The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe

During the 15th century, the Indians of Mexico practiced human sacrifice. They worshipped false gods and one of these gods is Coatlicue—the earth mother goddess and lady of the serpents. She is represented as a woman wearing a skirt of writhing snakes and a necklace made of human hearts, hands and skulls.

The natives sacrificed up to 300 people each day and 20% of their children were offered to this particular God. They offered the hearts and ate the other body parts in Tepeyac Hill.

In 1519, A Spanish soldier named Hernan Cortes came to Mexico in the Island of sacrifice. He came across Tenochtitlan in 1521 where there was tremendous architectural advancements but a shocking culture of death of its inhabitants where human sacrifice and cannibalism co-exist. He tried to stop the practice and asked Montezuma, the leader but instead the natives declared war on them.

By a miracle, the Spanish won and conquered Tenochtitlan and Bishop Juan de Zumarraga came to be the 1st Bishop of Mexico. Unfortunately, abuses were made by the conquerors to the natives and soon the Indians were on the verge of a revolt. Bishop Juan prayed for peace and received a sign.

On the dawn of Dec. 9, 1521, a native Indian convert named Juan Diego was walking through Tepeyac Hill when suddenly he heard the chirping of the birds and saw a ball of light surrounded by a rainbow and a beautiful woman appeared from it. Her garments were as bright as the sun. She addressed him lovingly as her beloved son and asked him to tell the bishop that a church be built there. She told him that all who will pray to her and come to that place will know her love and compassion.

Juan went to the Bishop but the Bishop requested for a sign as a proof of who she was. Juan came back and told our Lady of the Bishop’s request and so our Lady told him that the Bishop will have his request and that he was to come back the next day. Unfortunately, Juan’s uncle got sick and he had to care for him.

After 2 days, he left his side to find a priest. As he passed by Tepeyac Hill, he found our Lady waiting for him. He spoke to him and reassured him that his uncle was now healed and that he was to go up the hill for he will find roses there and that he was to collect these and give it to her. She arranged these roses in his Tilma (a poncho-like cape made of Cactus)that he gave to her. And she said”My little son, this is the sign I am sending to the Bishop. Tell him that with this sign I request his greatest efforts to complete the church I desire in this place. Show these flowers to no one else but the Bishop. You are my trusted ambassador. This time the Bishop will believe all you tell him.”

Juan went to the Bishop and showed him the miraculous winter flowers in the tilma but as he opened the tilma and the flowers dropped to the floor, the image of our Lady as Juan described it was seen miraculously on his tilma. The bishop and his companions fell to their knees.
Our Lady revealed her name to Juan’s uncle as “Santa Maria de Guadalupe” or “Our Lady of Guadalupe”. This name is similar to the Aztec native language of “Coatallupe “which means “one who treads on snakes”.

Two weeks after the apparition, Bishop Juan led a procession to consecrate the hill where the church will be built. During the celebration, an Indian was accidentally fatally wounded by an arrow. He was brought before the image of Our Lady on the Tilma and was immediately cured and resurrected to life.

This news spread and soon many renounced human sacrifice and their idols and were fully converted to Christianity. Nine million natives were converted in 10 years. Human sacrifice ended in Mexico. The Spanish and Mexicans were reconciled and an era of peace finally came to Mexico.

by: Elvie Uraya