Our Lady Of Guadalupe

Our Lady Of Guadalupe is a 16th century Roman Catholic Mexican apparition of the Virgin Mary. Appearing in 1531 on a hill northwest of what is now Mexico City, the Holy Mother requested that a church be built on the site. After the Bishop agreed to the church, Our Lady of Guadalupe left an imprinted image of herself on a cactus cloth, also known as the tilma, which to this day has not deteriorated.¹

Fast Facts

1. Also called the Virgin of Guadalupe
2. Feast Day: December 12 commemorates her appearance
3. Holy Mary appeared to Juan Diego and left the sign of roses²
4. Appeared several times from December 9th - 12th in 1531
5. In Spanish called: Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe
6. The image of the Virgin of Guadalupe was used on flags during Mexico's War of Independence

About the Tilma

When Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to the Mexican peasant Juan Diego, she imprinted an image of herself on a piece of Diego's tilma, or cloth. Professors and scientists have examined the imprinted tilma years later, discovering that the cloth which would have normally decayed after about forty years, has remained completely intact for over four hundred years. After microscopic examination, the tilma shows no brush strokes or protective varnish.³

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