What is the story behind Lady of Guadalupe?
The story of Our Lady of Guadalupe
- First apparition. Our Lady of Guadalupe first introduced herself as the Mother of God and the mother of all humanity when she appeared on the hill of Tepeyac in Mexico ...
- Winter bloom. Although it was winter and nothing should have been in bloom, Juan Diego found an abundance of flowers of a type he had never seen before.
- Tilma. ...
Is Virgin Guadalupe the same as Virgin Mary?
Yep! Same lady! Much like Our Lady of Lourdes, the Virgin of Guadalupe is a vision of Mary! The Virgen de Guadalupe is a vision of Mary. Furthermore, what does Our Lady of Guadalupe symbolize? It marks the date in 1531 when the Virgin Mary purportedly appeared to an indigenous Mexican, in the last of several apparitions.
Is the Virgin Mary and Guadalupe the same?
Yes, Our Lady of Guadalupe was an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who has appeared in different times and places, and is known by different titles according to the particulars of each appearance.
What is the story of the Virgen Guadalupe?
The story of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Cuauhtlatoatzin was one of the first Aztec men to convert to Christianity after the Spanish invasion. Renamed as Juan Diego, he soon thereafter reported an appearance of the Virgin Mary called the Virgin of Guadalupe. This apparition became an important symbol for a new native Christianity.
When did the first apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe occur?
According to tradition, Mary appeared to Juan Diego, who was an Aztec convert to Christianity, on December 9 and again on December 12, 1531. During her first apparition she requested that a shrine to her be built on the spot where she appeared, Tepeyac Hill (now in a suburb of Mexico City).
Where is the original image of Our Lady of Guadalupe?
the Basilica of Our Lady of GuadalupeHis original tilma - still bearing the Marian image - is said to remain in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, the destination of countless Catholic pilgrimages.
Why did Our Lady of Guadalupe appear?
Juan Diego's Vision On December 9, 1531, Mary appeared to Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill while he was on his way to Mass. She asked him to approach the bishop and request that a shrine be built to her there, where she would bless those who called upon her.
Who did Guadalupe appear to?
Today the Basilica of Guadalupe stands on the site where Our Lady of Guadalupe is said to have appeared to Juan Diego. It is one of the top attractions in Mexico, drawing millions of tourists and pilgrims every year.
Who created the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe?
When Nicolás Enríquez painted this copy of the Virigin of Guadalupe in 1773, it was the most widely venerated sacred image in New Spain. Here, the miraculous image is encircled by four scenes that attest to its divine origin.
Is the Virgin of Guadalupe black?
Our Lady Of Guadalupe Shrine Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of three Black Madonnas in Spain. The statue was canonically crowned on 12 October 1928 by Pope Pius XI with a crown designed and crafted by Father Felix Granda and crowned with the attendance of King Alfonso XIII of Spain.
How old is the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe?
A: The 450-year-old image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is more than simply a picture. It contains symbols -- in a sense, hieroglyphics, or a story in pictures -- that reveal part of the message the Blessed Mother brought through Juan Diego to the Indians of Mexico and to all the people of the Americas.
What is the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe made of?
She identified herself as the Mother of the True God and instructed him to have the bishop build a church on the site. As a sign for the bishop, she left an image of herself imprinted miraculously on his tilma, a poor quality cactus-cloth.
Who is the angel under Our Lady of Guadalupe?
Heart-shaped and in the The crescent moon under her feet signify the Aztec's foremost deity, the feathered or stone serpent-god, Quetzalcoatl, whom the Aztecs worshipped as the god of night.
How many times did the Virgin of Guadalupe appear?
Description of Marian apparitions According to Nican Mopohua, a 17th-century account written in the native Nahuatl language, the Virgin Mary appeared four times to Juan Diego, an indigenous Mexican peasant Chichimec and once to his uncle, Juan Bernardino.
How old is the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe?
A: The 450-year-old image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is more than simply a picture. It contains symbols -- in a sense, hieroglyphics, or a story in pictures -- that reveal part of the message the Blessed Mother brought through Juan Diego to the Indians of Mexico and to all the people of the Americas.
Who painted the original Virgin of Guadalupe?
Painted on copper in Mexico City in 1779 by Sebastián Salcedo, this image was brought to Santa Fe, New Mexico, around 1800 to hang in the new adobe church of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
What is in the picture of the Guadalupe?
The Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe It contains symbols - in a sense, hieroglyphics, or a story in pictures - that reveals part of the message of the Blessed Mother brought through St. Juan Diego to the Natives of Mexico and to all the people of the Americas.
Is Juan Diego's tilma real?
Juan Diego depicting Our Lady of Guadalupe is phony. One opinion was a fake made in Europe and brought to Mexico by Franciscans. Another suggested the tilma was painted over the image of a dark-eyed Aztec goddess. Both conjectures have been proven false.
Where did the Virgin of Guadalupe originate?
Origin and early history. Main article: Juan Diego. Virgin of Guadalupe in Monastery of Guadalupe, in Cáceres, Extramadura, Spain. The shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Spain was the most important Marian shrine in the medieval kingdom of Castile.
What is the Virgin of Guadalupe and Castas?
Luis de Mena, Virgin of Guadalupe and castas, 1750, a frequently reproduced painting, uniquely uniting the image Virgin and a depiction of the casta system. Allegory of the papal declaration in 1754 by pope Benedict XIV of Our Lady of Guadalupe patronage over the New Spain in the presence of the viceroyal authorities.
What is the common denominator of Guadalupe?
The author Judy King asserts that Guadalupe is a "common denominator" uniting Mexicans. Writing that Mexico is composed of a vast patchwork of differences—linguistic, ethnic, and class-based—King says "The Virgin of Guadalupe is the rubber band that binds this disparate nation into a whole.".
Where is the chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe?
Mexican culture. Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, Paris, France. Reliquary in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, United States, containing a fragment of the tilma of Juan Diego.
When was the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe?
With the help of the Informaciones Jurídicas de 1666, a Catholic feast day in name of Our Lady of Guadalupe was requested and approved, as well as the transfer of the date of the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe from September 8 to December 12, the latest date on which the Virgin supposedly appeared to Juan Diego.
Who is the goddess of the little miracles?
One notable reference in literature to La Virgen of Guadalupe and her predecessor, the Aztec Earth goddess Tonantzin, is in Sandra Cisneros ' short story "Little Miracles, Kept Promises", from her collection Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories (1991). Cisneros' story is constructed out of brief notes that people give Our Lady of Guadalupe in thanks for favors received, which in Cisneros' hands becomes a portrait of an extended Chicano community living throughout Texas. "Little Miracles" ends with an extended narrative (pp. 124–129) of a feminist artist, Rosario "Chayo" de León, who at first didn't allow images of La Virgen de Guadalupe in her home because she associated her with subservience and suffering, particularly by Mexican women. But when she learns that Guadalupe's shrine is built on the same hill in Mexico City that had a shrine to Tonantzin, the Aztec Earth goddess and serpent destroyer, Chayo comes to understand that there's a deep, syncretic connection between the Aztec goddess and the Mexican saint; together they inspire Chayo's new artistic creativity, inner strength, and independence. In Chayo's words, "I finally understood who you are. No longer Mary the mild, but our mother Tonantzin. Your church at Tepeyac built on the site of her temple" (128).
Who was the father of the Guadalupe flag?
Father Miguel Hidalgo, in the Mexican War of Independence (1810), and Emiliano Zapata, in the Mexican Revolution (1910), led their respective armed forces with Guadalupan flags emblazoned with an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
What is the Virgin of Guadalupe?
The appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe to an indigenous man is said to be one of the forces behind creating the Mexico that we know today: a blend of Spanish and native blood. Her dark skin and the fact that the story of her apparition was told in the indigenous language of Nahuatl and in Spanish are said to have helped convert ...
When did the Virgin of Guadalupe become a national holiday?
The day of the Virgen de Guadalupe became a national holiday in Mexico in 1859. Thousands gather each year on Dec. 12 at Mexico City’s Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe to celebrate the patron saint’s birthday. Over 800,000 people gather around the Basilica and bring candles and offerings to honor her.
What did Juan Diego do to the roses?
On Dec. 12, the Virgin reappeared to Juan Diego and ordered him to collect roses in his tilmátli, a kind of cloak. Juan took the roses to the bishop and when he opened his cloak, dozens of roses fell to the floor and revealed the image of the Virgen of Guadalupe imprinted on the inside.
Who was the first indigenous American saint?
Emiliano Zapata also carried a banner of the Virgen of Guadalupe when he entered Mexico City in 1914. Pope John Paul II canonized Juan Diego in 2002, making him the first indigenous American saint, and declared Our Lady of Guadalupe the patroness of the Americas.
When did Mary first appear?
When did she first appear? According to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to an indigenous man named Juan Diego on Dec. 9, 1531. The Virgin asked that a shrine in her name be built on the spot where she appeared, Tepeyac Hill, which is now in a suburb of Mexico City.
What is the story of the Virgin of Guadalupe?
The Story of the Apparition of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Mexico • Shrines & Pilgrimage • Mary and the Saints • Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The original image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, as it is said to have been presented on Juan Deigo Cuauhtlatoatzin's tilma, or cloak, on December 12, 1531. It hangs above the altar ...
When was the Basilica of Guadalupe built?
Successive shrines were erected on the base of Tepeyac, renamed Guadalupe, culminating in the still-extant old basilica (built 1695-1709) and the new, round basilica (built 1974-76). In 1737, in the face of a devastating epidemic, Our Lady of Guadalupe was proclaimed patroness of Mexico City.
What is the significance of the Tepeyac apparition?
According to the oldest written account of Nahua life and cultural practice in pre-Christian times, jointly compiled by Nahua elders and a Franciscan missionary from 1549-1569, Tepeyac had long been a sacred place dedicated to an Aztec mother goddess . People came “from all the border regions of Mexico” to visit the sacred hill. 4 Even after the site had been dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, de Sahagún reports that native people and Franciscan preachers also called her Tonantzin, Nahuatl for “Our Precious Mother.” The name may have referenced the goddess previously worshipped there. 5
Where did the Virgin appear to Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin?
Sunset view of the old church and the new basilica from Tepeyac hill, site of the apparitions. The top of Tepeyac is where Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin said the Virgin appeared to him, and from which he brought back roses and the famous image of Guadelupe on his tilma as signs. Inside the basilica, pilgrims on moveable walkways pass by ...
Why did Juan Diego not return to Tepeyac?
Juan Diego was not actually able to return that day because his uncle fell gravely sick, but on December 12, he met her again.
Did the chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe have a chapel?
According to tradition, a small chapel was built there almost immediately, and the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was placed there. Historians debate the historicity of the celebrated account, but her millions of devotees do not.
Where did Guadalupe come from?
1. Many Mexicans aren't aware that the original Guadalupe is from Extremadura, Spain. In fact, Christopher Columbus was a devotee and even named the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe in her honor, after she purportedly saved his fleet from a storm at sea.
Who created the Guadalupe?
A bare-breasted Guadalupe created by artist Paz Winshtein was the object of considerable controversy when it was displayed at a gallery in Santa Fe, N.M., in 2014. 7. The etymology of her name is the subject of considerable debate.
What did Guadalupe tell Diego to gather?
During her third apparition, Guadalupe told Diego to gather some Spanish roses that had miraculously bloomed in his “tilma,” or cactus-fiber cloak.
Where is the Virgin image on the cloak?
The determined convert returned to the bishop and unfurled his tilma revealing not only the unseasonable roses but a miraculous image of the Virgin imprinted on the cloak, which can be seen today at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.
Where does the prefix "guada" come from?
There is little doubt that the prefix "Guada" comes from the Arabic "wadi," or river valley. The jury, however, remains out on "lupe," which many assert comes from the Spanish "lobo" ("lupus" in Latin), or wolf. 8. Guadalupe was an integral part of the Mexican Revolution (1910-20).
When was Santa Muerte's feast day?
On her feast day, Dec. 12, I thought I'd share 10 fascinating facts about the Virgin who led Mexicans to independence from Spain:
Who is the Brown Virgin?
La Virgen Morena (the Brown Virgin) is not only patroness of Mexico but also Empress of the Americas, from Chile to Canada. While other manifestations of Mary claim at most a region or country, Guadalupe is the only one to reign over two continents. And if that's not enough, for a brief period in the mid-20th century she was also declared patroness ...
What is the Virgin Guadalupe?
Nearly five hundred years later, the Virgin Guadalupe continues to be adored and revered as a guardian, minder, and savior by millions of Catholic Mexicans. December 12 also marks the beginning of the Christmas Holiday season in Mexico, colloquially known as Guadalupe-Reyes, referring to the period between December 12, and Jan 6— Kings’ Day.
Why do Mexicans visit the Basilica de Guadalupe?
It’s estimated that a million or more Catholic Mexicans visit the Basilica de Guadalupe in northeastern Mexico City on December 12 to pay homage to the country’s most revered religious icon: La Virgen Guadalupe, Our Lady of Guadalupe.
What did the Bishop see on the coat of the Virgin?
The Bishop, seeing the unseasonable flowers, also saw an image of the Virgin Guadalupe imprinted onto to the coat.
What did Juan Diego tell Juan Diego to collect?
So the virgin appeared once more, and on the second occasion told Juan Diego to collect flowers from the top of the hill. Being December, Juan did not expect to find any but upon his arrival there, he found the hill covered with beautiful flowers.
What do Mexicans bring to the Virgin?
Today, Catholic Mexicans bring gifts and offerings to the virgin, petitioning her for help and good providence; for example, when a family member is ill, when there is conflict in their life, or when they are to embark upon some personal or business endeavor.
When was Juan Diego canonized?
Juan Diego was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002, at which time the Pope said, “Christ’s message, through his mother, took up the central elements of indigenous culture, purified them, and gave them a definitive sense of salvation … facilitating the fruitful meeting of two worlds and becoming the catalyst for a new Mexican identity.”
When did Juan Diego take place?
The story of Juan Diego takes place on December 12th, 1531.
What is the Virgin of Guadalupe?
The Virgin of Guadalupe is the Catholic title for the Virgin Mary, a religious icon to the Mexican people who is more than a version of the Mother of God: She is a national symbol. What many do not know is that this goddess who is revered and considered a Christian deity is actually the prodict of a cross between Christian mythology ...
Where is the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe?
It is revered in the monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe, in today's Cáceres province of the Extremadura autonomous community of Spain.
Why did the Spaniards visit the hill of Tepeyac?
The real kicker is that the hill of Tepeyac was originally the site of a Nahua temple to honor Tonantzin, a Nahua goddess. The year 1531 is also suspicious because it was just ten years after Cortez’s conquest, and the top priority of the Spaniards was to convert the Nahuas to Christianity. It is highly possible that Nahuas continued to make pilgrimages to the hill of Tepeyac to honor their Nahua goddess, and the Catholic monks and friars, in their haste to convert them, declared that Tonantzin was actually a Christian goddess. This explanation is more plausible than the concept of a Christian miracle.
What is the Virgin's carving made of?
The original carving is Romanesque, made of cedar wood, which according to ancient legend was found by a shepherd named Gil Cordero, a resident of Cáceres, whom he appeared next to the Guadalupe River, who took the name the Virgin and the people.
What did Juan Diego hear singing?
According to the myth, in December 1531 on a Saturday morning, a humble Nahua named Juan Diego was on his way to church to be evangelized when he heard birds singing on the hill of Tepeyac. He went up the hill to investigate and saw before him a beautiful lady surrounded by a bright, shining aura.
What is the problem with speaking out against the Virgin in Mexico?
The problem with speaking out against the Virgin in Mexico is that you are basically taking away their hope, their strength. One thing that they still believe is good in this world. Sadly, the "non-believers" are outnumbered. Although, things are changing here in Mexico as older generations die off.
What do Cubans believe?
I'm of Cuban origin and Cubans believe in "La Caridad del Cobre" which is the Cuban version of "Guadalupe...". Most countries in Central/South America have their own personal deities of the Virgin Mary and "Guadalupe" is the Mexican version of this Catholic tradition...
Who were the first devotees of Guadalupe?
Studies on her historical development, such as Our Lady of Guadalupe by historian Stafford Poole, demonstrate that contrary to legend, Mexican creoles (people of Spanish descent born in Mexico) were the first devotees of Guadalupe and the primary propagators of her cult. Renditions of Guadalupe became noticeably darker complected on the heels ...
Where did Guadalupe come from?
The etymology of her name is also the subject of considerable debate. Some linguists and historians point to Nahuatl origins while others, more convincingly, remind us that the name Guadalupe already existed in Spain, and thus we should look there for its etymological genesis.
Why was Guadeloupe named after Christopher Columbus?
In fact, Christopher Columbus was a devotee and even named the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe in her honor, after she purportedly saved his fleet from a storm at sea. The Spanish Guadalupe is one of several Black European virgins, so in her Mexican incarnation she actually became lighter complected as the Virgen Morena.
What is the Virgin's cloak made of?
The tilma, or cloak made of cactus fiber, upon which the Virgin’s image is imprinted is held to be miraculous by devotees. Some scientists claim an absence of brush strokes on the tilma while others report that the coloration contains no animal or mineral elements.
What was the Mexican Virgin emblazoned on?
The image of the Mexican Virgin emblazoned on flags, banners and peasant sombreros became the insignia of the armed rebellion against Spanish rule. Spanish troops, on the other hand, were led by the Virgin of Remedies, who was the preeminent advocation of Mary in Mexico until eclipsed by Guadalupe. 6.
Why was the Nahua peasant canonized?
The Nahua peasant was canonized, nonetheless, as part of a strategy to retain Indigenous Catholics who have been defecting in droves to Protestantism, especially Pentecostalism. 4.
Who is the patroness of Mexico?
La Virgen Morena (the Brown Virgin) is not only patroness of Mexico but also Empress of the Americas, from Argentina to Canada. While other manifestations of Mary only claim a region or country, at best, Guadalupe is the only one to reign over two continents, the entire Western Hemisphere. And if that's not enough, for a brief period in the mid-twentieth century she was also declared patroness of the Philippines, home to the world's third largest Catholic population. Before Mexican folk saint, Santa Muerte, caught my scholarly attention in 2009, I had conducted two years of research on the Mestiza Virgin for a book project that was put on hold. On the eve of her feast day, December 12, I thought I'd share ten fascinating facts about the Virgin who led Mexicans to independence from Spain.
Why was the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe built?
In 1976, a new and modern structure was built to meet the needs of the thousands of pilgrims who visit Our Lady of Guadalupe daily. The original image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was transferred to what we now know as the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, where it remains to this day. Its design was inspired by the miracle, as the blue-green ceiling represents the Virgin’s mantle who has her children under her protection.
Where did Juan Diego meet the Virgin?
Juan Diego met the Virgin again at the top of the Tepeyac. After hearing his response, the Virgin asked him to return the following morning for a sign that he would take to the bishop. “Well and good, my little dear, you will return here tomorrow, so you may take to the bishop the sign he has requested.
What happened on December 9, 1531?
The morning of Saturday, December 9, 1531, something happened that turned the faith of both the Aztecs and the Spaniards around. Juan Diego was on his way to the Franciscan missionary’s church in Tlatelolco from his home in Tulpetlac, when the unexpected happened.
Why did the Aztecs offer human blood to their god?
According to their beliefs, they had to offer human blood to their god in order to keep the sun moving across the sky and preserve their very lives, otherwise the world would end.
What was the miracle that changed history?
Our Lady Of Guadalupe: The miracle that changed history. Before the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors to the American continent, the residents of Tenochtitlan, modern-day Mexico City, had strong polytheistic beliefs that completely guided their lifestyle. Tenochtitlan was the center of religious worship for the Aztecs.
What did Juan Diego hear when he passed a hill?
At dawn, as he passed a hill named Tepeyac, he suddenly heard songbirds burst into harmony. Then, a sweet voice called him by name in Náhualt, his native language: “Juanito, my dear Juan Diego.”. He followed the sweet voice, and then he saw a glowing figure on the hill.
Why did Juan Diego go looking for a priest?
On Tuesday morning, given the seriousness of his uncle’s health, Juan Diego went looking for a priest so that his uncle might receive the last rites. Instead of taking the usual route, he went around the hill to avoid the Virgin, but she descended from the hill and comforted him.
Overview
Cultural significance
Juan Diego's tilma has become Mexico's most popular religious and cultural symbol, and has received widespread ecclesiastical and popular veneration. In the 19th century it became the rallying cry of the Spaniards born in America, in what they denominated 'New Spain'. They said they considered the apparitions as legitimizing their own indigenous Mexican origin. They infused it with an al…
Description of Marian apparitions
According to Nican Mopohua, a 17th-century account written in the native Nahuatl language, the Virgin Mary appeared four times to Juan Diego, an indigenous Mexican peasant Chichimec and once to his uncle, Juan Bernardino. The first apparition occurred on the morning of Saturday, 9 December 1531 (Julian calendar, which is December 19 on the (proleptic) Gregorian calendar in …
Pontifical approbations
• Pope Benedict XIV — in the papal bull Non est Equidem of 25 May 1754, declared Our Lady of Guadalupe patroness of what was then named "New Spain", corresponding to Spanish Central and Northern America, and included liturgical texts for the Catholic Mass and the Roman Breviary in her honor.
• Pope Leo XIII — granted a decree of coronation towards the original Mexican relic on 8 February 1887. Later, through the Sacred Congregation of Rites, he issued an add…
• Pope Benedict XIV — in the papal bull Non est Equidem of 25 May 1754, declared Our Lady of Guadalupe patroness of what was then named "New Spain", corresponding to Spanish Central and Northern America, and included liturgical texts for the Catholic Mass and the Roman Breviary in her honor.
• Pope Leo XIII — granted a decree of coronation towards the original Mexican relic on 8 February 1887. Later, through the Sacred Congregation of Rites, he issued an addendum epistle …
Early history
The shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Guadalupe, Cáceres, in Extremadura, Spain was the most important Marian shrine in the medieval kingdom of Castile. It is one of the many dark or black skinned Madonnas in Spain and is revered in the Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe, in the town of Guadalupe, from which numerous Spanish conquistadors stem. The name is believed to be deri…
The beatification of Juan Diego
Under Pope John Paul II the move to beatify Juan Diego intensified. John Paul II took a special interest in non-European Catholics and saints. During his leadership, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints declared Juan Diego "venerable" (in 1987), and the pope himself announced his beatification on May 6, 1990, during a Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, …
Marian title
In the earliest account of the apparition, the Nican Mopohua, the Virgin de Guadalupe, later called as if the Virgin Mary tells Juan Bernardino, the uncle of Juan Diego, that the image left on the tilma is to be known by the name "the Perfect Virgin, Holy Mary of Guadalupe."
The Virgin of Guadalupe is a core element of Mexican identity and with the ris…
Venerated image and Diego's tilma
The venerated image of Our Lady of Guadalupe features a full-length representation of a young woman with delicate features and straight, dark hair in a centre parting. She stands facing the viewer's left, with her hands joined in prayer and head slightly inclined down, gazing with heavy-lidded eyes at a spot below and to her right (the left of the viewer).
The figure is dressed from neck to feet in a pink robe and cerulean mantle, one side folded within …