Our Lady of Guadalupe Attracting Record Numbers

By Jaime Septién MEXICO CITY, DEC. 12, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Leaders at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, which houses St. Juan Diego's tilma* with the image of the Virgin, say that by Wednesday, some 7 million pilgrims will have visited the church in the last four days.

Wednesday is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the day that brings the most pilgrims to the site, located in Mexico's mountain capital. But the four-day span between Dec. 8 -- feast of the Immaculate Conception -- and Dec. 12 traditionally brings overflowing crowds.

This Dec. 12 commemorates the 476th anniversary of the last of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Juan Diego. Juan Diego was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002.

Each year between 18 - 20 million pilgrims visit the basilica, making it Christianity's most visited sanctuary and one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world. There are days on which the basilica is visited by up to 120,000 people.

The caretakers at the basilica expect that all attendance records will be broken this year with the arrival of 7 million visitors in only four days -- 2 million pilgrims are expected Wednesday.

* The Significance of Juan Diego's Tilma

In the Indian cultures of that time, the tilma was the exterior expression of the innermost identity of the person. By being visible on Juan Diego's tilma, Mary became imprinted in the deepest recesses of his heart -- and in the hearts of all who come to her. Our Lady of Guadalupe is not simply an image on the tilma, as miraculous as this is. She has become part her children's innermost identity.

A Little History:

Missionaries who first came to Mexico with the conquistadors had little success in the beginning. After nearly a generation, only a few hundred Native Mexicans had converted to the Christian faith. Whether they simply did not understand what the missionaries had to offer or whether they resented these people who made them slaves, Christianity was not popular among the native people.

Then in 1531 miracles began to happen. Jesus' own mother appeared to humble Juan Diego. The signs -- of the roses, of the uncle miraculously cured of a deadly illness, and especially of her beautiful image on Juan's mantle (tilma) -- convinced the people there was something to be considered in Christianity. Within a short time, six million Native Mexicans had themselves baptized as Christians

With all of this in mind, think on these two points for a moment.

• The first point is that God has chosen Mary to lead us to Jesus. No matter what critics may say of the devotion of Mexicans (and Mexican descendants) to Our Lady of Guadalupe, they owe their Christianity to her influence. If it were not for her, they would not know her son, and so they are eternally grateful.
  

• The second point we take from Mary herself. Mary appeared to Juan Diego not as a European madonna but as a beautiful Aztec princess speaking to him in his own Aztec language. If we want to help someone appreciate the gospel we bring, we must appreciate the culture and the mentality in which they live their lives. By understanding them, we can help them to understand and know Christ. Our Lady of Guadalupe is patron of the Americas.