Our Lady of Our Lady of Guadalupe Guadalupe

December 12December 12

Background InformationBackground Information

Missionaries who first came to Missionaries who first came to

Mexico had little success in Mexico had little success in

converting the Native peoples converting the Native peoples

to Christianity.to Christianity.

After nearly a generation, only a After nearly a generation, only a

few hundred Native Mexicans few hundred Native Mexicans

had converted to the Christian had converted to the Christian

faith.faith.

This was not significant in the This was not significant in the

scope of the population.scope of the population.

For a variety of reasons, the Christian For a variety of reasons, the Christian

faith didn’t seem to appeal to the faith didn’t seem to appeal to the

Natives.Natives.

This may have been simply because This may have been simply because

they did not understand the they did not understand the

missionaries ideas or because they missionaries ideas or because they

resented the people who made them resented the people who made them

slaves. In short, Christianity was not slaves. In short, Christianity was not

popular.popular.

This all changed in 1531 when miracles This all changed in 1531 when miracles

began occurring.began occurring.

Our lady of Guadalupe appeared to Our lady of Guadalupe appeared to

Juan Diego.Juan Diego.

The signs convinced the people that The signs convinced the people that

Christianity might be worth looking in to.Christianity might be worth looking in to.

Within a short time, six million Native Mexicans had Within a short time, six million Native Mexicans had

themselves baptized as Christians.themselves baptized as Christians.

We now honor this on December 12 of every yearWe now honor this on December 12 of every year

We do so to appreciate her appearanceWe do so to appreciate her appearance

To remember the dayTo remember the day

And to use the example of the Natives who took a And to use the example of the Natives who took a

leap of faith into Christianity so that others may leap of faith into Christianity so that others may

learn from them and do the samelearn from them and do the same

Signs & Symbols Signs & Symbols

The piece of art Imagen de la Virgen Maria The piece of art Imagen de la Virgen Maria

portrays her as a women of the apocalypse portrays her as a women of the apocalypse

from Revelation 12:1.from Revelation 12:1.

She is shown as being "clothed with the sun, She is shown as being "clothed with the sun,

and the moon under her feet, and upon her and the moon under her feet, and upon her

head a crown of twelve stars." The crown head a crown of twelve stars." The crown

however is not visible due to the frame for the however is not visible due to the frame for the

canvas; it was designed to not leave any room canvas; it was designed to not leave any room

above her head.above her head.

Her belt is a symbol of pregnancy.Her belt is a symbol of pregnancy.

Beneath her sash, a cross-shaped image Beneath her sash, a cross-shaped image

symbolizes the cosmos.symbolizes the cosmos.

She is known as the "Mother of maguey," a She is known as the "Mother of maguey," a

plant used in the drink. plant used in the drink.

The rays of light around her are said to The rays of light around her are said to

represent maguey spines. represent maguey spines.

The Celebration The Celebration The festival of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe actually begins a week The festival of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe actually begins a week

before December 12. before December 12.

Thousands of pilgrims from all over the country—many traveling for a Thousands of pilgrims from all over the country—many traveling for a

week on foot or by burro—flock to the Basilica de Ville Madero, on the week on foot or by burro—flock to the Basilica de Ville Madero, on the

outskirts of Mexico City, where the most impressive ceremonies in outskirts of Mexico City, where the most impressive ceremonies in

honor of the Virgin are held. honor of the Virgin are held.

The streets adjoining the church are literally packed with people who The streets adjoining the church are literally packed with people who

wait their turn to enter the church and make their offering.wait their turn to enter the church and make their offering.

The climax of the festival The climax of the festival

begins on the eve of December begins on the eve of December

12, when the conchero dancers 12, when the conchero dancers

gather in the atrium of the gather in the atrium of the

church. church.

The dancing begins at midnight The dancing begins at midnight

and lasts throughout the day. and lasts throughout the day.

Groups of dancers alternate to Groups of dancers alternate to

keep up the furious pace.keep up the furious pace.

Since it is a happy day for all Since it is a happy day for all

Mexicans, food and drink are Mexicans, food and drink are

enjoyed by rich and poor alike, enjoyed by rich and poor alike,

and many people will save up and many people will save up

their money throughout the their money throughout the

year for this special occasion.year for this special occasion.

Scientific Evidence Scientific Evidence

Before concluding his presentation, Dr. Orozco Before concluding his presentation, Dr. Orozco

made mention of two miracles associated with the made mention of two miracles associated with the

Tilma. Tilma.

The first occurred in 1785 when a worker The first occurred in 1785 when a worker

accidentally spilled a 50 percent nitric acid solvent accidentally spilled a 50 percent nitric acid solvent

on the right side of the cloth. “Besides any natural on the right side of the cloth. “Besides any natural

explanation, the acid has not destroyed the fabric explanation, the acid has not destroyed the fabric

of the cloth, indeed it has not even destroyed the of the cloth, indeed it has not even destroyed the

colored parts of the image,” Orozco said.colored parts of the image,” Orozco said.

The second miracle was the The second miracle was the

explosion of a bomb near the explosion of a bomb near the

Tilma in 1921. Tilma in 1921.

Dr. Orozco recalled that the Dr. Orozco recalled that the

explosion broke the marble floor explosion broke the marble floor

and widows 150 meters from the and widows 150 meters from the

explosion, but “unexpectedly, explosion, but “unexpectedly,

neither the Tilma nor the normal neither the Tilma nor the normal

glass that protected the Tilma glass that protected the Tilma

was damaged or broken.” The was damaged or broken.” The

only damage near it was a brass only damage near it was a brass

crucifix that was twisted by the crucifix that was twisted by the

blast.blast.

He continued, “There are no He continued, “There are no

explanations why the shockwave explanations why the shockwave

that broke windows 150 meters afar that broke windows 150 meters afar

did not destroy the normal glass that did not destroy the normal glass that

protected the image. Some people protected the image. Some people

said that the Son by means of the said that the Son by means of the

brass crucifix protected the image of brass crucifix protected the image of

His Mother. The real fact is that we His Mother. The real fact is that we

don’t have a natural explanation for don’t have a natural explanation for

this event.”this event.”

Mary's pupils on the tilma respond to light; Mary's pupils on the tilma respond to light;

they dilate when it is dark and constrict they dilate when it is dark and constrict

when there is light shined into them.when there is light shined into them.

Also, the pigments that make up Mary's Also, the pigments that make up Mary's

face on the tilma are created from face on the tilma are created from

pigments "not of this world." pigments "not of this world."