How Did Our Lady of Guadalupe Become Mexico’s Patroness?

Our Lady of Guadalupe is the name given to a series of apparitions of the Virgin Mary in the territory of New Spain—modern-day Mexico—in 1531. Throughout centuries, Our Lady of Guadalupe has stood as an unwavering pillar in the formation of the Mexican Catholic faith and national identity. Considered the patron saint of Mexico and continental America, Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the most widely venerated religious icons, celebrated annually in Mexico and the United States on December 12.

The story of the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the most fascinating in the Catholic tradition. According to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego, a Nahua convert to Christianity, on December 9, 1531, on Tepeyac Hill. It is said that a sweet voice beckoned Juan Diego, who soon discovered the apparition of the Virgin Mary on the hill. The message from Our Lady of Guadalupe was clear: she requested a shrine to be built on that very spot. When Juan Diego reported the apparition and the Virgin’s request to the bishop Fray Juan de Zumárraga, the latter was skeptical and asked for more evidence from the peasant.

Discouraged, Juan Diego returned to the same spot and had another encounter with Our Lady of Guadalupe, who prompted him to collect roses from the top of the hill. The roses were to serve as evidence of divine intervention since this specific type of rose, originating from southern Spain, was impossible to find anywhere near Tepeyac Hill during the winter. In awe of what he had just witnessed, Juan Diego hurried to the bishop to report the miraculous apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When Juan Diego unfurled his tilma, a cloak made of bamboo or other natural material, dozens of roses fell to the ground, revealing yet another miracle: the sacred image of a dark-skinned Virgin imprinted on the fabric. In awe and convinced of the Virgin’s divine apparition, the bishop ordered a church to be built on Tepeyac Hill.

Before the apparition on Tepeyac Hill in 1531 and the subsequent construction of a shrine, the very same spot already held spiritual significance for the indigenous population: it had been a sanctuary dedicated to an Aztec deity, Tonantzin. Tonantzin, a revered figure in Aztec mythology, her name meaning “our sacred mother,” was often referred to as the snake woman and is associated with the mother goddess archetype. Following the apparition of the Virgin to Juan Diego, however, the worship of Tonantzin gradually appears to have given way to the reverence of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Today, the indigenous goddess is often viewed as an incarnation of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Notably, the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego at the peak of the evangelizing efforts implemented by the Spanish monarchy in colonial Mexico. The revelation of the Virgin of Guadalupe before an indigenous peasant coincided with the proliferation of baroque arts in the Spanish colonies. The Baroque, rich in artistic imagery and hybridization of cultural imaginaries, served as a favorable space for communicating the Catholic message through the power of images. Since local populations did not speak Spanish, the image came to serve as a tool for disseminating the Catholic faith, and the Spanish Monarchy used it to the fullest during the Baroque era. Not coincidentally, the image of a dark-skinned Virgin Mary stands as one of the most iconic representations of the Baroque era and a testament to the formation of new colonial identities.

However, while many indigenous were converting to Christianity, complete evangelization proved to be an unsuccessful endeavor for Catholic authorities. As colonial Mexico was undergoing Christianization and new, hybrid spiritualities were emerging, a question arose: were indigenous peoples actually going to Tepeyac Hill to worship Our Lady of Guadalupe—or Tonantzin? Many scholars hold the view that indigenous populations continued practicing the worship of Tonantzin in an act of resistance to Spanish colonization.

There are no definitive answers regarding the connection between Spain’s evangelizing efforts and the apparition of the Virgin of Guadalupe on a site dedicated to an Aztec deity. Today, however, Mexico honors religious diversity and the presence of spiritual syncretism and hybrid belief systems across all of Latin America is an undeniable fact.

The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe holds mysteries that have intrigued historians and scholars for centuries. The longevity of the fabric it was imprinted on, for instance, has sparked debates and speculation for years.

In recent years, a group of researchers from Cornell University investigated the material of the tilma and rebuked claims that the image was painted on a material from Europe, namely cotton or linen, instead suggesting that the tilma “seems to have been woven from hemp, a plant native to Mexico.” Materials from hemp are known to last for hundreds of years due to their strong fiber composition, which provides further insight into the tilma’s durability.

The eyes of the Virgin in the image have presented another mystery that researchers have struggled to understand. A microscopic study has revealed what appear to be images of human beings within the eyes of the Virgin. These images have puzzled digital engineers, art historians, and scientists alike. What secrets do the eyes of the Virgin hold? A scientific explanation for the images remains elusive. Skeptics, however, hold that these so-called images are simply the result of viewers’ overactive imaginations.

Guadalupe’s Influence and Legacy

The cultural hybridity and religious syncretism embodied in the Virgin have been strong factors in forming collective identities. Recognizing the powerful impact that the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe has had on the formation of Mexican national identity, political actors, revolutionaries, and religious leaders alike have utilized the symbolism of the Virgin during key moments that dramatically changed the course of history.

The figure of Our Lady of Guadalupe stood at the forefront of the Mexican War of Independence between the country’s patriot forces and the Spanish colonial government—an armed conflict that lasted from 1810 to 1821, eventually resulting in Mexico’s independence from the Spanish Empire. On September 16, 1810, a day now celebrated as Mexico’s Independence Day, Catholic priest Father Miguel Hidalgo launched an independence campaign proclaiming: “Death to the Spaniards and long live the Virgin of Guadalupe.” The image of Guadalupe decorated the flags, banners, and sombreros of the rebels. Even though the image of the Virgin had already been elevated to the status of a national symbol of Mexico, it was during the Mexican War of Independence that the Virgin of Guadalupe was truly transformed into the patron saint of Mexico.

Nearly a century later, revolutionary leader Emilio Zapata would utilize the image of Guadalupe during the Mexican Revolution when he marched into Mexico City with his peasant rebels in 1914, holding up a banner with the image of the Virgin as a telling symbol for the fight for social justice and land.

From colonial times to the War of Independence, the Mexican Revolution, and into modern-day struggles, the figure of Guadalupe continues to be a symbol of cultural identity and a source of pride for Mexicans. The symbolism of the dark-skinned Virgin, embodying Mexico’s cultural and racial diversity, conveys a message of empowerment to marginalized communities and their fight for social justice.

A symbol of hope, faith, and resilience, Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated every year on December 12th in Mexico and beyond its borders, with celebrations also taking place across the United States. On that day, millions of pilgrims travel to Mexico City to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and honor the Virgin at the renowned Basilica, a display of adoration unequal to any other deity in the region, past or present.