Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-08-04
GUADALUPE SHRINE
TILE MOST DEARLY BELOVED 0'
IN OLD MEXICO.

IL HAnde0
There is no spot in all Mexico as
dearly beloved as the little ,o"n ,o,t
", da,une which is two and hail
,n,'os north of the City of Mexico
The little village has only 5000 SOULS
hut many more thousands WISH 'ne
n,ace on certain days in the year when
pilcrimages are made TO 'ne n0''
shrine of Guadalupe. ., -
The list Of January and the l|'n u
o., oh month the faithful visit this place
and toll up the hill on which 1t Is salu
that the virgin Guadalupe appeared "
Juan Diego, an Indian boy
According to tradition, Juan was
trudcing over the hill of Tepeyac Oh
his way to the city on the morning VI
Dec. 8, 1881, and as he reachea 'ns
eastern slope ct the hill he hearo
sounds like music. He stopped 10 us
ton and at that moment a cloud ap
reared and in the midst OF 1t Deau1'
full lady. She told him to go to !he
bishop in her name and to tell MIN Una,
II was her wish that church should
be built on that spot, where she Woulo
always be found to give aid to all n
trouble. Juan Diego hurried to the
bishop with the story of the virgin, put
no attention was paid to it. Upon his
return home the lady appeared again
In the same spot and urged Juan to 90
again 10 the bishop.
The following day was the Sabbath
and after mass Juan found the bishop
and repeated the message once more
The bishop told him to bring sign
from the virgin Juan saw the virgin
again upon his return home, and she
promised to give him sign, which she
did on Dec. u as he was going to con-
fession. He passed this time near the
foot of the hill, where she appeared
once more, and while in conversation
with Juan she stamped her foot by
way of emphasis, and water flowed at
once from the dry, barren hillside, and
two holy wells mark that spot today.
The virgin then told Juan to climb to
the summit of that barren rocky hill
and he would find roses growing there,
which he was to gather and carry in
his "tilma" to the bishop. Juan did as
he was told and found the loveliest
roses growing just where she had told
him to search for them. He gathered
them all and placed them in his It'll
ma" a sort of blanket.
When he arrived at the house of the
bishop and opened the blanket, the
roses fell to the floor, and picture in
colors appeared on the blanket repre-
senting the virgin as she had appeared
to Juan. The bishop fell on his knees
In prayer and arose with promise to
build chapel on the spot the virgin
had designated.
Bishop Zumarraga set about to build
the church, and when it was completed
the "tilma" was placed above the altar
In frame Of gold and silver.
That little chapel has since been re-
placed by the magnificent church to be
seen today. There are also two other
churches to mark the spot on which
the roses We're gathered on the summit
and at the holy well where the virgin
last appeared to Juan. This mira was
recognized In 1868, and in f754 it was
fully sanctioned and confirmed by a
papal bull. Later, in 1924, congress de-
creed Dec. IL to be a national holiday.
Hidalgo took picture of Guadalupe
for his standard, around which rallied
the first army Of the revolutionists
and the happy issue that her assistance
gave to that war endeared her still
more to the people. This picture on
the "tilma" is a wonderful piece If
work. Artists from all over the world
have examined it and have testified
that it is of no known style of painting
Ihe Indian garment of ixtli fiber is of
4 coarse weave. The picture appears
on both sides of the cloth and is nc
bright as new, although said to be ovor
300 years old. The Church of Nuestra
Sonora de Guadalupe, in which 1his
picture hangs is said bv ev.
perts to be one of the richest and hand.
soonest on earth today. Its treasures
can be counted by millions. 1t was
dedicated May l, 1909, and is 1s4 foot
ong by I'D feet wide. 1t has n vonlto1
roof, supported by Corinthian columns
Inc whole is surmounted by a dome
me lantern of which is 1o;5 feet ahovo
he floor. The building cost Sl.1s1 ooo
Inc jewels, gold. and silver plate and
'ther rich belongings nearly all belonr
o the government and are estmatod
It 100000 more, ''u
The church possesses II worry oo,,.,..
'rown for the virgin. 1t js of .o1i]
gold and weighs many poundy yhn"a
ire SIX shields on the crown fu,. +r',
'lx archbishops Of Mc,..rn ASA .,,".
IRE all surrounded by d.au.,.H4 Yl.','
IRE number OF angels, each la .t,.,.',.
immense ruby on thn lrt%4- ,,,rn, ,,'
est OF the surface of the GROVE, g.. ,,,''
'red with sapphires ana pun,..pl,. .~.,
'rowh is sarmountcd by the Npy.,.',.
'agle' holding aloft a large ,n.,....'.
ross. ''''''
ne poor pilgrims are not aIir. n..;,,,
IT them, to form an idea of Tho ,'i,.,
less OF this church, with its co,n,un'
on rail and balustrades from w.
anctuary to the choir of soil, ~. wy
[hey are three feet high, with a to.,
holding foot wide and Il SIN n ''
SSiHn h0Sn ''4NlN