|
Our Beloved Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego in 1531 , the day of the feast of the Immaculate Conception at Tepeyac hill, near Mexico city. Formaly the site of a pagan temple. He saw an apparition of a beautiful young girl surrounded by light. She told him of her love for the people of Mexico and asked that the local bishop build a Church on that spot. The bishop said that to believe such request he must see a sign from heaven, however Our Lady promised a sign that would convinced the bishop. Mary asked from Juan to gather some miraculous out-of-season flowers which he would find at the top of the hill and carry them in his rough cactus fibre outer garment, his tilma, to the bishop. Once there Juan Diego began to tell his story while unfolding the tilma, as the bishop and some important guests who happened to be present saw the wonderful Image of Our Lady of Guadeloupe on it!!!! Within six years of this apparition, six million Aztecs who were ruling over Mexico and used to sacrifice humans for their rituals believe, converted to Catholicism. The tilma till our days is intact. In 1977, the tilma was examined using infrared photography and digital enhancment techniques. Unlike any painting, the tilma shows no sketching or any sign of outline drawn to permit an artist to produce a painting. It can be seen today in a large cathedral built to house up to ten thousand worshipers.
Altogether 24 Popes have officially honored Our Lady of Guadalupe |
|
