La fiesta de La Virgen de Guadalupe en Sucre, Bolivia

I had the opportunity this month to go to Sucre, Bolivia for La fiesta de la Virgen de Guadalupe. If anyone knows me well, I’m a big fan of the visitation of Mary to Mexico in 1531. Even if you do not know me well, you could tell I have a devotion to her by clicking on the “patron saints for mission” tab on my blog J. In Sucre the Virgin of Guadalupe is the patron saint of the city.

Mary’s visitation to Mexico came after the conquistadors forced the Aztec people to stop sacrificing their people to their gods. Mary appearance to a humble indigenous man rather than a Spanish conquistador, gained the confidence of the indigenous to believe that her divine son was and is the true God. Thousands of indigenous became baptized Catholics in the following years of her visitation. About 60 years later Jesuit priests from Spain brought the devotion of Our lady of Guadalupe to Potosi, Bolivia (near sucre), relying on Mary’s protection when they were evangelizing the indigenous who were sometimes hostile. A painting was painted in 1601 of the Blessed Virgin with the Divine Child Jesus in her hands. Over the years the people of Bolivia decorated the original painting with gold, rubies, silver, and jewels . Even the liberator Simon Bolivar who liberated a number of south America countries from the Spanish throne gave a nice sized ruby to the image. Today the decorated painting is worth millions of dollars, and sits inside the cathedral in front of the plaza and brought out in processions on September 8^th, the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.

The faithful praying in front of the encased painting of Mary and baby Jesus

  

She is known as “the richest virgin” of the Americas.

 

 

 

To me the beauty of the image is a small reminder of the beauty and richness of Mary’s soul. The image is a beautiful reminder of her beautiful Fiat to be the mother of our savior who is the reason of our Joy. Visiting the cathedral the last night of the novena served as a reminder to me that she is not just a model for women but a model for men as well. The church was packed with people and it wasn’t even Sunday or Christmas! Mary is not outdone in generosity and she will give her spiritual children spiritual gifts which will pay off more in the long run than all the gold in the world.    

Many people keep an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe in their homes

 

Our Santisma Madre unites families together

 

 

 Mary has a lot of cute nicknames that the faithful have given her. They call her La Mamita de Guadalupe as an affectionate name for her motherhood to them. They call her La Morena for her dark colored hair (dark colored hair is very dominant in the Americas). All her nicknames indicate the love and affection that the faithful have for the mother of God.

There was a big procession with the painting on September 8th

 

you cannot call it a fiesta without dances

 

getting "under the skin" of the culture with an old friend

Had some fun in the outback 

 

This trip was a very good precursor to my next pilgrimage. In less than 2 months, on my way back to the USA, I will be stopping in Mexico city for a few days. Not to go clubbing, not to go Cancun, not to taste the Mexican cuisine, my motivation is to finally make a visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. To visit the American soil where she visited and to see the only divine image in the world that she gave to her humble servant. I will pay thanks to Mary for her presence on my mission, for helping me and guiding me to bring others closer to her son Jesus. If there are any prayers you would like me to bring to this Holy site, feel free to let me know.