By Daniel Jimenez for South Kern Sol
South Kern Sol attended the Annual Our Lady of Guadalupe Pilgrimage and Vigil at St. Mary’s Parish in Taft. For many families in South Kern this day brings hope.
“For me it is more than a tradition, December 12th represents pride, hope and faith,” says Juan Pablo Alvarez, a Taft resident who attended the event.
The day of La Virgen de Guadalupe (December 12th is the Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe) became a national holiday in Mexico in the year of 1859. It is said that on December 9, 1531,Juan Diego received a miraculous apparition of La Virgen where she told him to tell church leaders to build a temple for her on the hilltop. When Juan Diego told church leaders what happened they did not believe him. La Virgen appeared for the 4th and last time to Juan Diegoon December 12th and asked him to collect flowers for her at the hilltop and take them to the church leaders as a sign. Flowers did not grow in December, but Juan Diego found some beautiful flowers at the top of the hill. When Juan Diego arrived with the church leaders, he unfolded his coat full of flowers and La Virgen de Guadalupe almost perfectly printed on his cloak. The church leaders finally believed Juan Diego and a small church was built at the hilltop in Mexico City, where The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe stands now.
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