The Virgin of Guadalupe

Although I heard most of the following story when our group visited the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe a few days ago, I'm too exhausted to put into my own words. Instead, I'm copying and pasting straight from the interwebs to bring you the story of the miracle that created one of Mexico's most important national symbols, the Virgin of Guadalupe. I really enjoyed the visit to the Basilica and kind of wanted to buy into the whole idea of La Virgen. She seems like someone I'd like to have on my side, even if her story is a little farfetched.

From literacy.net:

"The key figure in acceptance of the Catholic religion by the indigenous peoples of Mexico was the Virgin of Guadalupe, whose story goes back to 1531, just twelve years after Hernan Cortes first set foot on Mexican soil. On December 12, 1531, as the story goes, a poor Indian named Juan Diego was walking along in a desolate area north of Mexico City, seeking water for his uncle. Suddenly, on a hillside, he saw a vision of a beautiful woman, who directed him to a spring of fresh, cool water. A few days later, in the same spot, the vision appeared again to Juan Diego. This time, she instructed him to go to Mexico City to tell the high church officials to build a church in her name on that site. Of course, the ecclesiastical officials did not believe the poor Indian. Why would the Virgin Mary appear to someone so lowly? They asked for proof. When Juan Diego returned to the hillside and the Virgin appeared again, he asked her for a sign. Suddenly he saw some beautiful red roses, even though roses do not normally bloom in that area in December. He gathered them into his rough Indian tilma (blanket) and took them to Mexico City. When he opened his tilma for the high church officials, they fell to their knees in veneration and amazement. There, imprinted on the humble Indian blanket of Juan Diego, was the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, exactly as Juan Diego had seen her. It is said that the image is so perfect in detail that one sees in the pupil of the Virgin's eye the image of Juan Diego."

The story of the Virgin of Guadalupe was successful in bringing indigenous peoples into the Catholic Church and today is still a very important part of modern Mexican culture. People still travel from miles away to pray to the original painting that hangs in the Basilica in Mexico City. Rows of moving sidewalks go back and forth below the painting so that thousands of people are able to catch a glipse of it each day. Here is the picture I took from the moving sidewalk, along with few more: