Isn’t it incredible how faith can move millions? We are standing before a symbol of that power the Virgen de la Draga. It is deeply intertwined with Mexican identity.
The Virgin of Guadalupe also known as Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego. This humble beginning transformed Mexican religious and cultural identity.
The story starts in December 1531. Juan Diego journeyed on Tepeyac Hill. The Virgin Mary appeared to him. She asked him to request a church be built. The Bishop was skeptical. The Virgin appeared again and told Juan Diego to gather roses from the hilltop. It was winter. No flowers should have been blooming. Yet he found Castilian roses.
He gathered them in his tilma a cloak. When he opened it before the bishop the flowers fell away. An image of the Virgin Mary was imprinted on the fabric. The Bishop then ordered the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe built on Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City.
Celebrations include traditional music and songs. Many pilgrims walk on their knees on the stone streets leading to the Basilica. They ask for a miracle. They thank the Virgin of Guadalupe. Vendors sell food crafts and clothes. Altars are built with flowers.
The original Basilica was completed in 1709 and called Templo Expiatorio a Cristo Rey. The current Basilica was completed in 1976. The older one began sinking. The new basilica houses the image of the Virgin. Its circular plan allows the image to be seen from any direction.
The Virgin of Guadalupe is the Queen of Mexico. She is the Patroness of the Americas. Popes have honored her. Pope Leo XIII granted a decree of canonical coronation for the image in 1887. Pope John Paul II declared her Protectress of Unborn Children.
In 1921 a bomb damaged the altar of the Basilica. The tilma was unharmed. The bent crucifix is now in the shrine’s museum.
The Virgin’s image has been a symbol in political movements. Father Miguel Hidalgo led his forces with Guadalupan flags. Emiliano Zapata also used her image. Even today artists reimagine her image commenting on immigration politics.
Each year millions visit the Basilica. It is the most visited Catholic pilgrimage destination in the world. People walk sing and pray.
The image of the Virgen de la Draga stands as a testament. It shows the enduring power of faith. It is a symbol of hope and cultural identity. It continues to inspire millions around the world.