 Random image |
|
BundyRum DCE
Comments: 0
root
|
|
|
|
|
| Agostini-Justiniani: Hermit of La Cueva |
 |
Born of Noble parents in Italy, probably around 1800, Agostini-Justiniani may have studied for the priesthood but refused to take his vows. He spent many years walking through Europe, South America, Mexico and Cuba and had a photograph portrait made in New York City in 1859.
At age 62 he walked the wagon train of Eugene Romero from Kansas to Las Vegas, New Mexico, and lived for a while in Romeroville before settling on Cerro Tecolote northwest of Las Vegas. The hill has since become known as "Hermit's Peak". He has known Penitentes in Spain and he got on well with them in New Mexico, for they were in awe of his healing powers and believed in his sanctity. A "Sociedad Del Ermitano" still makes rosaries of native plants to honor his memory at Easter time.
In 1867, he accompanied the wagon train of Don Ramon Gonzales to Mesilla, New Mexico, to look up Albert J. Fountain on a legal matter, and then walked to San Antonio, Texas, then to a cave near Juarez, Mexico. In 1869, he visited often with the Barela family of his plans to live in La Cueva. When the Barelas warned him of the dangers of staying there alone he is supposed to have said, "I shall make a fire in front of my cave every Friday evening when I shall be alive. If the fire fails to appear it will be because I have been killed. I shall bless you daily in my prayers."
Among the many aware of El Ermitano's miraculous healing powers was Antonio Garcia who transported people with illnesses up to La Cueva for healing. The Hermit must have found abundant herbs nearby to help his cures. One Friday night in the spring of 1869 the fire failed to appear at La Cueva. Antonio Garcia led a posse up the mountain to find the Hermit lying face down on his crucifix with a knife in his back. He was wearing a penitential "metal girdle full of spikes."
El Ermitano is buried in the Mesilla Cemetery. His headstone reads, in Spanish;
"John Mary Justiniano, Hermit of the Old and New World. He Died the 17th of April, 1869, at 69 Years and 49 Years a Hermit."
The Hermit's murder was one of many unsolved murders in the late 1800's in Dona Ana County. (Hits: 1465)
Found: 16 image(s) on 2 page(s). Displayed: image 1 to 15.
1 2 » Last page »
|
|
