Our Lady of Guadalupe: Miraculous Apparitions of The Blessed Saint Mary (vegetarian), Part 2 of 2

The Blessed Saint Mary is the Patron Saint of Mexico and Patroness of the Americas. She and Her miraculous image are venerated as a religious treasure and a symbol of national identity in Mexico. The Holy Mother is credited for giving people freedom from idolatry and creating a common faith for the Spanish and native people of Mexico. The Heavenly Queen represents ultimate and unconditional goodness. From 1736 to 1737, Mexico City was struck by a fatal viral hemorrhagic fever epidemic. The Holy Mother was believed to have put an end to the deadly pandemic.

The revered image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is considered a celestial gift with profound symbolism, especially for the indigenous peoples of Mexico and the residents of the Americas. It enabled the natives to understand how the Blessed Saint Mary served as a Divine bridge between the people and Her son, Lord Jesus Christ.

Beginning from the top of the picture, the Blessed Saint Mary’s eyes are looking down, which is a sign of humility. Her face exudes great compassion and femininity, for She is the Mother of Mercy. Akin to the indigenous peoples, the Holy Mother in the image has dark skin and hair. Her hands are also positioned in an indigenous style of offering, meaning that something will be given by Saint Mary. She wears a maternity band around Her waist, which signifies to the indigenous people that someone is going to come. The primarily turquoise mantle worn by the Blessed Saint Mary is in a color reserved for the Aztec diety Omecihuatl, the source of unity for all existence. The Holy Mother’s mantle consists of stars, which signifies a new era is beginning. In the image, the sun emits rays of light around Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Approximately eight million Mexicans adopted the Christian faith within seven years of the miraculous event in which the Blessed Saint Mary’s image appeared on Saint Juan Diego’s cloak. The tilma continues to amaze academic scholars, medical experts, and scientists even today. Although the cloak was made from cactus fiber that normally would have disintegrated within a couple of decades, it remains intact almost 500 years later. What is even more remarkable is that paint cannot be found on the tilma.