The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-08-06
GUADALUPE SHRINE.
THE MOST DEARLY BELOVED SPOT
IN OLD MEXICO.

village Each Year-Tbe story That |
Is Handed Down by Tradition.
There is no spot in all Mexico as
dearly beloved as the little town of
Guadalupe, which is two and a half
miles north of the City OF Mexico.
The little village has only 5000 souls,
but many more thousands visit the
place ON certain days in the year when
pilgrimages are made to the holy
shrine OF Guadalupe
The 1st of January and the 18th OF
each month the faithful visit this place
and toll up the hill on which 1t is said
that the virgin Guadalupe appeared to
Juan Diego, an Indian boy.
According to tradition, Juan was
trudging over the hill OF Tepeyac on
his way TO the city on the morning of
Dec. o, 1881, and as he reached the
oastern slope Of the hill he heard
sounds like music. He stopped to lis
ten. and at that moment n cloud APP
peared and In the midst Of IT n beautl-
ful lady. She told him TO go to the
II was her wish that church should
be built on that spot, whore she would
always be found to give aid TO all in
trouble. Juan Diego hurried to the
bishop with the story Of Oh virgin. but
no attention was paid 10 It Upon his
return home the lady app red again
In the same spot and urged Juan to go
again TO 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 a sign. which she
did on Dec. - as he was going to con-
tesslon. 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
bis 'tilma" to the bishop. Juan did as
he was told and found the lovellest
roses growing just where she had told
him to search for them. He gathered
them all and placed them in his "til-
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 a 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 n promise To
build chapel on the spot the virgin
had designated.
Bishop Zumarraga set about to build
the church, and when 1t was completed
the "tllma" was placed above the altar
in frame Of gold and silver.
That little chapel has since been re
placed by the magnificent church to bC
seen today. There are also two othel
churches to mark the spot on which
the roses were gathered on the summit
and at the holy well where the virgil
last appeared to Juan, This miracle wal
fully sanctioned and confirmed by {
papal bull. Later, in 1924, congress de
creed Dec. II to be n national holiday.
Hidalgo took picture of Guadalup
for his standard, around which rallies
the first army of the revolutionists
and the happy issue that her assistanc
gave to that war endeared her still
more to the people This picture o
the "tilma" is wonderful piece o
work. Artists from all over the worl
have examined II and have testifie
that it is of no known style of painting
The Indian garment of ixtli fiber is o
a coarse weave. The picture appear
on both sides of the cloth and is a
bright as new, although said to be owe
300 years old. The Church OF Nuestr
Sonora de Guadalupe. in which thi
marvellous picture hangs, is said by e.
perts to be one of the richest and hanC
soonest on earth today. Its treasure
can be counted by millions. 1t wa
dedicated May 1, 1903, and Is 1s4 fe'
long by 122 feet wide. 1t has a vaulte
roof supported by Corinthian column
The whole is surmounted by dom
the lantern OF which is 125 feet abo'
the floor. The building cost 81, ,1S1, 90
The jewels, gold and silver plate al
other rich belongings nearly all belor
to the government and are estimat'
at $2,000,000 more.
The church possesses very cost
crown for the virgin. 1t is Of sol
gold and weighs many pounds. The
are six shields on the crown for u
six archbishops OF Mexico, and th'
are all surrounded by diamonds. The
are n number of angels, each having
immense ruby on the breast, while {
rest of the surface Of the crown is co
cred with sapphlres and emeralds. III
crown is surmounted by the Mexici
eagle. holding aloft a large diamol
cross.
The poor pilgrims are not able, ma
of them To form an idea of the riC