The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-08-08
SHRINE.
xus MosT DEARLY BELOVED SPOT
IN OLD MEXICO.

hearty beloved as Tue ii''ie 'o"h VI
c.od,Iupe. which is two and half
Ills north of the City of Mexico.
The little village has only 5000 souls,
rt many more thousands visit the
,,oea on certain days in the year when
pilgrimages are made to the holy
shrine Of Guadalupe.
The list of January and the 10Th of
,ocb month the faithful visit this place
Ind Toll up the hill on which it is said
HAT the virgin Guadalupe appeared to
Imam Diego, an Indian boy.
II According to tradition, Juan was
.rudrine over the hill of Tepeyac on
In way to the city on the morning of
H. q 1881, and as he reached the
T. Stern slope of the hill he heard
bounds like music. He stopped to lis
Ion and ut that moment Il cloud APP
naar,d and in the midst of it beauti-
III lady. She told him to go to the
|hsbau in her name and to tell him that
N was her wish that a church should
| H. built on that spot. where she would
hlwags he found to give aid to all in
Arouble Juan Diego hurried to the
|hshop with the story of the virgin, but
h. attention was paid to it. Upon his
keturn home the lady appeared again
M the same spot and urged Juan to go
again to the bishop.
The following day was the Sabbath,
Ind after mass Juan found the bishop
| Ind repeated the message once more.
|The bishop told him to bring a sign
|from the virgin Juan saw the virgin
|acain upon his return home, and she
|promised TO give him sign. which she
Lid on Dec. u as he was going to con-
|fession. He passed this time near the
|foot Of the hill, where she appeared
| oncc 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
|tw0 holy wells mark that spot today.
The virgin then told Juan to climb to
|fhe summit of that barren rocky hill
e.
(which he was to gather and carry in
his "tilma' to the bishop. Juan did as
he was told and found the loveliest
|foses growing just where she had told
him to search for them. He. gathered
|them all and placed them in his It'll
INA. a sort of blanket.
When he arrived at the house of the
Bishop and openA the blanket, the
POSES fell to the floor, and a picture in
colors appeared on the blanket repre-
|sentins 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
| bad designated.
Bishop Zumarraga set about to build
|the church. and when it was completed
|the lima 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
|fha roses We're gathered on the summit
|and 1t the holy well where the virgin
last appeared to Juan. This miracle was
recognized in 1868, and in 1874 it was
|fully sanctioned and confirmed by a
|papal bull. Later. in 1894 congress de-
|creed Dec. II to be a national holiday.
Hdalgo took picture of Guadalupe
FOR his standard, around which rallied
|the first army of the revolutionists,
PM the happy issue that her assistance
Cav to that war endeared her still
|nore 10 the people. This picture on
Pic "ulma' is a wonderful piece of
Work Artists from all over the world
pave examined it and have testified
|Ihat IL is of no known style of painting.
|ahe indian garment of ixtli fiber is of
coarse weave. The picture appears
|pn both sides of the cloth and is as
bright rs new, although said to be over
|So0 years old. The Church of Nuestra
|Senora de Guadalupe, in which this
marvellous picture hangs, is said by ex-
per- TO be one of the richest and hand
soonest on earth today. Its treasures
Fan he counted by millions. 1t was
|Qedeated May l, 1909, and is 1874 feet
|lons by I'D feet wide. 1t has vaulted
Too, supported by Corinthian columns.
he whole is surmounted by a dome,
PIC lantern of which is 1875 feet above
IL loor The building cost 81, 1S1 900.
lhe Jewels, gold and silver plate and
|pthei rich belongings nearly all belong
~ The government and are estimated
Pr - 100000 more.
The church possesses a very costly
Grown for the virgin. 1t is of solid
|gold and weighs many pounds. There
|are SIX shields on the crown for the
si& archbishops of Mexico. land they
re all surrounded by diamonds. There
afe a number of angels, each having an
hlmense ruby on the breast, while the
Fest OF the surface of the crown is COW
&c with sapphires and emeralds. This
GROWN is surmounted by the Mexican
Fdgie' holding aloft a large diamond
Gross
ne poor pilgrims are not able, many
~ them, to form an idea of the rich.
ess OF this church, with its commun-
~ rail and balustrades from the
Eahctuary to the choir of solid silver,
ney are three feet high, with top
ploidlng foot wide and still more
massive base. The sacred vessels are
e. OF pure gold embedded with pre-
'iouS stones. The choir has some fine
carvings done in ebony and mahogany.
he ilnest is basso relieve above the
dhs' Illustrating the litany of the
virgin.
a artists We're brought from France to