The Second Most Visited Catholic Sanctuary in the World

December 12 is one of the most important holidays in Mexico, as it is on this day that the nation celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe. Considered the Mother of all Mexicans, and the Empress of the Americas, the traditional Catholic account says the Virgin appeared to Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin on the hill of Tepeyac near Mexico City from December 9, 1531 through December 12, 1531 and asked him to have the local Bishop build her a chapel on top of the hill.

When the Bishop refused to believe what Juan Diego was saying, the Virgin made her image appear on a rag where Juan Diego had collected roses the Virgin had grown.

This rag is today housed in Mexico City’s Basilica of Guadalupe, the second most visited Catholic sanctuary in the world, after the Vatican, and from the early morning of December 12, Mexicans and guests alike celebrate the Virgin with mariachis, readings and prayer. International artists, such as Pavarotti, has considered it a privilege to sing for her and the lineups can rival any tour. People come from as far away as the Philippines on pilgrimages that are an event in themselves.

The celebration extends to outside the Basilica in Mexico City. Basilicas baring her name have been built in the Mexican cities of Monterrey, in the State of Nuevo Leon, and Zamora, in the State of Michoacán; the American cities of Dallas, Texas, and La Crosse, Wisconsin; and Makati City, Philippines. A replica of the painting is also found in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City where Latinos of every nationality celebrate our Lady of Guadalupe every December 12.

Although the 500 year old image has not been without controversy and many scientists have conducted numerous tests on it ---and in 1921, it survived a bomb that destroyed the shrine--- there is no question that Mexicans, Catholic or not, belong to the “Guadalupano” cult.