OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the most beloved titles of the Virgin Mary, especially in Latin America. She is associated with a series of apparitions believed to have taken place in December 1531 on Tepeyac Hill, near present-day Mexico City, where Mary appeared to Saint Juan Diego, an indigenous Nahua convert to Christianity.

According to tradition, Mary appeared to Juan Diego as a young woman with dark skin, dressed in native attire, and spoke to him in Nahuatl, his native language. She requested that a church be built on the site of her appearance. When Juan Diego relayed the message to the local bishop, he was not believed and was asked for a sign. In response, the Virgin directed Juan Diego to gather Castilian roses (which were out of season) in his tilma (cloak). When he opened the cloak before the bishop, the flowers fell to the ground, and a miraculous image of Mary was imprinted on the fabric.

This image became the famous icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe, now enshrined in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, one of the most visited Catholic shrines in the world. The tilma, made of cactus fiber and expected to last only a few decades, has survived nearly 500 years without decaying, and the image remains vibrant and mysterious in its composition.

Our Lady of Guadalupe holds deep spiritual, cultural, and national significance. She is seen not only as the Mother of God but as the Mother of the Americas, especially of the poor and oppressed. Her appearance to an indigenous man and her mestiza features symbolize her solidarity with the native people and her role in uniting cultures and peoples.

Her feast day is celebrated on December 12, commemorating the date of the miraculous sign.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of:

• Mexico
• The Americas
• Indigenous peoples
• The unborn
• New evangelization

In her image, Mary stands in front of the sun, wears a mantle of stars, and is supported by the moon and an angel—symbols that resonated deeply with indigenous religious understanding. She represents mercy, hope, and God’s care for all people. 

16”x20” acrylic on wood. 
Prayerfully made by Stephen Hotchkiss. 
If unavailable please inquire about having a similar painting made.