Ecuadorian Christian Church Offering: "Gracias Recibidas"

This Ecuadoran "milagro," Spanish for miracle, is a religious folk charm. Such a charm is offered in fulfillment of a vow to be thankful for a miraculous recovery from an illness, accident or other misfortune. Heart-shaped milagros, from Latin America typically indicate gratitude for a prayer answered.

Many old heart-shaped milagros are engraved with the letters "G.R.", which stands for "gracias recibidas" or grace received.
Milagros are traditionally used in Mexico, the southern United States, other areas of Latin America, as well as parts of the Iberian peninsula. They are frequently attached to altars, shrines, and sacred objects found in places of worship, and they are often purchased in churches, cathedrals or from street vendors.

The Christian faith is based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus or Christ. Jesus, (7–2 BC/BCE – 30–36 AD/CE), is the central figure of Christianity. Most Christian denominations venerate him as God the Son.

The principal sources of information regarding Jesus are the four canonical gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The gospels declare that Jesus was a Jew born in Bethlehem, in the Roman province of Judea. At the age of 30, he began to preach throughout Palestine, which was then under Roman rule. The gospels describe miracles that Jesus performed such as raising the dead.

Most critical historians agree that Jesus was a Jew who was regarded as a teacher and healer. He was crucified in Jerusalem, on the orders of the Roman Prefect of Judaea, on the charge of sedition against the Roman Empire. Christians believe that Jesus then rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, from which he will return.

Source:
Source Citation (MLA 7th Edition) Robertson, Martha Barton. "Retablos and Ex-Votos." Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture. Ed. Jay Kinsbruner and Erick D. Langer. 2nd ed. Vol. 5. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2008. 526-527. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 31 May 2013. Document URL: http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX3078904711&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w http://www.buenamano.us/HeartTin.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milagro_(votive) "Jesus Christ." Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2010. 297. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 1 July 2013. Document URL: http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX1796500200&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus BOLLE, K. W., and R. J. FLYNN. "Votive Offerings." New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. Vol. 14. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 589-590. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 1 May 2013. Document URL: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX3407711643&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w