El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-12-08
FIRE BEACON
TO BURN FOR
PATRON SAINT
BY C.. A. MARTIN.
Continues from page II

goes. he beheld an arc OF glorious
Describes His Vision.
In its center shone brilliant light
/ described a such as that shed from
a heavenly throne" The rocks around
were respondent with prismatic hue
[ and seemed TO him masses OF opa 4
sapphire and FURNISHED gold Ora Z
Z Tally he drew nearer and in the "a di-
ance beheld a woman of beautiful
/ countenance and forms who In zen
I tie and assuring voice called him
/ "Hijo milo" Tiny SOM and Dade him
I ascend 10 where she stood When he
I reached the spot she told him that she
was the Virgin Mary, and IL was her
wish that on the place where she was
standing a church should be built
She then charged him 10 hasten to
the bishop and inform him Of her
Juan Diego rushed off and told his
story 70 the bishop, Fray Juan de
ZumarraEa- The bishop, however,
gave no credence to the tale and Juan
returned to the spot where he had
peared and babe him on the morrow
repeat 10 the bishop her message
More attention was paid TO him on
this occasion.
Disappears From View.
The prelate questioned him closely
were insufficient, babe him bring
some sign by which he might recog-
nize her divine command Under the
impression that the Indian was lab
oring under an illusion, the bishop
directed two persons TO follow him
unobserved and watch his proceed
ings. This was done And when
Juan Diego approached the bridge
spanning a small stream which
crossed the way, he disappeared from
It lana
discover him. Returning TO the bish-
op they made their report and eI-
pressed the belief that the Indian was
guilty OF witchcraft-
Meanwhile Juan pushed his course,
unconscious Of the miracle performed
IL his behalf. and reported to the Vir-
gin the result Of his mission She
I bade him come TO her on the morrow,
when a sure and certain sign would
Z be given him He did not, however,
carry out the Virgins iu5unctions,
owing TO the condition Of his uncle
Juan Bernardino, who had fallen i'll
with fever
Is Called Again.
But on the second day. which was
the 18Th OF December. while on his
Z ices OF a priest for the dying rela-
tive, he remembered his neglect. and
{ in his simplicity. hoped 10 avoid meet
Z ing the apparitiOn by taking another
path on arriving at a small mouE-
( tain now called the Poetic de Nues-
ira Sonora de Guadalupe), he per-
ceived the Virgin descending the
slope. surrounded by the same efful-
gence as on the first occasion. The
vision daZzled him
Conscious stricken yet contrite, he
fell on his knees. trembling. But the
Virgin consoled him and babe him be
in no anxiety for his uncle. who was
slready veil She then babe him as
cend the hill. Gull the roses he would
find there and bring them 10 her in
the folds OF his mantle. The man
obeyed. finding on the barren summit
miraculous garden OF roses which
shed delicious perfume Gathering
as he had been hidden. he carried the
roses 70 the holy one, who, having
taken them in her hands. gave them
back TO the Indian and babe him
carry them unseen by any one 70 the
bishop.
Picture on the Mantle.
On arriving at the bishops. Juan
Diego unfolded his mantle and dis
PLAYED the roses as the required sign
and behold. 4. figure Of the VIRGIN was
found upon the mantlel Then all ac-
knowledged the holy nature Of the
apparition and bent their knees in
worship. Zumarraga. with priestly
hand, took from the shoulders OF the
native the sacred cloth and reverently
placed Il in his oratory. It is still
preserved. on the following day the
prelate, accompanied by his house
hold, and guided by Juan Diego. vis-
tied the spot designated by the Vir-
gin HIS mission ended. Juan Diego
returned, accompanied BY several OF
the bishops followers.
On their arrival at Tolpetlac. Juan
BernardinO was found to be in per-
feet health and Il was discovered that
at the same hour in which the Virgin
had told Tunu Dfego of his rannwnr7~
she had appeared to Bernardino. re-
stored him 10 health and expressed
her wishes with regard TO the cree
ton OF church.
It was the belief Of the Texicans
that the epparition was the reincar-
nation Of the Spanish Virgin OF
Guadalupe in a Mexican Indian
maiden. Thus the Virgin Of Guada-
lupe became the patron saint OF the
Mexicans.
Day Set By Pope.
The miraculous apparition set the
Mexicans delirious with joy and re-
ligious fervor as the news spread
over the country. and in response TO
a popular demand in 1867 pope Glenn
ent TX set aside December Il as
day Of holy festivities in perpetuiCy,
in honor OF the Mexican Virgin.
So, every year December u is eel
ebrated in her honor and the fires
are lighted the evening previous as
q token OF welcome. They are kept
burning FOR several nights. depending
upon the religious zeal and enthusi-
asm OF the people OF q community.
Candles are placed upon the tops
OF the churches in the evening during
the festival-they Will appear upon
the ancient church OF Guadulupe IN
Juarez-and IN every POSSIBLE wav the
faith OF the simple folk as shown.
lieves that 1ov u,arrfaef,,-ir,- ts a.,