The story of Our Lady of Guadalupe has been a vital part of Mexican heritage since the 16th century. The tale begins with a humble indigenous man, originally named Cuauhtlatohuac, who, after baptism, was known as Juan Diego. He was a 57-year-old widower living near Mexico City. On a Saturday morning in December 1531, Juan Diego was on his way to Mass in a neighboring area.
His journey took him past Tepeyac Hill, where he encountered an extraordinary vision. He heard melodious music resembling bird songs and saw a radiant cloud. Within this cloud appeared a young Native American woman, adorned in attire reminiscent of an Aztec princess. She spoke to Juan Diego in his native tongue, instructing him to request that the Bishop of Mexico, Juan de Zumarraga, build a chapel at the site of her appearance.
The bishop, initially skeptical, requested a sign from the lady. Around this time, Juan Diego’s uncle fell gravely ill, leading Juan to evade further encounters with the mysterious lady. However, she found him, reassured him about his uncle’s recovery, and provided roses for Juan to present to the bishop, carried in his tilma (a type of cloak).
In a dramatic revelation, when Juan Diego unfolded his tilma before the bishop, the roses cascaded to the floor, and an image of Mary, mirroring her appearance at Tepeyac Hill, was miraculously imprinted on the cloth. This event occurred on December 12, 1531.
The tilma itself, made from coarse vegetable fiber, possibly maguey, is a simple, sack-like fabric. Composed of two strips around seventy inches long and eighteen inches wide, joined by a fragile seam visible down the middle, the material was neither intended nor prepared for artistic use. Yet, the image on it displayed a complex array of color techniques, combining elements of oil, water, and tempera, which left artists and observers in awe. The image, with perfect proportions of a young maiden, about fifteen years old, exudes both motion and tranquility, supported by an angel. Its predominant colors are deep gold in the rays and stars, blue-green in the mantle, and rose in the flowered tunic.
Our Lady of Guadalupe holds immense significance as the patroness of Mexico and the entire Americas.
Editorial credit: AM113 / Shutterstock.com
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