The Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe
The Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe (or Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe), observed each December 12, is the most important Catholic feast day in Mexico. It commemorates the meeting of an Aztec man with the Virgin Mary in 1531. It has been celebrated as a national holiday since 1859.
The cast of characters
Juan Diego: A native Mexican who lived at the time of the Spanish conquest of Mexico.
The Virgin of Guadalupe: The Virgin Mary and the patron saint of Mexico. She is considered extremely holy by Catholics who believe she can perform miracles and answer the prayers of the faithful.
The Bishop: Juan de Zumarraga, the first bishop of Mexico, was a Spanish Basque Franciscan known as “Protector of the Indians.” He wrote the first book published in the Western hemisphere, Doctrina breve, which was printed in Mexico City in 1539.
Four meetings
The first meeting of Juan Diego and the Virgin
On December 9, 1531, near Mexico City, Juan Diego was walking on Tepeyac Hill. He was startled by a glorious vision of the Virgin Mary. Unlike the paintings of a pale Mary found in the Spanish churches, this Mary was dark skinned like the indigenous Mexicans. She spoke to Juan Diego in his native Nahuatl language.
The Virgin asked Juan Diego to go to the local bishop and ask him to build a church on the very spot he was standing.
The first meeting of Juan Diego and the bishop
Juan Diego went to visit the bishop and told him about the meeting with Mary. He explained her request to build the church on Tepeyac Hill. The bishop wanted proof of the encounter before he would consider building the church.
The second meeting of Juan Diego and the Virgin
On December 12, Juan Diego was once again walking on the hill where he had met Mary. Again she appeared to him. She told him to climb to the top of the hill and collect the flowers he would find there in his tilma (cloak) and then show them to the bishop.
Being the middle of winter, he didn’t expect to find anything growing, but he obeyed her instruction. Upon reaching the top, he found the hill covered in roses in full bloom. He filled his tilma with the roses and carried them carefully to the bishop.
The second meeting of Juan Diego and the bishop
When he arrived before the bishop, Juan Diego opened the tilma and the roses tumbled out across the floor. Remaining on Juan Diego’s tilma—miraculously—was the image of the Virgin.
Just as he remembered, the image showed the Virgin Mary with brown skin. She had an angel and the moon at her feet and was encircled by the sun’s rays.
The bishop was convinced by the miracle. He believed Juan Diego and built a church on Tepeyac Hill. The tilma with the image of the Virgin, who came to be known as la Virgen de Guadalupe (the Virgin of Guadalupe), was hung in the church.
Epilogue
Almost 500 years after Juan Diego’s meeting with the Virgin, visitors come from around the world to worship in the basilica on Tepeyac Hill. Juan Diego’s tilma still occupies a place of honor.
And the image of la Virgen de Guadalupe remains—miraculously—unchanged. It the most revered religious relic in Latin America and is the strongest symbol of Mexican unity.
The impact of the Virgin of Guadalupe
The story of the Juan Diego and his meeting with the Virgin has become an important part of Mexico’s religious, political, and cultural history.
Religious
Untold indigenous Mexicans converted to Catholicism as a result of the Lady’s appearance and miracle.
The story of Juan Diego and the Virgin is foundational to the Catholic faith of the Mexican people.
In 2002, Pope John Paul II declared Our Lady of Guadalupe the patroness of the Americas. At the same time, he canonized Juan Diego, who became the first indigenous American saint.
Each year, millions of the faithful make a pilgrimage from all over Mexico and the world to see the image of the Virgin at the Basilica of Guadalupe.
Political
Mexicans have worshiped the Virgin of Guadalupe as the queen of Mexico.
Throughout Mexican history, the image of the Virgin has been a patriotic symbol.
In the Mexican War of Independence, the rebels carried her image on their flags and their battle cry was “Long Live Our Lady of Guadalupe.”
When Emiliano Zapata entered Mexico City during the Mexican Revolution, he also carried a banner of the Virgen of Guadalupe.
Cultural
The Virgin’s appearance was foundational to modern day Mexico, a blend of native Mexican and European.
She was dark-skinned and spoke to Juan Diego in his native Nahuatl language. Juan Diego, in turn, spoke Spanish with the bishop. This meeting of Aztec and Spanish heritage was instrumental in converting the indigenous people of Mexico to Christianity.
Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe
Millions of people visit Mexico City’s Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe every December 12. They carry candles, sing and pray, and bring offerings to the Virgin. There are dancers, singers, food, and artisans. It is a microcosm of Mexico, a meaningful meeting of faith and fiesta.
