Aditya Govind
Mrs. Rodriguez
World History AP
6 February 2015
Virgin of Guadalupe
During the 16th century, European maritime explorations sponsored by Catholic nations like Spain, Portugal and France, always carried missionaries on board their ships. Roman Catholic missionaries thus traveled the world converting native people to Christianity and building churches. When the Spanish colonized Mexico and Peru, Christian missionaries met with strong resistance while attempting to educate indigenous people in Christianity. Over time their persistent efforts paid off and the native peoples adopted Christianity, albeit blended with their traditional religious practices.
Legends say that in 1531, the Virgin Mary appeared to a Juan Diego, a Native American at Tepeyac on a hill near modern Mexico City, promising love and protection to all mankind. She requested that a church be built at that location, and left an imprinted image of herself on the peasant’s “tilma”, a poor quality cactus-cloth. Almost 500 years later, long after it should have disintegrated, the vividness of this image inspires devotion and wonder in devout Catholics far and wide. The Virgin of Guadalupe, as she is known now, has a record of granting miracles to individuals who visit her shrine. Her darker indigenous skin tone is indicative of a predominantly Mexican faith and Mexican national identity. His Holiness, the pope John Paul II has visited her Sanctuary four times endorsing the support of the Roman Catholic Church. Today, copies of this image of the Lady, is found everywhere throughout Mexico and United States, gracing churches, cars, homes, restaurants, vehicles, and even bicycles. Seeing this image on a daily basis on cars and store fronts inspired me to try and create a simulated wood carving that closely resembled the original image which is still enshrined in the basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City. As she stands on a crescent moon, partially supported by a seraph, Guadalupe’s averted face and clasped hands indicate piety.
A Styrofoam sheet was carefully carved with an
