Lady Of Guadalupe: A Cultural Identity In Our Lady Of Guadalupe

When studying a certain culture, the primary element that has the largest influence is the culture’s religion. Religion plays a central role in determining a general worldview, belief system, customs, traditions, etc.. This is especially true within Mexican culture as the religion, primarily Catholicism, has an enormous impact on the way of life and the practices of the Mexican people. Within Catholicism, the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe sparked a mass conversion in Mexico and became more than a religion. In this paper, I will argue how Our Lady of Guadalupe is not only religiously significant, but it is equally a national symbol among the Mexican people and serves as a cultural identity in which an entire country takes religious and

Multiple unexplained miracles have occurred in which it is believed is through the intercession of “Guadalupe”. One of the more prominent miracles occurred during the year 1736 in which a plague spread across the country and killed roughly 700,00 people. On April 27th. In the following year, Our Lady of Guadalupe was declared as the Patroness of Mexico. Almost immediately, “the pestilence subsided, as if the proclamation caused a healing hand to be extended over the stricken country. This miracle had a decisive effect on the development of the culture”. Regardless of the belief in the miracles, both Catholic and non-religious Mexican people have found comfort and security through the apparition in which they view Mary as “the mother of all Mexicans”. There is a sense of belonging and purpose that the Mexican people feel toward the Marian devotion, and they have turned to it for spiritual reasons as well as a “Coat of Arms” in historical landmarks; one of these being the Mexican War for Independence. Another example occurred during the Cristero War in which Christians were being persecuted and killed under an oppressive regime during the early 20th century. In both rebellions, the people used the depiction of Our Lady of Guadalupe as a battle cry and cause for their uprising. Although the image

The Catholic identity is immediately present as there are numerous Catholic churches throughout the city every couple of blocks. The Shrine itself attracts tens of thousands of people daily and provides Mass almost every hour of the day. The Mexican people as well as the various pilgrims regularly express their gratitude and veneration toward the apparition. One of the primary ways that people venerate Our Lady of Guadalupe is through the adornment of flowers. Every day, people constantly bring bouquets of flowers while workers of the shrine place them in front of the original image of the Blessed Virgin. This is culturally significant because flowers are common throughout Mexico and a standard item of decoration/adornment within the culture. The flowers are also central in the history of the apparition as the story explains how Juan Diego picked flowers for Mary which concealed her image until the proper time. There are also certain flowers that are distinctly native toward Mexico which are present on the clothing of Mary and decorate her dress. Surrounding the Shrine, there are countless street vendors and shops that sell religious items and copies of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The stores stretch for miles and there is always some work of art within