Basílica de Guadalupe travel guide

Those determined to understand the cult of Mexico’s patron saint must make the trip to the Basílica de Guadelupe

Two churches are named after Guadelupe: one is the old Basilica of Our Lady of Guadelupe (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe), built in 1709 to replace a 16th-century shrine and subsequently remodelled several times; the other is the new basilica in a gigantic building which contains the cape with the effigy of the Holy Virgin. The cult has its roots in a legend. On 9 December 1531, the baptized Aztec Juan Diego had a vision of the holy Virgin as a dark-skinned Indian woman. In the vision, the Virgin told him to go to the bishop and have him build a chapel for her in a certain place. Bishop Juan de Zumárraga did not believe the report and demanded evidence. Sure enough, the Virgin appeared to the Indian a second time on 12 December and made roses bloom on a hill in the midst of the dry season. Juan Diego picked the roses and brought them to the bishop wrapped in his cape. When he opened the cape with the roses it showed the image of the Virgin in a corona of light. Many catholics believe that this is the miraculous image of the Virgin of Guadalupe which now hangs in the new basilica. In 1531, the bishop had a shrine built on the hill Tepeyac, exactly at the location where an Aztec temple used to stand; the church and the image in it quickly became the destination for many pilgrims. Especially in view of the brutal colonial regime, Indians had been reluctant to become catholic. Now, converting them became much easier. Over centuries, the Virgin of Guadalupe was revered as the patron of the Indians and Mestizos. Later, the Mexican independence movement also laid claim to her. In 1810, the priest and freedom fighter Miguel Hidalgo went to fight under her banner.
Throughout the year, tens of thousands of pilgrims visit the basilica. On 12 December however, the anniversary of the second apparition of the Virgin Mary, the church and the plaza in front of it are crowded with countless worshippers. Dancers and pantomime artists in colourful garb perform, giving the celebration the character of a large folk festival. The faith in Our Lady of Guadalupe has taken hold in all parts of Mexican society and the faithful from other parts of Latin America come here as pilgrims. This type of popular faith is called the Guadalupe cult; clearly, many of its elements do not fit catholic dogma and are often reminiscent of pre-Christian myths.

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