Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1900-02-15
The LeeeDd
Of Guadalupe


rem. dreary looking spot, yet two OBJ
jects draw one toward it-a pictur-
esque, half ruined cathedral that
crowns the summit and at the foot of
the long, long stone stairway that leads
from the base 10 the top of the hill a
strange monument of heroic size that
on closer view proves TO be the mast
and sails of a ship wrought in stone.
And this Is the legend of the place, as
related TO the writer.
On certain day early In the six
teenth century-l53l some have 1.-THE
poor peasant Juan Diego left his vii
lage Of Topetlac to attend mass In a
town hard by where the bishop lived.
He was weary. more than weary,
from a long days work, and that
rocky, precipitous hill that he had to
cross seemed a mountain in his way.
As he struggled up he thought he heard
the sound of music.
He stopped and listened. Again he
started. and again the sound. This
time he waited. and suddenly he heard
voice above him calling his name.
and. looking up, he saw lady. shining
and beautiful, enveloped in halo that
encircled her entire body.
Juan fell upon his face, nor did he
dare to look again, but he heard her
voice speaking 10 him. 1t babe him
bring her drink of water. and though
he knew that for miles around no wa
ter flowed. yet he started to his feet TO
obey, and there at the spot where her
feet had touched the barren earth a
spring of water gushed forth.
With trembling hands he filed cup.
formed Of the corner of his tilma-a
blanket of dried grasSes-but shaking
with the awe and honor of 1t all he
had barely carried the water from the
edge of the spring when he spilled 1t.
and overcome with shame at his fail
ure, he fell again upon his face to
await some form of punishment
But again he heard the voice. and it
babe him 20 TO the bishop. Don Juan
Zumarraga. and say it was the Vir-
gins wish that temple be erected to
her on that hill.
Then she departed, and Juan. mo
longer weary. FASTENED to the bishop
with his story.
But the worthy prelate was in
credulous and would do nothing. and
Juan, broken hearted started back to
his hut in distant Topetlac.
AS he crossed the barren hill. now to
him sacred spot. again he heard the
music. and again he saw the vision.
which gave the same command:
"Go TO the bishop with my wish that
a shrine be built for me upon this hill
And for a sign gather thy tilma full
Of flowers"
Then she vanished, and Juan. aris-
ing. saw flowers growing where naught
had ever grown before. And to this
day that one spot blossoms. while the
surrounding land Is barren waste.
But Juan filed his blanket and ran
again to the bishop. and. To- when he
began to empty the flowers at the
bishops feet they saw upon the tilma
an image of the Virgin as she appeared
to Juan. the halo completely encircling
her form.
Then the bishop believed and hum
bled himself for his doubt, and a
church was built upon the summit of
Guadalupe. and over the altar was en-
shrined the blanket with the mirac-
ulous image Of the Virgin upon 1t.
That was In 1881, and yet If you go
there today you will see the sacred
blanket, and the colors upon it are as
bright as they were four centuries ago.
The spring still gushes from the hill
side at the spot where the virgins
feet had touched, and the healing pow
ers of Its waters are famous throug b.
out Mexico. And today. each year, the
blind or crippled throng to its brink
and are healed.
But "Our Lady of Guadalupe" be-
came the patron saint of Mexico, and
In 1916 her banner with the halo encir-
cled image, borne by the patriot Hidal-
go. n peasant priest, led in the battles
for Mexican independence. and led to
victory.
Many years ago a Mexican ship was
being beaten by fierce storms with lit
tie hope of a safe havenage, and the
crew. after all other means were ex-
hausted, resorted to prayer and vowed
an offering to their patroness. Our La
dy Of Guadalupe, II she would but get
them safe ashore.
The ship was miraculously saved.
and the sailors. true to their vow, bore
their ships foremost, with its square
sails all set. 300 miles inland to the hill
of Guadalupe. and there ut the foot Of
the hill, where the long flight of stone
steps begins that leads TO the church
On the summit, they planted their offer
Ing and lncased 1t with stone There
the mast. with sails all set, stands to
this day. a strange landmark in that
land Of many wonders.-New York
Commercial Advertiser.