The daily morning oasis., 1920-12-29
SACRED CELEBRATION OBSERVED
{ By ALLEN T. BIRD)


December IL was the greatest feast day in
all Mexico; the anniversary of the apparition of
the Virgin at Guadalupe, little village ON the
east side of the Valley of Mexico, less than half
hours ride from Mexico City on an electric troll
ley car Upon this anniversary the population
turn ont in great numbers to do honor to the
patron saint of Mexico.
Not only is the sacred occasion observed in
the noted and notable church at Guadalupe, but
in all the churches of the capital and in the fad
era district. For that matter it is observed in
all parts of Mexico At Guadalupe the day is the
elimination of week of festivities, like the pro-
longed fiesta at Magdalena, in October, with
which Nogales and Sonora people are familiar,
when thousands make pilgrimage to that place
from all parts of Sonora and Arizona, to pay
homage at the shrine of San Francisco Xavier,
the patron saint of that village. To pay homage
at the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe devout
souls come from all parts of Mexico. And the big
fiesta at Magdalena sinks into insignificance be-
side this. In October last it was estimated that
during the four days fiesta fully 10000 people
visited Magdalena. Papers of the capital estimate
that there 100000, visitors at Guadalupe
December II; and that at least 10000 of them
crowded into and through the basilica of the
church there to pay homage and alteration to the
Virgin, whose miraculous picture is central
figure on the altar.
The ceremonies at Guadalupe commenced
with Pontifical Mass, celebrated by the illustri
GUS Archbishop of Mexico Don Senior Jose Maria
Mora del Rio, who was assisted by Canons Genaro
Mendez del Rio, archpriest of the Basilca, and
Antonio Fonesea.
Following the mass, the illustrious archbishop
headed pontifical procession in and about the
basilica and other precincts of the great edifioe
Later in the day pontifical mass was re-
peated by the archbishop and his assistants, in
the great cathedral here in Mexico City.
The masses celebrated were followed by
sermons from various prelates, and othcr cere-
MONIES at Guadalupe the great basilica, holding
several thousand persons, being crowded all day
and half the night
Most naaders of "The Oasis" are familiar
with the miracle upon which is based this great
historic festival of the Catholic Church in Mex
leo. The Virgin appeared to poor Indian
shepherd boy, named Juan Diego and told him to
convey the archbishop her desire that he build
upon that spot great church dedicated to her
names He visited the archbishop's palace in the
evidence that he had seen the Virgin and been
made, her messenger He returned to the site
detected, and the Virgin appeared to him again.
When he told her the answer of the prelate, she
called his attention to a rose bush in full bloom
standing beside him, rooted in the solid rock
bearing profusely the beautiful blossoms OF the
Rose of CASTLE, a flower at that time unknown in
Mexico and she bade him gather the flowers
and take them to the doubling prelate. Ne spread
upon the ground his serape plucked all the rosFs,
laid them upon the cloth, gathering the four
corners in his hand, making an improvised sack;
and trudged his way again to the archbishop's
palace in Mexico Admitted into the august pre-
sence the Indian shook the roses out from his
sarape, and, 10, there appeared upon the serpare
an rxqusitely artistic full length portart of the
Virgin That miraculous painting is the central
figure of the altar today, and thousands pay it
homage
The archbishop accepted the message,
dedicated the ground to be the site of church;
and he sent the miraculous painting to all cap
itals of Europe with his Authorization OF the
miracle. Everywhere the picture was received
with alteration by the devout, large sums OF
money were subscribed toward erection, at cost