Our Lady of Guadalupe
From Association of Independent Readers and Rootworkers
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Our Lady of Guadalupe is an apparition of the Virgin Mary who appeared in a vision in 1531 and is now the Patron of Mexico and Mexicans. Her Feast Day is celebrated on December 12th
She appeared to a Mesoamerican man named Juan Diego, requesting that a church be built at Tepeyac—a hill lying to the Northwest of today’s Mexico City. Speaking to Juan in his native language of Nahuatl, she asked that he build her a church. When Juan responded that he needed a sign to prove that this was a real vision, the Lady asked him to bring her some flowers and miraculously a bunch of Castilian roses appeared on the mountainside even though it was mid-winter. Needless to say the church was built and is now known as the Basillica of Our Lady Guadalupe. She is the Patron Saint of Mexico and her shrine at Tepeyac is the most frequented Catholic holy site in the world. She is considered by many Mexicans to be the Mother of Mexico and her image was flown alongside the Mexican flag when the country declared its independence from Spain.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is easily recognizable and her image is quite prolific. She is surrounded by a fiery halo encircling her entire body and not just her head. A small cherubic angel holds a crescent moon under her feet. Often she is depicted in a rose colored gown with a blue mantle studded with golden stars resting over her back and shoulders. Roses are typically present in her image due to the miraculous roses that appeared to Juan and she is occasionally with the Mexican flag.
