The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-11
LEGEND ORA SHRINE
THE STORY OF MExICo's CATHEDRAL
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE.
How the Virgin II Said to Have Ap-
peared to an Indian and Priest
Nearly 365 Years Ago.

Nearly ooo Aeurs Ago.
City of Mexico Letter in Atlanta Constitu-
ton.
On the 1st OF October next the shrine OF
Guadalupe will be thrown open to the public
once more. 1t has been closed for repairs
for over five years. The reverence for the
cathedral OF sour Lady of Guadalupe can
not be imagined unless one has lived among
the Mexicans for a while at least. All else
in the republic can undergo change. but no
party nor person has yet had the temerity
to lay a Decorating hand upon the holy
place. nor cast doubt upon the miraculous
appearance Of the virgin upon this spot.
Five years ago IT was decided to enlarge
the cathedral and to extend the nave into
a deeper recess chancel and to add another
dome. The whole Is now on the point OF
completion. The Rev. Plancarte Labastida,
who has been intrusted with the recon-
struction Of the church. has formally made
the announcement to the Mexican Catholics
that the sacred edifce will be completed on
the LIST of October.
Commencing with that day the ceremonies
attendant on the coronation of the Virgin
of Guadalupe will be ~inaugurated, and the
religious festival will last until the 18th Of
the month, when sacred o~rations will be
delivered by some of the most distinguished
foreign prelates invited for the occasion. In
this respect Father Plancarte, who has
been appointed mitered abbot, has an
nounced tina the archbishop of Quebec will
deliver q sacred address in French, and
that Cardinal Gibbons will deliver one IN
English. 1t is also given out that Mgr.
Satolli, the apostolic delegate, has accepted
an invitation to attend.
The entire interior of the great cathedral
Is being renewed and is under the direction
of Professor Pima, director of the School of
Painting in the Academy of San Carlos.
Senior Pima Is a great %colorist, and his
scheme of ornamentation is full of illusions
to the great miracle of Feb. 3, 1881.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE.
According to the story, an Indian Of
Quauhtitian, whose name was Quauthla-
toaizin. paid daily visits to the Church of
of Platilolco. He became a convert and
was baptized under the name of Juan
Diego. He still continued his visits to the
church, however. His way to the church
from his hut lay around the hills of Tapa-
yao, three OF which are arranged like gi-
gantic stairs, the first being much the
smallest. AS he rounded this one. which
was quite close to the Aztec causeway that
united Platilolco with the main land to the
north. he suddenly heard music like celes-
tial breathings and saw a bright light up-
der a small rainbow at the top Of the hill.
When no became accustomed to the light
he saw within it that form which has be-
esme eo known Tad TO of wnSie Christian world
voice spoke out Of the light, saying:
son Juan. where goest thou%" Juan, in
his innocence and ignorance, answered
h0l6lU that ha uy1 q cotru 20 - 49,
Son. said the Voice. 4 am the virgin
Creator of all things. Lord of heaven and
earth. 1t is my wish that a temple shall be
built on this spot where, as a tender mother
to thee and, and to thy race | will show my
and for all that love me and seek me in
their trouble. Thou must go to the CITY of
Mexico. to the palace of the bishop, and
tell him that it is my wish that a temple
be built to me here"
The Indian, with fear and trembling. went
to the palace of the bishop and was with
difficulty admitted. The bishop, Juan Zu-
marraga. doubted the story and sent the
Indian away with an oeyasiye answer. This
was on Saturday, and on the evening of
the same day the Indian heard the same
celestial breathings, saw the same light
light. '
He repeated the words of the bi,hon but
the virgin said to him in the same sweet
tones of the day before: 81 have messen-
gers and servants in multitudes, but IL is
my wish that thou doest this thing. Go
again to the bishop and say that She that
has sent thee is the Virgin Mary, mother
Of the true God"
Bishop zumarraga, when the Indian came
and protested, with tears. that he had re-
turned only out Of obedience to the beauti-
fl virgin, was much moved because he
knew that Juan Diego would never show
such persistence unless he was obeying
some superior being. But he told the In
dian that he must ask the vision for a
sign. With this he dismissed him and gave
orders for two attendants to follow him
ana followed him to the hills not far from
the city: but suddenly he vanished out of
tempt for a member OF a despised people,
and they were not allowed to behold the
sacred vision.
THE THIRD VISION.
The third time he met the vision and
said that the bishop was seeking a sign.
"Son Juan" she said, return here to-
morrow and / will give thee a sign that
shall suffice SO that all men shall give credit
to thy words"
But the next day Juan's uncle was so VIC
lent with a fever that he could not be left
and so also on Tuesday. The next day he
set out for the church to get a priest to
give the last rites 10 his uncle. Rouding
the little hill, the virgin was there and
mucn nearer 10 MIN tnan on the Day she
last appeared. Juan fell on his knees in
an agony of apprehension.
Fear nothing" said the soft voice In the
light. Moreover, thy kinsman has been
restored to health"
Then the Indian stammered out: The
sign, the sign"
"Climb to the top of the hill where thou
first sawest me, and pick flowers growing
where ] stood and carry. them to. the bish-
op in thy tilma and they shall be a sign
to him that / sent thee and that / am the
true mother of the true God"
sw eet-smelling flowers, whereas nothing
had ever grown there before. He took
them to the bishop, who looked at them