Who is the saint of Our Lady of Guadalupe?

The saint of Our Lady of Guadalupe has its origin in Mexico. Serving as a representation of the mother of Jesus Christ, Mary. She had her first appearance in 1531 through the prayers of an Aztec Indian known as Juan Diego, where he cried out for the salvation of his uncle who was ill.

Juan Diego proved the apparition of the Saint to the Bishop of his city from the revelation of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in his poncho. Which after 500 years still remains preserved in the Shrine of Mexico, built at the request of the Saint. Today she mobilizes millions of faithful, who go to pray in the name of the Virgin Guadalupe.

Learn more about the fascinating story of Our Lady of Guadalupe and find out how she managed to convert millions of Aztecs who lived in Mexico at that time. Be amazed by her miracles in the reading below.

History of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The name Guadalupe has its origin in the Aztec language and means: perfect virgin who crushes the stone goddess. Before that, for the Aztecs it was common to worship the goddess Quetzalcoltl and to her human sacrifices were offered.

It was to the Aztec Indian Juan Diego that the saint Our Lady of Guadalupe made her first appearance, thus ending the worship of the stone goddess right after the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Understand more about the story of the Saint that changed the lives of the 8 million Aztecs in Mexico and that will change yours as well.

The apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The Indian Juan Diego was in the countryside, at that time he was suffering due to a serious illness that his uncle was going through. Out of love for his uncle, he prayed in search of a miracle to save him.

She called to him and calling his name pronounced in the Aztec language, "Do not let the pain you feel disturb your faith Juan. I am here and you should not fear any illness or distress that afflicts you. You are under my protection. She then asked him to reveal this message to the local Bishop.

Our Lady of Guadalupe would then put an end to the stone serpent and all the people of Mexico would find themselves freed from the holocaust that struck them if they converted to Jesus Christ. In view of this, a church was built on the site of the apparitions of the Saint Guadalupe.

The Miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Disbelieving of the Indian's words, the Bishop ordered him to ask Our Lady for proof to prove the veracity of his story. At that moment Juan Diego returned to the field, that's when Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to him again. Telling him about the Bishop's distrust and disbelief of Mary's request.

It was then that Maria smilingly asked Juan Diego to go up the mountain in the middle of winter and gather flowers. Snow covered the fields and there were no flowers in that part of Mexico in winter. Juan Diego knew this and yet he obeyed her.

When he reached the top of the mountain in the midst of all that snow, he found flowers full of beauty. Soon he picked them and filled his poncho and went to take them to the Bishop. Thus performing his first miracle.

The Second Miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Although Juan Diego brought his poncho full of flowers one winter to the Bishop. To the amazement of all who witnessed the scene, the Bishop still couldn't believe it. However, upon seeing Juan's poncho they realized that there was an image printed on it. That image was Our Lady of Guadalupe.

From that moment on everything changed. The Bishop was soon moved by this manifestation and ordered the construction of the church in the place that had been indicated by the Saint. As for the poncho with the image of Our Lady, it remained in the sanctuary to be venerated by her Catholic followers who passed by there.

Guadalupe became the great shrine of Mexico. Today devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe extends throughout Latin America. In 1979, Pope John Paul II consecrated the Saint as Patroness of Latin America.

Juan Diego's Indian poncho

A traditional poncho is valid for up to 20 years, but more than that, it begins to fall apart and lose all its fiber. The miracle poncho that belonged to Juan Diego is now more than 500 years old and its brightness persists until today.

It was also found that the image of Our Lady is not a painting. The material of which the poncho is made, fiber from ayate (cactus), would easily degrade with the paints of the time. In addition, there are no brush marks or any kind of trace of the sketch that drew the image.

A very important detail is the iris of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Digital processing of the image was done and by enlarging the iris of the saint 13 figures are perceived. These are the people who witnessed the second miracle of the Saint.

The Symbolism of the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The miraculous appearance of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the poncho of an Indian in 1531 shook everyone in Mexico. Even today, if you make a visit to the Shrine of Mexico you will be surprised by the state of conservation of that object. That even after 500 years it has remained intact.

Around the image of the saint there are many elements to be perceived. Understand better about the symbolism of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and be surprised at what they reveal to us.

The Tunic of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The symbolism behind the tunic of Our Lady of Guadalupe represents that the Virgin Mary was dressed in the same tunic worn by Aztec women. Which means that Mary is also the mother of the Aztecs and all the indigenous people of Latin America.

It is from this miraculous manifestation of Our Lady of Guadalupe that she approaches him and shows herself to be like them. From this demonstration of faith she delivers them from the stone serpent Quetzalcoaltl and from the obligation of human sacrifices.

The flowers on the tunic of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Each flower picked by Juan Diego on the mountain is different. Also on Our Lady's tunic is drawn different types of flowers, each one belonging to different regions. This leads us to understand that Mary is mother of all and that her message is to be received with faith throughout the world.

The noose of Our Lady of Guadalupe

There is also a lasso that is located above the waist of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This was a sign that indigenous women used demonstrating pregnancy. Which indicates that symbolically the Virgin Mary was pregnant with the baby Jesus. And that he would bring salvation to the Aztec people.

The four-petalled flower

A little below the lace, in the belly of the Virgin of Guadalupe there is a flower with four petals. Although there are several types of flowers on the poncho, this particular one stands out. This flower has a meaning for the Aztecs which is "The place where God dwells". Confirming the presence of a divine being in her belly.

The sun behind Our Lady of Guadalupe

Behind Our Lady of Guadalupe appear many rays of sunlight, filling the entire image around her. The sun for many cultures represents a powerful and blinding deity. It is no different for the Aztecs, this star being a symbol of the highest deity for them.

The sun behind our pregnant Lady shows that she will receive her child. He will be born of God and will be responsible for liberating and illuminating the ways of the American people.

The cross on the collar of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The symbol of the cross on the collar of Our Lady of Guadalupe defines for the American peoples that the divine being in her womb is Jesus Christ. He was killed on a cross, but will soon return to save all in the apocalypse.

The hair of the Virgin of Guadalupe

The loose hair under the veil has a very present symbolism in Aztec culture. This adornment was worn by Aztec women who were still virgins, proving that Our Lady of Guadalupe was a virgin, an idea that was in line with known Catholic doctrine.

The black moon under the feet of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The black moon under the feet of Our Lady represents that the figure of the Virgin Mary is above all evil. Thanks to the power of God and of her son they would be under her protection. For the Aztecs the black moon symbolizes the force of evil, and it was after this revelation that they trusted the Church and sought to convert to Catholicism.

The angel under the Virgin of Guadalupe

The angel demonstrates to the Bishop that they were on the right path in conquering Mexico and spreading Catholicism throughout American soil. For them, this portrait associates directly with the Virgin Mary and the European Christian religion.

The mantle of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The blue color of Our Lady of Guadalupe's mantle represents the sky and the stars. The position of the stars on her mantle is the same as what they witness in the sky of that region where the apparition occurred. It also marks the winter solstice.

The Aztecs admired the stars and knew everything about the sky in the region. For them the sky was sacred and when they saw the exact representation of the sky on Guadalupe's mantle, that's when they understood that what was happening there was a miracle. That woman who came from the sky was the Virgin of Guadalupe, mother protector of all peoples and who would bring liberation to her people.

The eyes of the Virgin of Guadalupe

An IBM expert known as Jose Aste Tonsmann did digital processing of the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Through this reading a great discovery about the mantle was made. Tonsmann magnified the eyes of Our Lady of Guadalupe about 3,000 times and found 13 figures there.

These 13 figures depict the moment when the second miracle occurred. When Juan Diego hands the flowers to the Bishop and the figure of Guadalupe is revealed in his poncho. This detail impresses all the faithful who witness the figure of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The hands of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The hand of Our Lady of Guadalupe has two colors. The left hand is darker and he represents the aboriginal peoples, the natives of the Americas. While the right hand is lighter and represents the white men coming from Europe. This is a clear message to the American people.

The two hands joined together are in sign of prayer and they symbolize that the white men and the Indians should unite to pray. For, only in this way will they achieve peace. This is the wonderful message of Guadalupe to all who witness her figure. A divine message, of love and peace.

Devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Since her apparition, devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe has grown, reaching out to all peoples in Latin America, mobilizing thousands of Catholics every year to the Shrine in Mexico.

To witness the poncho that belonged to Juan Diego 500 years ago is synonymous with divine glory that moves everyone. Learn more about the miracles of Our Lady of Guadalupe, her day and her prayer.

Miracles of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Since the first apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe, great miracles have occurred within those five hundred years of her existence. Since then, the Mexican people have had their hope renewed and Catholicism has remained in their land.

The day of Our Lady of Guadalupe

In the year 1531 the manifestations of Mary took place in Mexico, the last one taking place on December 12. When Juan Diego himself took the poncho to the Bishop and the figure of Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on it.

Since then the Guadalupan cult takes place every year on the same day and month, mobilizing millions of faithful around the Shrine in Mexico. Having become one of the beliefs that have become most attached to Mexico and that today is part of its identity.

Prayer of Our Lady of Guadalupe

In the prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe, one cries out for the true Christian God as a request for protection and healing of the sick. Just as requested by Juan Diego in prayer for his uncle who was sick and was miraculously healed by the Holy Mary. Understand the power of faith and learn about the Guadalupe prayer to get closer to the divine below:

"Perfect, ever Virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the true God, for whom we live. Mother of the Americas! You who are truly our compassionate mother, we seek you and cry out to you. Listen with pity to our weeping, our sorrows. Heal our sorrows, our miseries and pains.

You who are our sweet and loving Mother, welcome us in the warmth of your mantle, in the affection of your arms. May nothing afflict us or disturb our hearts. Show us and manifest us to your beloved Son, so that in Him and with Him we may find our salvation and the salvation of the world. Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, make us your messengers, messengers of the will and the word of God. Amen."

Is Our Lady of Guadalupe the patron saint of Latin America?

The Church celebrates the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12. She is defined by Catholics as the patroness of Latin Americans, the protector of the sick and of all the poor. Her history reveals powerful miracles, one of which still exists today.

Juan Diego's poncho is made of cactus fiber and has an expiration date of 20 years, but until now it has remained intact in the Shrine of Mexico. It is now more than 500 years old. This piece is exposed for the millions of faithful who go to the altar to pray for Our Lady.

Her miracles persist in the collective consciousness and move the faith of all Catholics in Latin America. For, it was from her apparition that the Church created a bond of trust with the indigenous peoples and helped in the permanence of Catholicism to the present day.