Story of Virgin of Guadalupe | Mexico City, Mexico | How to Live Happy |Successful

Lately I have seen a few sighting of “Matachines” (Spanish matachín, or religious dancer) and it reminded to share my recent trip to Mexico City, Mexico.
The key figure in acceptance of the Catholic religion by the indigenous peoples of Mexico was the Virgin of Guadalupe, whose story goes back to 1531, just twelve years after Hernan Cortes first set foot on Mexican soil. On December 12, 1531, as the story goes, a poor Indian named Juan Diego was walking along in a desolate area north of Mexico City, seeking water for his uncle. Suddenly, on a hillside, he saw a vision of a beautiful woman, who directed him to a spring of fresh, cool water. A few days later, in the same spot, the vision appeared again to Juan Diego. This time, she instructed him to go to Mexico City to tell the high church officials to build a church in her name on that site. Of course, the ecclesiastical officials did not believe the poor Indian. Why would the Virgin Mary appear to someone so lowly? They asked for proof. When Juan Diego returned to the hillside and the Virgin appeared again, he asked her for a sign. Suddenly he saw some beautiful red roses, even though roses do not normally bloom in that area in December. He gathered them into his rough Indian tilma (blanket) and took them to Mexico City. When he opened his tilma for the high church officials, they fell to their knees in veneration and amazement. There, imprinted on the humble Indian blanket of Juan Diego, was the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, exactly as Juan Diego had seen her. It is said that the image is so perfect in detail that one sees in the pupil of the Virgin’s eye the image of Juan Diego.
Today, thousands of devout Catholics make pilgrimages each year to the huge Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe, in the northern part of Mexico City, to view from a discrete distance the image of the Virgin imprinted on Juan Diego’s blanket and to worship with Catholics from around the world. Pilgrims may also worship at a small shrine on the very hillside where Juan Diego first saw the vision.
Rich and poor alike venerate the Virgin of Guadalupe. One can see her image in small shrines in humble homes in the most remote villages. Her image can also be found in virtually every cathedral and church in Mexico, as well as in parochial schools, businesses, markets, buses, taxis, and many homes. December 12, the day of Virgin of Guadalupe, is an official national holiday, observed with pilgrimages, processions, special masses, fiestas, and Indian dances in front of some churches. In a sense, the Virgin of Guadalupe represents the essence of Mexico, the fusion of two cultures, Catholic Spain and indigenous Mexico.
Source: http://literacynet.org/lp/hperspectives/guadalupe.html
La figura clave en la aceptación de la religión católica de los pueblos indígenas de México, fue la Virgen de Guadalupe, cuya historia se remonta a 1531, sólo doce años después de que Hernán Cortés pisó por primera vez en suelo mexicano. El 12 de diciembre de 1531, según cuenta la historia, un pobre indio llamado Juan Diego iba caminando en un área desolada del norte de la Ciudad de México, en busca de agua para su tío. De repente, en una colina, vio una visión de una mujer hermosa, que lo dirigió a un manantial de agua fresca. Unos días más tarde, en el mismo lugar, la visión apareció otra vez a Juan Diego. Esta vez, ella le dio instrucciones para ir a México a decir a los funcionarios de la Alta Iglesia para construir una iglesia en su nombre en ese sitio. Por supuesto, los funcionarios eclesiásticos no creía que el indio pobre. ¿Por qué la Virgen María, parece que alguien tan humilde? Pidieron prueba. Cuando Juan Diego regresó a la colina y la Virgen se apareció otra vez, él le pidió una señal. De repente vio unas rosas rojas hermosas, a pesar de que las rosas no florecen normalmente en esa zona en diciembre. Los reunió en su tilma india áspera (manta) y los llevó a la Ciudad de México. Cuando él abrió su tilma para los funcionarios de la iglesia alta, que cayeron de rodillas en la veneración y asombro. Allí, impreso en la manta india humilde de Juan Diego, era la imagen de la Virgen de Guadalupe, tal y como Juan Diego la había visto. Se dice que la imagen es tan perfecta en detalle que se ve en la pupila del ojo de la Virgen de la imagen de Juan Diego.
