Roman Catholic church and located at 15 Santuario Drive in Chimayó, New Mexico and receives over 300,000 visitors every year.

In addition to visiting holy places like El Santuario de Chimayó, travels often lead to spiritual tourism and a holy land tour of Israel will make the Bible come alive.

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