The Virgin of Guadalupe, patron saint of Mexico. Was this a historic event, or ancient legend? Personally, I am skeptical. I believe in the Virgin Mary mind you, but I am just no so sure about the event itself. However I am aware that this is a sacred event with people of Catholic faith, and I would never dare to imply that it is less than factual and miraculous.
In 1523, the first Roman Catholic missionaries arrived in Mexico to begin a religious conquest. Just eight years later, the miracle happened at Tepeyac hill. This had been an important pilgrimage place for the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan. However, after the conquest of Tenochtitlan by Hernan Cortez, in 1521, the shrine was demolished and the native people were forbidden to make pilgrimages to the hill. The Christians considered pilgrimages to be devil worship. http://users.pullman.com/fjstevens/tokens/ArrasTokens/VirginStory.htm
On December 9, 1531, Juan Diego, a recently baptized Christian was traveling across the barren hill of Tepeyac to attend mass.
He was brought to an abrupt halt by a bright light and the sound of "heavenly" music. (Note: Some documents mention a bright light, golden glow, rainbow sky, golden mist, etc.) Before him appeared a beautiful dark skinned woman who declared herself to be the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. She told Juan Diego that she wanted to have a church built on that very spot. She asked him to send this message to Bishop Juan de Zumarraga. Juan Diego knew that it would not be easy to be granted permission to see the bishop, but his persistence was rewarded. He told the bishop of his encounter with the beautiful dark-skinned woman and the bishop demanded proof. www.mexconnect.com/mex_/guadalupe.html
Diego avoided the hill for many days, but one day he was in a hurry to find a priest for his ill uncle and he took a shortcut across the hill. Again, the virgin appeared and Juan Diego told her that the bishop requested proof. She instructed him to pick roses from the usually desolate and barren hill and deliver them to Bishop Juan de Zumarraga (keep in mind it was December and the hill was covered in frost). Juan climbed to the summit where he found an abundance of beautiful blossoms. He gathered up the magnificent roses that he found growing there and returned with them to Mary. Mary arranged the roses in Juan's shawl and instructed him to carefully carry the bundle to the bishop and this would be her sign. Diego stood in front of the bishop and let the roses fall from his mantle (shawl). Everyone near was astounded to see a perfect vision of the Virgin Mary on Juan Diego's cloak. http://www.cancunsteve.com/guadalupe.htm
News of the miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary on the shawl of a peasant spread rapidly throughout Mexico. Indians came by the thousands when they heard that the mother of the Christian God had appeared to one of their own and spoke in their native language. From 1532 to 1538, more that eight million Indians converted to Christianity.
The shrine has been rebuilt several times over the centuries, and is today a great basilica with room for 10,000 people. Juan Diego's shawl is preserved in the basilica behind bulletproof glass and hangs 25 feet above the main alter.
Juan Diego's shawl had been examined carefully by experts, who have dated the cloth to the 16th century, but no one has ever been able to identify the pigment used to create the image of the Virgin Mary. Most amazingly, after 465 years, neither the cloth nor the image shows any sign of deterioration.
I find this story miraculous and intriguing. Was this truly an apparition? Did this event actually take place or were a few people who spread an incredible legend? I have no doubt that the people involved actually believe what they saw, but can I? However, I am now, more that ever, interested in seeing the cloth that hangs in the shrine. What do you believe?
After reading these stories, I now know why the Virgin de Guadalupe is always pictured surrounded by roses, light and brilliant colors.
Stay tuned to Part C for more intrigue...
Component B
"People, children, disbelievers, gather around. I would like to tell you the story of the Virgin de Guadalupe.
I am Juan Salvador Diego, the great great great great grandson of Juan Diego of Guadalupe, Mexico.
I am, a Christian man thanks to my great great great great grandfather, and would like to tell you all about the day that the blessed Virgin Mary appeared in this land and spoke to my grandfather.
It was a chilly December morning when my grandfather set out on a journey through the hills with nothing but his tasks in mind. When he arrived at the hill of Tepeyac he was greeted by a miraculous vision; a dark-skinned woman surrounded by colorful light and a golden mist. As he approached he could hear music playing as if from the heavens. She was beautiful. She spoke to him and called him "my son". She was the Virgin Mary. My grandfather fell to his knees as he had just recently came to know God. She instructed him to speak to the bishop of the local village, and inform him that she would like a church built on the hill, but the bishop did not believe what he had seen.
It was very difficult for my grandfather to present such a thing to honored and respected bishop, but his newly discovered faith was feeding him and giving him the strength to be persistent and persuasive. The bishop insisted on proof, and my grandfather, then feeling somewhat broken and doubting himself, returned to his home, avoiding the hill where the beautiful apparition stood.
It seemed so real to him, but when the bishop doubted him, he did not know what to do. He was but a humble Indian and the bishop was a great servant of Christ.
Several days later, my grandfather's uncle became ill. He rushed to the village to get a priest to pray over his uncle. In is haste, he took the fastest route to the village, over Tepeyac hill. Upon reaching the top of the hill, he was once again stopped in his tracks by the beautiful vision of the Virgin de Guadalupe. She questioned him as to why he had not returned to her and he explained his predicament. She then instructed him to climb to the summit and pick the roses that grew there. My grandfather realized that is was the dead of winter and the land was covered with frost. He knew that roses would not possible grow on the barren land that she directed him to. Despite his skepticism, he did as she asked. What do your think happened? To his amazement, upon reaching the summit, my grandfather was met with the most miraculous of views. The ground was covered with the most beautiful and fragrant roses that he had ever seen. He wrapped these blossoms in his cloak as instructed and delivered them to the bishop.
He delivered these blossoms to the bishop, and do you know what happened? Well, let me tell you. He let down his mantel and the flowers fell at the feet of the bishop. At the same time, the bishop and all of the people in his presence fell to their knees in astonishment. They could not believe their eyes. They looked at each other to affirm what they were seeing. Can you guess? Yes, the figure of the blessed Virgin de Guadalupe printed with great precision upon his cloak. He too was in amazement.
This vision proved to the bishop that a blessed event and truly taken place and that he had been spoken to by a greater being.
The church was build and million of our people were led to the Christian faith because of this event.
I am proud to be the ancestor of a brave man who was not afraid to stand up for his beliefs. This man led many men to accept God in their lives. I hope that this story of faith has effected any of you who doubt your beliefs or question how to lead your lives."
"And please remember, God works in mysterious ways, and we are blessed to be the servants and messengers of his word. Please spread this story and His words to any disbeliever so that they too may find peach and strength in Christ."