The basilica of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe is the most visited pilgrimage site in the Western Hemisphere. Located on the hill of Tepeyac, and sacred site long before the arrival of Christianity, it had a temple dedicated to Tonantzin, the ‘Mother of the Gods.’ Following the conquest of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan by Cortez in 1521, the shrine was demolished and native people were forbidden to make pilgrimages to the sacred hill.

In 1531, a baptized Aztec Indian named Juan Diego experienced a series of apparitions upon the hill of Tepeyac. In these apparitions a young woman revealed herself as ‘Holy Mary, Mother of God’. The apparitional figure directed Juan Diego to speak with the local bishop and have him build a church on the hill. Understandably, the bishop was skeptical and asked for a sign. Juan Diego returned to the hill, encountered the apparition again, and was told to climb to the peak where he should gather a bunch of roses and return to Mary. Juan climbed the hill with misgivings for it was winter and no roses could possibly be growing. Yet upon reaching the summit, Juan found a profusion of roses, an armful of which he wrapped in his shawl and took to Mary. Arranging the roses, Mary instructed Juan to take the shawl-encased bundle to the bishop, for this would be her sign. When the bishop unrolled the shawl, the presence of the roses was astounding. But truly miraculous was the image that had mysteriously appeared on the inside of Juan Diego's shawl. The image showed a young woman wearing a crown and gown standing upon a half moon. Soon thereafter the bishop began construction of the church. Juan Diego's shawl is preserved behind glass above the main altar in the current basilica. Yearly, an estimated ten million pilgrims come to venerate the image of Guadalupe and on major festival days, such as December 12th, the atmosphere of devotion created by the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims is truly electrifying.

Photo: The image of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, Mexico City

More about the Basilica of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe from Sacred Sites.

Written by  Martin Gray.

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