"The Offering"

The fireworks began exploding around us at 12:00 midnight and continued off and on throughout the night. It’s a celebration of Day of Guadalupe. On Tuesday evening a group of about 30 backpackers were walking by our home. I asked if they were on a pilgrimage, and they said yes, they were on a three day walk to Mexico City. What resolve. What dedication. What merit.

It all started in 1531 when the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared here in Mexico in the form of a young native girl bearing the name Guadalupe. Today millions of pilgrims will converge on the exact spot where the visitation happened.

Once there the pilgrims will enter a huge court area with both the old and new basilicas, the chapel built on the hill to honor her and a path that winds its way along the “sacred” grounds to “The Offering” of Mexico to the Virgin. This arrangement aptly depicts the spiritual climate almost 500 years later.

“The land upon which you walk is sacred…”

“Continue walking with attention and a joyful heart…”

“ ‘The Offering’ of Mexico to her virgin…”

“two perpetual waterfalls sprout, symbols of the valiant roots of the Aztecs…”

“…and of the missionary Spain…”

“…that join at the feet of Mary”

“…mother and forger of the fatherland of Mexico.”