![]() According to the apparition account, even the earth and the flora shone like precious stones. In addition, the mantle’s color indicates her royalty, since only the native emperors could wear cloaks of that color. On Juan Diego’s tilma, the Virgin’s identity as a woman of heaven and earth is affirmed by her garments’ colors and decorations: her reddish tunic is the color symbolic of earth, while the star-speckled green-blue mantle symbolizes the heavens. John the Evangelist in the Book of Revelation: “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (12:1). When Juan Diego reaches the hilltop, he can identify the noble woman as the Virgin Mary in part because her “perfect grandeur exceeded all imagination: her clothing was shining like the sun, as if it were sending out waves of light.” This directly reflects the words of St. The Virgin’s identity is likewise communicated through beauty. It is the call of love that gives Juan Diego a reason to climb Tepeyac. In the Náhuatl text, we get a stronger glimpse at why: the Virgin calls him not only by his Christian name, but adds the affectionate ending “tzin” to his name: “Juantzin Juan Diegotzin!” Even though the Virgin is unseen, Juan Diego understands in these few words that the woman who called him loves, respects and dignifies him. Juan Diego looks further only when the birdsong stops and he hears a woman’s voice calling him. The experience of beauty helped to prepare him for a personally transformative experience. Thus, even before Juan Diego met the Virgin, he found himself before an extraordinary, even heavenly, expression of truth. For the indigenous people, “flower and song” symbolized truth. Rather, it challenges us and communicates truth.Īs the humble Indian Juan Diego drew near Tepeyac Hill, he was amazed that the barren, desolate place had become like a heavenly garden filled with the exquisite song of the most precious birds. ![]() Yet, the beauty of Our Lady of Guadalupe goes beyond superficial attraction. The splendor of truth in the mantle and stars of Our Lady of Guadalupe.įor centuries, the beauty of the Guadalupan apparitions has inspired amazement. ![]()
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