Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe Day 12

A Virgin a Day
December 12, 2011

Today is December 12, 2011. This is the day of celebration for Our Lady of Guadalupe and the last day of our exercise, A Virgin a Day. Some have called it Mornings with Mary. In fact, many monikers have been thrust upon this idea of posting and writing about The Blessed Virgin Mary every day since the start of December so we could culminate today, on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness to the Americas.

One of the beautiful works located inside the main chapel at the Shrine.

More entries can be seen by following this link to Rebecca’s blog, recuerda mi corazon. I wish to say a resounding Thank You to Rebecca for hosting this project. It has been fun, entertaining, educational and has allowed new friendships and connections to flourish here in Bloglandia. It has promoted Peace and understanding, acceptance and turned us on to learning about people in lands all around the globe.

The church

The copper dome of the church lit up

Not far from my home in Northwestern Wisconsin along the Mississippi River sits the city of LaCrosse. And not far from LaCrosse on US Highway 61 sits a shrine built to honor and present Our Lady of Guadalupe to the people.

Beautiful examples of the stained glass windows in the votive chapel

There are many such shrines throughout the USA and the world to honor the religious icons. This one is no exception. I don’t so much seek these places out to visit them, but when I happen to be on that path and I discover them, I tend to stop and have a look.

The votive chapel

Candles, to light as a devotional, in the votive chapel, high on a hill on the grounds

I have been to a Sihk Temple. I have been to a Baptist church service in the deep South. I have been to a Catholic Monastery. I have been to a Buddhist Peace Pagoda. I have been on Native American Sacred Grounds. I’ve been to a pot farm and I even have been to a strip club. You may not see a connection, but the idea is that I am not hesitant to stop and learn about parts of the vast and varied cultures of our world.

Stock photo of the gift shop located in the main building

This visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is best told in pictures. I didn't get back to photograph all that I wanted to, but the link in this paragraph will explain in some detail all the activities that are offered there to pilgrims and visitors alike. I have posted the photos with captions and leave you to the beauty of the artwork. 

One of the many outdoor statues of Our Lady

The idea at work here is that Our Lady, The Blessed Virgin Mother,
appeared in the form of a young woman, Guadalupe, and visited this man, Juan Diego, in 1531 AD, somewhere in the desert near the hill named Tepeyac in Mexico, and showed herself to him with a message for the people.

The bottom line of the message brought down from Tepeyac Hill by Juan Diego, who was later named a Saint by the Catholics, is that we need to live with each other in Peace.