Point South Mexico - Real Estate and Lifestyle Magazine

The Virgin of Guadalupe is undoubtedly the virgin icon with the largest following in the Catholic and non-Catholic world, and she comes from a fascinating history. First seen by Juan Diego in 1531, she appeared at a particular time when the Spaniards were historically ready for an inroad into the spiritual lives of their newly converted faithful.

The original story is found in the closely transcribed Nican Mopohua (“Here it is told…”), a collection of historical notes written in the Nahua language of the Aztecs of Central Mexico. In the Nican Mopohua, Juan Diego’s story is recounted to include the very quotes of the virgin in her first appearance and each subsequent one, as well as the entire conversations surrounding her requests and his responses.

The story in brief form:
Juan Diego, a widower already converted to Catholicism, is walking in a wilderness area called Tepeyac near what is now Mexico City. The date is December 9, 1531, and the time is ten years after the Spanish takeover of the city and the establishment in Tlatelolco of the first bishopric of Mexico.

Hearing beautiful sounds of a chorus of birds from the hill, Juan Diego asks himself, “How am I so honoured to hear such glorious music? Perhaps I am in the celestial places of which our ancestors spoke?”

When the music stops, he hears a soft voice calling, “My Juanito, my Juan Diegito.” Gathering courage, he creeps up the wooded hill to investigate. To his amazement, a maiden standing on a stone outcropping signals him to approach. Once in her presence, he prostrates himself, noting the splendour of her garments while rays of light emanate from her very being, bathing everything in colours of the rainbow. “Listen closely, smallest of my children, my Juanito.”

The glowing Lady proceeds to tell him, “Have the virtue to understand within your heart, my smallest and most beloved child, that I am the perfect Virgin Mary, who has the privilege of being the Mother of the true eternal God. My undying wish is that a temple be built on this hill where I can attend to the needs, the suffering and the pain of those who love me.”

When she asks Juan Diego to present her case before Bishop Don Fray Juan de Zumárraga, he quickly accepts, begging his leave to continue on his way. Taking the direct path, he arrives at the bishop’s palace to ask for an audience. The servants look askance at the improbability of admitting such a humble subject, but eventually the bishop accedes. Juan Diego then tells his story from the beginning, ending with the request of the Lady to build her temple.

The story continues with a second visit to convince the church leader, in which Juan Diego is asked for some token of proof. The self-effacing old man then asks the shimmering apparition to please send someone more dignified, more apt, more believable, because he can see from the bishop’s unimpressed reaction that the request is considered a fabrication.