 |
|
|
 News Around the Republic of Mexico | December 2006 
Millions Gather to Honor the Virgin of Guadalupe on Annual Holiday
 Associated Press
| | A group of pilgrims carry the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe at the Basilica of Guadalupe Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006, in Mexico City. Thousands of people from all over the country converge on the basilica bringing images to be blessed on the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe. (AP/Eduardo Verdugo) |
An estimated 5.2 million people drove, walked, biked, crawled and caravanned to the sprawling Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe to commemorate the patron saint's legendary appearance to an Indian peasant nearly 500 years ago Tuesday.
Among the more than 2,600 pilgrims treated for mostly minor medical conditions was a mother who gave birth to a baby boy at the entrance to the basilica, the Mexican news agency Notimex reported.
Authorities from Mexico City's Gustavo A. Madero borough, where the basilica is located, said the worshippers arrived in 613 separate pilgrimages over two days from all over the country, under the watchful eye of 1,400 city and 400 federal police officers.
According to Roman Catholic legend, the dark-skinned virgin appeared to the peasant Juan Diego on a Mexico City hillside in 1531, soon after the Spaniards had introduced Catholicism to the Indian population. The image of the Guadalupe appeared on Juan Diego's cloak, which remains on display at the basilica.
Many of the pilgrims came to give thanks to the Virgin for her help in alleviating illness or personal problems. Others were inspired by devotion and respect for the Virgin, who by papal decree is patroness of all the Americas, particularly of Latin America.
Many of the worshippers came from remote villages, walking for days to reach the basilica and then crawling on their knees across its cement plaza to thank the Virgin.
In 2002, John Paul II canonized Juan Diego as the first Indian saint of the Americas, part of efforts by the church to counter Protestant gains in the traditionally Catholic region. |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us