The patron saint of Mexico, Our Lady of Guadalupe, was celebrated on her traditional feast day, December 12 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Wimberley.
Organized by the St. Mary Guadalupe Ministry, a large image of the saint, who is referred to in Spanish as “La Virgen de Guadalupe,” was brought from the church on a “paso,” a shoulder-carried float, to witness devotional dances, fireworks and songs dedicated to her. A special mass was held at 5 p.m., followed by additional dance performances into the evening.
The Azteca Nativo dancers, under the direction of Aron Garcia, who is also the group’s principal drummer, danced long sessions in the afternoon and evening. Many of the dancers perform each October at the annual Sacred Springs Powwow in San Marcos and other central Texas locations.
According to the hagiography of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego, an Nahua man, in Tepeyec in 1531 where a temple to Tonantzín stood. Tonantzín was an Aztec goddess who was considered the mother of the earth and associated with life, death, fertility and sustenance. Mary told Juan Diego to visit the archbishop of Mexico to tell him of her desire to have a church built on Tepeyac.
Twice defeated in his mission to the archbishop, Mary miraculously provided Juan Diego with colorful roses and was told to present them and the garment he held them in to the bishop. When he showed the bishop the roses from Mary, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was miraculously impressed on the garment.
The image is one of the national symbols of Mexico. Many miracles have been assigned to her and she is credited with freeing Mexicans from pre-European religions and uniting the Spanish and the native peoples in a common religion.
