The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-08-18
A MExlcAN.s SHRINE.
The Poetic Tradition Connected with the
Church of the virgin OF Guadalupe.

The Poetic Tradition Connected with the
Church of the Virgin OF Guadalupe.
Guadalupe is the holiest shrine in
Mexi:o. 1t Is tho scene Uf tradition
that is never doubted for an instant by
the people. In 1851 the Virgin APP
pearcd one evening to q poor pcon,
Juan Diego, and told him tc go to some
wealthy man and say it was her will
that church be built on that spot.
Tho Indian in great fright obeyed her
command, but the wealthy fellow re-
fused to put credoncs in the incrodulous
story, so the peon returned and told the
Virgin. who was still there, of his fail.
ure. She told him to return and show
his tilma (apron) Us proof The amazed
fellow did so, and the light disclosed
the picture Of the Virgin painted on the
apron. Still the unbeliever doubted,
and the Virgin sent for the third time
II bunch Of fresh roses, such rs mover
before grew in this country The inli-
del took the flowers. and the picture OF
the Virgin fell from the heart of rose.
He was convinced. and built large
church on the spot where the Virgin
appeared.
The church il fine one. decorated
with statues. paintings and gold. The
silver railing weighs twenty-six tons
and is composed of metal composite.
The church authorities have received
numerous offers for this rich relic
Some persons desired to replace tn,
railing with one of solid silver, but thi
bargain was not accepted. Diego's
apron is above the altar in . frame
On it is painted picture of the Virgin
bat, to say the very least. it was not
drawn by a masters hand. The buncl
of roses, which, they claim, neve
fades, is also shown in glass vase
and is gazed on with reverence by tbs
believers.
1t is the common belief that any
thing asked of the Virgin of Guadalup
is granted. have seen people pray
; with their hands Outstretched, an,
!. after awhile murmur, '.Gracious. gra
cious.' and get up Is If the favor had
been received. Women oft tim e.
kiss the floor when they think they
have received mercy at the hands Q
their dear saint Near the door ar
, hundreds of rude oil paintings repre-
senting scenes in which the Virgin ha
| ouNSu buO ASoS Oa PcopiS. ohO Auts
, fell from second-story window, ant
by murmuring the Virgins name es
capped uninjured, Another was no
crushed to death, although his hors
fell On him. One was released fror
, prison, many from fatal sickness, an
, hundreds of canes and crutches in tn
/ corner testify. to the many Who hav
} been healed. q.
A little green plaza, filed with ia
: treEs, beautiful flowers and flowin
{ fountains. separates the Charch of tn
{ Virgin of Guadalupe from another
which, in order to have some attrac
' tien, boasts of a we'll in the vestibule
which is ever boiling up its mudd
water. The water cures any diseas
1 SO they say, and ut any timc crowd
l fonnd around ITS mas gic brim fillin
, jars, bottles and pitchers to take hom'
3 or supping from the copper bowl tina
, is chained to the iron bars that cove
8 the we'll. Very few can suppress tn
: lesk of disgust when they try to swa
t low the vile stuff with the all-healir
. qualities. CDR Pittsburgh Dispatch.