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Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of Latin America’s most popular religious and cultural images. According to tradition, a beautiful dark-skinned woman appeared to Juan Diego, a Christianized Mexican Indian, in December of 1531. She requested Juan Diego to ask the bishop to build a church in her honor on the hill where she appeared in Tepeyac, north of Mexico City. The bishop demanded a sign before he would approve construction of the church. The Virgin appeared a second time to Juan Diego, and after miraculously causing roses to grow on the hill out of season, she asked him to bring them to the bishop. During his audience with the bishop, Juan Diego opened his cloak, letting dozens of roses fall to the floor and revealing a stunning image of the Virgin imprinted on the inside of the cloak. The image is now venerated by hundreds of thousands of people in the Basilica of Guadalupe every year.
Our Lady of Guadalupe was proclaimed the patroness of Latin America in 1910. Her role is not limited to religious matters, but has become a symbol of Mexico’s nationalism and identity. A beautiful selection of works depicting Our Lady of Guadalupe show her traditional attributes: the Virgin wearing a red gown with gold brocade and a long blue mantle decorated with blue stars, her hands in prayer, rays of light surrounding her figure, and an angel with outstretched arms at her feet. These retablos (paintings on wood or tin) and bultos (carvings in the round) were created by Hispanic artists from New Mexico, and reflect the strength of the Virgin of Guadalupe’s devotion throughout the Americas.
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on December 12.
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