The Washington times., 1901-09-29
THE MEXICAN LOURDES.
Many Wonderful Cures Effected
by Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Pilgrims Flock to the shrine by
Thousands - Picturesque scenes
Around the Handsome Chapel.
The Strange Legend of the Well.

The Church of Our Lady of Guada-
lupe, near the City of Mexico, is one OF
the handscmest edifices of its kind in
the world 1t is the shrine of Mexico
national saint, and has obtained local
celebrity for miraculous cures almost
equal to the fame of the ancient church
at Lourdes, France, and the shrine OF
Ste. Anne de Beaupre, in Quebec, Can
ada.
Travel-stained. worn, and weary,
more than 1900 people last week tolled
up the steep hill to the Mexican church
on one of the frequent pilgrimages OF
which the shrine is the object. At their
head, followed by his priests and AGO.
lytes, all chanting the prayers OF the
Church. was the Bishop of Zacatecas.
Behind him came the long procession
There were some there who were fair
ly well-dressed, and well-to-do, but by
far the greater part were men and wo-
men who had used their last "centavo
and sold their few personal effects in
order to pay the railroad fare thither.
How they would get home they did not
know-walk and beg as they went, they
thought-but they were happy in nav
ing seen the miraculous tiima, and in
having prayed before its shrine. The
sight of the wonderful cloth and its
marvellous picture more than atoned
for the privations, past and TO come
that the long trip entailed.
To the Mexican ''peon" pilgrimage
to the shrine of the nations saint is as
much duty as it is for the Mohamme-
dan to visit Mecca. The pilgrimage last
week was the first OF the new century,
and was planned by the Bishop of Ia
catecas months ago. A long time for
preparation was needed for when men
work for the equivalent Of II cents
day, American money, ii takes long
time to save up enough to pay railroad
fares for a trip of hundreds of miles
The church on the hill was far too
small to hold all the pilgrims at one
time, and while those who could not
gain admittance to the church were
waiting their turn, they visited the
Chapel of the Well, and prayed before
the scores of votive shrines which are
everywhere on the hill, and which al
most line the main approach to the
church.
But the place that attracted most of
the visitors was the Chapel of the Well.
There they hastened to drink of the
miraculous waters of the spring which
came from the rock at the spot where
the Virgin first appeared to the poor In
dian. To the mortal who is disinclined
to believe in miracles this water is any
thing but pleasant. 1t is brackish
strong with soda, and just warm
enough to emphasize its unpleasant
qualities.
The story of this national shrine of
Mexico is no more strange than the be-
lief which the Mexican peon has in ev-
cry miracle that it is said to have per-
formed is firm According to the ac-
counts, the blind have been made to
see, the lame to walk, and the deaf to
hear These cures are attested by the
canes and crutches which have been
left behind by these miraculously cured
crippies, and by the offerings and in
scriptions which have been placed in
the chapel by those who could afford
to pay for record of their cure. And
yet at the door of the cathedral and at
every shrine on the hill will be found
cripples who drag themselves slowly
about and beg for aims. Perhaps they
have no desire to be cured, and are bet
ter satisfied 20 subsist on the charity Of
the many pilgrims.
The legend on which has been built
this deyout belief has been investigat-
ed and approved as true by the Church
at Rome, and it has received the official
sanction of the Congress of the Mexi-
can Government. According to the
story. Juan Diego, an Indian convert,
was on his way to hear service which
was being held by the Franciscan
fathers 1t was the morning of Decem-
ber 3, 1881. To reach the church from
his home at Tolpetlac he had to pass
the hill of Tepeyac. That morning as
he approached the eastern side of the
hill he heard music which sounded to
him like chorus of birds. He stopped
to listen. and as he did so he saw a
cloud of all the colors of the rainbow,
and In the midst of it a beautiful lady.
She called TO him and he bowed before
ner. Then she said:
know, my son, that am the Virgin
Mary, mother of the true God. My win
is that temple should be built on this
spot, where you and all your race will
always be able to find me and seek my
aid in your troubles Go TO the Bishop
and IN my name tell what you have
seen and heard. Tell him, too, that it
is my wish that a church be built here,
and for doing this you will be repaid
with many graces."
Juan hurried with his story to the
Bishop, but found little attention paid
but at TIE same spot again saw the Vir-
gin. He told her of the ill-success of
his errand. and she replied that he must
not be downhearted, but repeat her
message to the Bishop on the follow
ing day.
The next day was Sunday. and after
hearing mass Juan found the Bishop.
This time he was told that II he saw the
beautiful lady again he was to ask for
a sign. When he left the house the
Bishop told some of his servants to fol-
low the Indian. They did so. but when
he reached the t.ill he disappeared. and
the servants, unable to see him, report
ed that he was an impostor.
But while Juan was invisible to the
servants ne was again in conversation
with the Virgin. He told her that the
Bishop had required sign, and she
promised him that on the next morn
ing she would give him one. But Juan
did not come back in the morning. At