|
The Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe is located on the Tepayac hill in a northern suburb of Mexico City. The The Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe receives more travelers than any other Catholic Church of the region. On December 12, the High Holy Day in the Mexican Calendar, millions of tourists make a pilgrimage to The Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe to worship celebrate, and commemorate the appearance of the brown-skinned Virgin of Guadalupe to Juan Diego in 1531.
The story behind the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe goes like this, Juan Diego, who was a mild and humble, Nahuatl-speaking native who was recently converted to Christianity sees Virgin Mary at the site of the shrine to the Aztec Goddess, Tonantzin. The Virgin, who appears to Juan Diego 4 times, asks repeatedly to construct a church in her honor.
The present church was constructed on the site of an earlier 16th century church that was finished in the year 1709, the Old Basilica. When this basilica was getting destroyed due to the sinking of its foundations, a modern structure called the New Basilica was built next to it. The original image of the Virgin of Guadalupe is now kept in this New Basilica.
Built between 1974 and 1976, the New Basilica has a circular floor plan so that the image of the Virgin can be seen from any point within the Basilica. The circular structure is 100 meters or 330 feet in diameter, and can accommodate up to 50,000 people at a time. The choir is located between the altar and the sides are the chapels of the Santisimo and of Saint Joseph. It has a total of 9 chapels on the upper floor.
Under the main floor of The Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico, there are Basilica's crypts, with 15,000 niches and 10 chapels. It has 7 front doors, symbolizing the 7 gates of Celestial Jerusalem referred to by Lord Christ. In the Sanctuary grounds where the new Basilica is located, you will find many other buildings, including the original chapel and the Old Basilica, as well as other chapels where Masses and other sacraments of the Church are celebrated daily.
The Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe as well as the other chapels in the sanctuary is the center of major religious activities all the year around:
- At least 30 Masses are celebrated every day of the year.
- In the New Basilica, there are Masses every hour on the hour, from 6 am to 8 pm every day of the year. There are 8 Masses in its San Jose Chapel.
- Masses are held in the Capilla Del Cerrito, Capilla Del Pocito, Parroquia de Capuchinas and Parroquia de los Indios buildings.
- Hundreds of baptisms are celebrated every week.
You can reach The Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe in a metro or in a taxi.
travel.mapsofworld.com. provides detailed information on The Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
| 
