This story is in honor of my Nana (Grandmother), who passed away 12 years ago and for my sister, Rosemary, who brightened Nana's hospital room with a winter rose from her own garden.
The most popular religious icon in Mexico is Our Lady of Guadalupe (The Virgin Mary). While visiting Mexico City, we toured The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I would like to share with you the story on how the Basilica came to be built.
The Antique Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
On The Hill of Tepeyac
On the morning of December 9, 1531 the Indian peasant Juan Diego walked from his village to Mexico City. On the slope of The Hill of Tepeyac, Juan Diego saw a vision of a woman surrounded by light; which he recognized to be The Virgin Mary. The Lady instructed Juan Diego to tell the Archbishop to have a church built on this site. Juan Diego went to the Archbishop, Fray Juan de Zumarraga, and told him of his vision and the request of The Lady for a church to be built on The Hill of Tepeyac. The Archbishop would not build a church on just the word of Juan Diego. He told Juan Diego that before he would build a church, he would need a miraculous sign to prove this lady's identity. Juan Diego returned to The Hill of Tepeyac to deliver the message of the Archbishop. The Lady asked Juan Diego to come back the next day to gather flowers for his proof. Juan Diego left confused, it was winter, the land was barren, what flowers are in bloom? Returning to The Hill of Tepeyac, on December 12, 1531, Juan Diego found it filled with roses. Using Juan Diego's cloak, The Lady arranged the roses to be carried back and presented to the Archbishop. When Juan Diego opened his cloak before the Archbishop, the roses fell to the floor, and in their place was the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, miraculously imprinted on the fabric of the cloak. This year, Juan Diego's cloak is 481 years old. Scientists do not know what was used to make the imprint of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Enshrined Cloak of Juan Diego
Housed Within The New Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The New Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Upon hearing this story, I was overwhelmed with emotion and filled with memories of my dear Nana. Nana passed away on November 30, 2000. A few weeks prior, my sister noticed a fully bloomed rose had pushed it's way up through her snow covered garden. A surprise bloom made even more special by it's peach coloring. Peach colored roses were Nana's favorite flower! No proof was necessary for what we already knew and believed, Nana was an angel on earth.........
My thanks to our tour guide Sergio Solis and Wikipedia for the story of The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
La Senora
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