Associated Press
Mexico City – Hundreds of thousands of people, some crawling on hands and knees, others carrying her image to be blessed, gathered Wednesday to honor the Mexico’s beloved patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Celebrants set off fireworks, sang and prayed inside the packed Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe to celebrate the 476th anniversary of the dark-skinned virgin’s apparition to the Indian Juan Diego.
Her image on Juan Diego’s cloak helped draw Mexico’s Indian population to the Catholic faith shortly after it was introduced by invading Spaniards. The church eventually declared her patron saint of all the Americas.
Juan Diego himself was named the first Indian saint in the Americas by the late Pope John Paul II in 2002, and his cloak is still on display at the basilica.
This year’s celebration included ethnic dancers from around Mexico and crowds of people carrying large posters with the virgin’s image to be blessed inside the basilica.
This is the third year in a row that Gerardo Romero, 23, has made the pilgrimage to the basilica.
“I’m doing it so that my daughter will be born healthy,” said Romero, a former drug addict who crawled on his hands and knees through the large courtyard leading up to the basilica.
“I am giving thanks for everything the virgin has given us all year,” added Trinidad Manuel Garcia, 70, a Mexico City native dressed in the garb of his Indian Mexica ancestors. Garcia said he has made the pilgrimage every year since 1949.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Beliefnet
Advertisement
posted December 13, 2007 at 3:03 pm
“Her image on Juan Diego’s cloak helped draw Mexico’s Indian population to the Catholic faith shortly after it was introduced by invading Spaniards.”
I’m sure that is a nice way of saying that that was one of ways the Mexican Indian population was “persuaded” to be good Catholics. The RCC, like many other religions, couldn’t accept the fact that religions and beliefs of native populations in all countries were and are just a valid as their beliefs. So, those Native populations had to be “converted” to THE religion. What a crock.
And in this case, those Catholics have been rewarded by making Juan Diego a saint, after over 400 years. WOW!
The Virgin’s image on his clock? People see Christ and the BVM in toast! Whatever gets it for them.
posted December 13, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Obviously I goofed…should be “…image on his cloAk…not clock.” Just reread my post!
posted December 13, 2007 at 11:33 pm
pagansister,
I would rather have the apparition on my cloCk! Maybe she can get me places on time – nothing else seems to work!
posted December 14, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Does the word “idol” worship mean anything here? The Bible is clear that every knee shall bow to Jesus and confess that HE is Lord to the glory of God the Father – not to Mary or any other statue.
posted December 15, 2007 at 5:25 pm
There is a grave mistake being made when there is the accusation of idol workship with regard to the veneration of statues and pictures. These people are honoring what the picture of statue represents, namely in this case the Virgin Mary, mother of Christ. If you do not honor the mother of Christ you certainly fail to honor Christ Himself. So you claim to be born again? Well do some growing up please and wake up to the fact of there being some things about your Christian faith that you didn’t know. case closed.
posted December 15, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Billy:
If all that “idol worship” is so wrong, why did the writers of the Bible invent the BVM (AKA Mother to Jesus) to be inbetween Jesus & God when someone wants to ask for somethng? Isn’t she supposed to have special powers too? Just thought I’d ask.
Personally I feel if a person wants to ask another invisible being for a favor, why not? Whatever works. Oh, how do folks know what Jesus/God or even the BVM looks like?
posted December 16, 2007 at 11:34 pm
It may just be me, but I really get the feeling that the whole BVM intervention thing is simply a lofty religious version of “Go ask your mother.”
posted December 17, 2007 at 11:27 am
Good one, jestrfyl! Hadn’t thought of that, but it makes a lot of sense!
Merry Christmas and a GREAT 2008 to everyone!! (incase I forget to say this later)