The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1902-09-18
GUADALUPE SHRINE.
THE MOST DEARLY BELOVED SPOT
IN OLD MEXICO.


village Each Year-The Story That
Is Handed Down by Tradition.
There is no spot in all Mexico as
dearly believed as the little town of
Guadalupe, which is two and q 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
p;lgrimages are made to the holy
shrine of Guadalupe.
The list of January and the 18th Of
each month the faithful visit this place
and toll up the hill Oh which it 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. 8, 1881, and as he reached the
eastern slope of the hill he heard
sounds like music. He stopped to lis
ten, and at that moment q cloud ap-
peared and in the midst of it a beauti-
full lady. She told him to go to the
bishop in her name and to tell him that
it was her wish that church should
be built on that spot. where she would
always be found to give aid to all in
trouble. Juan Diego hurried to the
bishop with the story of the virgin, but
no attention was paid to it. Upon his
return home the lady appeared 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 a sign
from the virgin Juan saw the virgin
again upon his return home and she
promised to give him a sign, which she
did OH Dec. II 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 "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 OH 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 were gathered on the summit
and at the holy we'll where the virgin
last appeared to Juan. This miracle was
recognized in 1868. and in 175. it was
fully sanctioned and confirmed by
creed Dec. II to be national holiday.
Hidalgo took a 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 of
work. Artists from all over the world
have examined it and have testified
that 1t Is Of no known style of painting.
The Indian garment of ixtli fiber is of
coarse weave. The picture appears
| on both sides of the cloth and is as
bright as new, although said to be over
300 years old. The Church Of Nuestra
Sonora de Guadalupe, in which this
marvellous picture hangs, is said by ex-
perts to be one Of the richest and hand
soonest on earth today. Its treasures
can be counted by millions. 1t was
dedicated May 1. 1709, and is 1874 feet
long by 122 feet wide. 1t has a vaulted
roof, supported by COrinthian columns
The whole is surmounted by dome,
the lantern of which is 125 feet above
the floor. The building cost 81, 1871 900.
The Jewels gold and silver plate and
other rich belongings nearly all belong
at So, 100000 more.
The church possesses a very costly
| crown for the virgin. It is of solid
gold and weighs many pounds. There
are six shields on the crown for the
six archbishops of Mexico, and they
are all surrounded by diamonds. There
are number Of angels. each having an
immense ruby on the breast, while the
rest of the surface of the crown is COW
| cred with sapphires and emeralds. This
crown is surmounted by the Mexican
eagle, holding aloft a large diamond
cross.
The poor pilgrims are not able, many
of them, to form an idea Of the rich
ness of this church, with it's commun-
ion rail and balustrades from the
sanctuary to the choir of solid silver
They are three feet high, with a top
holding d foot wide and a still more
massive base. The sacred vessels are
| all of pure gold embedded with pre-
cious stones. The choir has some fine
carvings done in ebony and mahogany.
The finest is a basso relieve above the
stalls, illustrating the litany Of the
virgin.
Artists were brought from France to
paint the frescoes on the walls. and the
paintings and statues were the work of
the best European artists and sculp-
tors. The organ in itself represents a
small fortune.-Clevelan Plain Deal
err.