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Patron Virgin Marys of Hispanic America
Our Lady of Guadalupe is much more than the patroness of Mexico: she is the most widespread Marian devotion in America. Her basilica in Mexico City receives millions of pilgrims every year, especially around her feast day on December 12.
The apparitions at Tepeyac
According to tradition, in December 1531 the Virgin appeared on the Tepeyac hill to Juan Diego, a newly baptized indigenous man, and asked him to build a temple there. As the bishop asked for a sign, the Virgin told him to gather roses at the top of the hill in the middle of winter. When he opened his tilma (his cloak) before the bishop, roses fell out and the image of the Virgin appeared imprinted on the fabric. That tilma is the one venerated today in the basilica. Saint Juan Diego was canonized in 2002.
What her image means
- The dark face, for which she is affectionately called “la Morenita”.
- The blue-green mantle covered in stars, like a sky.
- The hands joined in prayer and the head bowed in a gesture of humility.
- The sun at her back and the moon at her feet, symbols of the woman clothed with the sun from the Apocalypse.
How December 12 is celebrated
On the night of December 11 to 12, las mañanitas are sung to her at midnight, families make pilgrimages to the basilica or their parish church, and in many homes tamales and champurrado are prepared. It is also the feast day of all the Lupes, Lupitas, and Guadalupes, in Mexico and throughout Hispanic America.
Guadalupe and Saint Jude: a two-sided medal
In Mexico, it is very common to wear Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Jude Thaddeus together, the patron saint of difficult causes. That is why our medals feature Saint Jude on one side and Our Lady of Guadalupe on the other.
Discover all our Saint Jude Thaddeus and Our Lady of Guadalupe medals, handmade in Spain. We also ship to the USA, Canada, and Europe.
Note: in Spain, another Our Lady of Guadalupe is also venerated, the patroness of Extremadura, whose image is kept in the Monastery of Guadalupe (Cáceres). They are two different devotions with the same name.
Marian and Barbara