The document discusses the Lady of Guadalupe and the miracle that occurred in Mexico City 450 years ago. It describes how in 1531, the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego and asked him to have a chapel built where she appeared. When Juan Diego gathered flowers from Tepeyac Hill as proof of his encounter, her image was miraculously imprinted on his cloak. Today thousands of Catholics make a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City each December 12th to honor this miracle and the Lady of Guadalupe, who represents a synthesis of Christian and indigenous beliefs in Mexico.

1. Our Lady of Guadalupe By Denice Perez

2. Background December 12 Thousands of Catholics make the pilgrimage to Mexico City to celebrate the Lady of Guadalupe. Basilica of Guadalupe, they honor the miracle that took place nearby 450 years ago http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/mexico-city-basilica-guadalupe 1

3. Mexico The object of their worship, however, was equivocal, as they continued to address the Virgin Mary as Tonantzin Spanish Conquest in 1519-21 a temple of the mother-goddess Tonantzin at Tepeyac outside of Mexico City Newly converted Indians continued to come from afar to worship there. http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/mexico-city-basilica-guadalupe 2

4. Juan Diego Mary, the mother of Jesus, is believed to have appeared to Juan Diego December 9, 1531 He heard music and saw a Young woman outlined by a radiant glow. She spoke to him in Nahuatl Bishop of Mexico, Juan de Zumarraga, to build a chapel to her on the site where she appeared http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/mexico-city-basilica-guadalupe 3

5. Culture http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/mexico-city-basilica-guadalupe 4

6. The Shrine of Guadalupe the Shrine of Guadalupe became Mexico City's signature building the Lady of Guadalupe represents a synthesis of Christian and indigenous beliefs Encourage the local people to convert to Christianity http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/mexico-city-basilica-guadalupe 5

7. Tradition http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/mexico-city-basilica-guadalupe 6

8. The Image Two accounts published in the 1640s, one in Spanish and the other in Nahuatl, tell how, during a walk from his home village to Mexico City early on the morning of December 9, 1531 The Virgin told Juan Diego to gather some flowers from the top of Tepeyac Hill http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/mexico-city-basilica-guadalupe 7

9. Basilica http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/mexico-city-basilica-guadalupe 8