, 1889-06-27
MIRACLE OF A CATHEDRAL.
PEoNs FLOwEEs TRANS FORMED
INFO a BxA, TIrUL PAINrIN0
How The Bishop BIspauss U,,i,.ed ,hs
Donations Co the shrine of Oui
Lady OF Guatisioupe,

|
; " they wish to vote. This state OF affairs
WAS brought about some years avo by
President Benito Jusrpz, the Iud,an
ruler. VINO destroyed all the converts and
monasteries in Mexico. appropriatinv
their treasure to the uses OF the govern.
ni-nt. and there are those Who say he |
kept large slice for himself He this.
however, an it may the Holy Scriptures /
we're introduced into the republic, the |
Btptists sent in the 6rst missionaries |
soue ut whom were promt y murirred az |
IAN example to intrudrrs" Tn. people |
remained ut heart Roman Catholics. |
while the soldiers went about shouting: |
every cross turks the devin.
On. has but to see this city |
on sunday to realize that this |
part Of .xico is by no means |
protestant. Ga the Paseo de Ia Reforma |
are 5000 vehicles Of various degrees Of ele- |
gtnce, Ii led with 9uadily dressed women |
and still more brilliantly attIred children. |
Ga horse back. bright with spch trim.
mings none but Mexican cabollres wear,
are 500 or GOO horsemen. The entire |
Ter 9th OF the asphalt boulevard nearly |
| three miles. soldiers in the fullest of full |
| dress uniforms are stationed. mounted on |
| magnificent horses, most OF tnem Jet |
black. They are hut fifty feet apart. and |
are both sides of the drive. "a the side
"hlhes Wb'ou uIt tI WlIt. IN u =
thronY OF well dressed people; nine in
every ten of the ladies' wear silk and sport
hne diamonds. lt Is "a scene such NJ no
tourist. though he may travel tn whole
world over, will ever see dupIic .ted, save
here, where he may behold 1t any
Sunday when the weather is
clear enough for bul.6eht.
lonpe. four miles from the city. whittier
we drive from the gay Paseo, by one of
the causeways OF stone built by the Aztecs
years before the landing OF Cortez on those
shores. To the Mexicsns the shrine of the
virgin of Guadaloupe is the hoiest spot in
the world. The story of this magnificent
cathedral is marvellous enough to bs told
again, and its truth il vouched for by
some Of the most eminent scholars of the
republic.
STORY OF CATHEDRAL.
In the year 1881. according to the re-
cords Of the church, Juan Diego. u poor
and ignorant Indian WAS making his way
to the city to early mass. Descending the
hill he was met by the Blessed Virgin who
commanded MIN To speak to the bishop OF
Mexico, in her name, and tell him to
build church on that spot, just at the foot
OF the hill. The bishop ut that time was the
very famous Zumaraga-known to arch@- s
ologists as the priest who destroyed many I
of the finest Aztec idols in the country 1
and this great man intimated that Juan
had been dreaming, whereupon Young
Diego walked back to the spot where the
bl"ssed lady had appeared to him and
she again presented herself to his view. |
When she heard Of Zlmaraga's incre.
dnlity, she tapped the ground with her
foot and there gushed from the earth u
very wonderful chaybeate spriug. the like
OF which does no, exist in all Mexico, and
which flows. in all its purity and healing
virtues, to-day as then. After the water
gushed forth the virgin bdde the young
peon hold up his cotton blanket. OF tilma.
and she filed it with rare and curious
flowers, bidding him give them to the
bishop and reiterate her commands. Juan
made all haste to the city, prostrated hi al.
self at the bishops feet, told him of the
marvellous things that had happened him,
and ended by emptying the flowers from
his tilma, when, 10 and behold, upon the
cloth vas fine oil painting of our blessed
Lady of GuGdaloupe, and it was a painting
| OF which the Spaniards OF that day. and
the Aztecs as well. we're utterly incapable
ut painting! The bishop fell to his knees
in alteration and Juan Diego
PAINTED FROM THE E1cIrEMEsr.
The most magnificent church in Mexico
was erected on the chosen apot; completed
in 1853 In the altar, enshrined in q
|
frame studded with jewels. Is the miracu-
lous painting, its colors as fresh and vivid,
its drawing as sharp, and every detail as
! 358 years ago, when 1t was given to Juan
Diego; and It is worth noting that other
celebrated pictures in tho same church.
dated $50 years later, are dingy, and the
| figures scarcely discernible.
The miracle painting Is by no means the
| only thing worth seeing at Guadaloupe.
To-day there are 1900 pilgrims from the
yellow fever infected district of Vera Cruz
(most of whom have walked the entire dis
tance here), Offering up. prayers for the
safety OF themselves and friends from the
dread disease, which 10 now virtually epi-
demic ia the seaport town.
A GORGEOUS AFFAIR.
They kneel before the altar rail which |
weighs trifle over 81, 900 pounds--twen-
iy.six tons-and which is made of Com
posite" so rich that English and Ameri-
4, can syndicates have repeatedly offered to |
replace it with.one Of solid silver, elegant
ly oFnameuted. The church refused these
offers, claiming that it WAS worth so per
centum more than pure silver.
| The Virgin Of Guadaloupe IL the first
American saint In the calendar. The
building of this church was at Q most op-
perfume time for the Indians were just
quitting idol worship, and the good bish.
verts. This was not exactly what some
of the Spanish soldiers liked, and one day
. cavslrymap found, in ma9uey plant, Q
wooden image Of the virgin clothed in
silks and adorned with pearls and mag.
ni6cent Jewels. They set up q shrine on
another hill and called their virgin
| ouR LADY OF sUOCOR