The feast in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe goes back to the sixteenth century. Chronicles of that period tell us the story. A poor Indian named Cuauhtlatohuac was baptized and given the name Juan Diego. He was a 57-year-old widower and lived in a small village near Mexico City. On Saturday morning, December 9, 1531, he was on his way to a nearby barrio to attend Mass in honor of Our Lady.

He was walking by a hill called Tepeyac when he heard beautiful music like the warbling of birds. A radiant cloud appeared and within it a young Native American maiden dressed like an Aztec princess. The lady spoke to him in his own language and sent him to the Bishop of Mexico, a Franciscan named Juan de Zumarraga. The Bishop was to build a chapel in the place where the lady appeared.

Eventually the bishop told Juan Diego to have the lady give him a sign. About this same time Juan Diego’s uncle became seriously ill. This led poor Diego to try to avoid the lady. The lady found Diego, nevertheless, assured him that his uncle would recover and provided roses for Juan to carry to the bishop in his cape or tilma.

When Juan Diego opened his tilma in the bishop’s presence, the roses fell to the ground and the bishop sank to his knees. On Juan Diego’s tilma appeared an image of Mary exactly as she had appeared at the hill of Tepeyac. It was December 12, 1531.

The coarsely woven material of the tilma which bears the picture is as thin and open as poor sacking. It is made of vegetable fiber, probably maguey. It consists of two strips, about seventy inches long by eighteen wide, held together by weak stitching. The seam is visible up the middle of the figure, turning aside from the face. Painters have not understood the laying on of the colors. They have deposed that the “canvas” was not only unfit but unprepared, and they have marveled at apparent oil, water, tempera, etc. colouring in the same figure. They are left in equal admiration by the flower-like tints and the abundant gold. They and other artists find the proportions perfect for a maiden of fifteen. The figure and the attitude are of one advancing. There is flight and rest in the eager supporting angel. The chief colours are deep gold in the rays and stars, blue-green in the mantle, and rose in the flowered tunic.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patron of Mexico and the Americas in whole.

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14 COMMENTS

  1. What a great story. This is the main reason why I am still alive after all I’ve been through. I was born to die but because of her, I was allowed to live. At 1 and a half years of age, I had a horrific accident and because of her, I came out of the situation without a single scratch. I should’ve been dead. When I was about 9 years of age again, I had a horrific accident very similar to the one prior at age 1.5 but this time it was from an even higher distance that I fell from (the 3rd story of a building) and because of her protection, I received not a single scratch. When I was 18 I was in an awful car accident where both of the cars involved were totaled due to the motorist being drunk behind the wheel of the other vehicle. This happened on Mother’s day after visiting my mother and my brother was with me at the time of the accident. 4 men drenched and covered in blood were in the other car and they were all drunk as well. Thanks to Our Lady of Guadalupe (or La Virgen de Guadalupe, as I’ve always known her) & her protection, once again, helped both my brother and I to walk out of that situation without a single scratch though my car was totally destroyed. When I was 25 years old, I was deployed to Iraq and I escaped many, many close calls but in 2 situations, clearly, the work of Mi Madre La Virgen de Guadalupe played a part in me having the opportunity to write this message now. You see, the vehicle I was in was blown up twice, 1 month apart from each other. The 1st time was by a car full of explosives and the 2nd time was by a suicide bomber in a car full of explosives. Both times, I escaped without a single scratch. Unfortunately, my friends were severely injured but thankfully, miraculously, all of them survived the blasts as well. Gracias Virgen de Guadalupe Madre mia. Se lo agradesco bien mucho! Thank you Our Lady of Guadalupe for protecting me ever since I was born. I don’t take it for granted and I am very grateful that you’ve done so all this time.

    • What an incredible life you have had. Thank you also for. Serving our country. I am happy you are alive to tell this story. Many blessings!

  2. Our Lady of Guadalupe,

    Please watch over my children & their families. Please keep them devout, safe & healthy. Please bring Peace to the World. In Jesus’ name. Amen

  3. 4).
    Maria durch Guatelupe ging.
    Ky – rie – e – lei – son.
    Maria zu Juan Diego winkt,
    der hat zuvor dort noch nie Rosen gesehen.
    Jesus und Maria.
    5).
    Was trug Juan Diego in seiner Tilma?
    Ky – rie – e – lei – son.
    Spanische Rosen ohne Scherzen,
    das trug er voll Freud und Lieb´ in sein Herzen!
    Jesus und Maria.
    6).
    Da hat Guatelupe Rosen getragen!
    Ky – rie – e – lei – son.
    Als sie dem Zumarraga getragen,
    da haben die Indios Rosen getragen!
    Jesus und Maria.
    7).
    Da fängt an Glaube an Gott Wurzeln schlagen.
    Ky – rie – e – lei – son.
    Als Maria durch Mexiko getragen,
    da sind Millionen Frücht´ hervor gewachsen!
    Jesus und Maria!

    +++++++ +++++++ +++++++ +++++++
    nachgedichtet heute am Gedenktag “Unsre Liebe Frau von Guadalupe” – nach der Taufe von Stella in der Pfarrkirche in Weingarten bei Bruchsal und der anschließenden Feier im Familienkreis mit allen geladenen Gästen zu diesem Anlass – ins besondere durch die Inspiration vom Lob und Gesang aus dem neuen Gotteslob, Lied Nr.: 224# (siehe Bild-Anhang).

    Die Heiligste Jungfrau erschien damals dort den einheimischen Atzteke-Indianer Juan Diego vom 10. Dez. bis zum 12. Dez. 1531; exakt 10 Jahre nach dem Ausbruch der sogenannten “Reformation” – Bewegung in Deutschland , hauptsächlich im Osten Deutschlands im Jahre 1521, wo die Erzfeinde der Katholischen Kirche Gottes Martin Luther, von Karlstadt & Co. in nah zu allen Kirchen Ostdeutschlands den sogenannten “Bild-Sturm”(Entweihungen aller undenkbaren Arten und Ausschweifungen – genau wie bei der so genannten “Großen Kultur-Revolution” Chinas der 1960er Jahre – ) entbrennen ließen, wobei alles, was den Gläubigen der HL. Kirche heilig und teuer waren, in Asche und Schutt zerschlagen wurden!
    Dieses Gnadenbild in der Basilika von Guadalupe in der Mexiko City ist wohl die beste Antwort aus dem Himmelreich (not sky bus Heaven!) auf diese Banden und Horten von Banbinos Banditos dieser Sorten Arschlöcher wie Martin Luther, von Karlstadt & Co. samt ihrer “Reformation”!

    Kehrt um, Deutschlands Prostestanten!
    Kehrt um, alle Protestanten der Welt!!!

  4. O Virgin of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas, grant to our homes the grace of loving and respecting life in its beginnings, with the same love with which you conceived in your womb the life of the Son of God. Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Fair love, protect our families so that they may always be united and bless the upbringing of our children.
    Our hope, look upon us with pity, teach us to go continually to Jesus, and if we fall help us to rise again and return to him through the confession of our faults and our sins in the sacrament of penance, which gives peace to the soul.
    We beg you to grant us a great love of all the holy sacraments, which are, as it were, the signs that your Son left us on earth. Thus, Most Holy Mother, with the peace of God in our consciences, with our hearts free from evil and hatred, we will be able to bring to all others true joy and true peace, which come to us from your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns for ever and ever.
    Amen.

  5. OUR. LADY. OF. GUADALUPE!!!!!!!!!!!!! HEAR. MY. PRAYERS,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,FOR. THOSE. WHO. ARE. LOST. IN. THE
    DARKNESS. OF. NIGHT,,,,,,,,,,BRING. THEM. BACK. TO. ,,,,,,,TO. YOUR. LIGHT!!!!!!!!!! THESE. POOR. SOULS. ARE
    DAMAGED. GOODS !!!!!!! THEY. LIVE. WITH. MANY. UGLY. PAINS. AND. MEMORIES!!!!!!!! THEIR. JOYS. ARE. TO
    HARM. OTHERS,,,,,,,,,CONSEQUENTLY,,,,,,,,,,,,ONLY. BRINGING,,,MORE. SO. MUCH. MORE. PAIN. TO. THEMSELVES!!!
    MAY. THE. LOVE. OF. OUR. LADY. OF. GUADALUPE,,,RETURN. TO. THEIR. HEARTS. 💕

  6. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. For life faith hope love.
    All holy men and women, martyrs, saints, angels, pray for us.
    For conversion of sinners and redemption of suffering souls.
    Holy Family of Nazareth, restore matrimony and family life.
    Transform all of mankind’s iniquity into integrity. Amen.
    Ecce Crucem Domini!
    Fugite partes adversae!
    Vicit Leo de tribu Juda,
    Radix David! Alleluia!
    Saint Anthony of Padua, pray for us. For Italy.
    Saint Teresa of Avila, pray for us. For Rome.
    Blood of Christ Crucified, cleanse the Vatican.
    For the sake of Your Son, have mercy Lord.
    BVMary, OLOG, protect life from conception to natural death.

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