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Virgen de Guadalupe
According to Mexican tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to an indigenous man named Juan Diego on Dec. 9, 1531. The Virgen asked that a shrine in her name be built on the spot where she appeared, Tepeyac Hill, which is now in a suburb of Mexico City. Juan Diego told the bishop about the apparition and request, but he didn’t believe him and demanded a sign before he would approve construction of the church.
On Dec. 12, the Virgen reappeared to Juan Diego and ordered him to collect roses in his tilmátli, a kind of cloak. Juan took the roses to the bishop, and when he opened his cloak, dozens of roses fell to the floor and revealed the image of the Virgen of Guadalupe imprinted on the inside. The tilmátli, with the image, is on display in the Basilica de Guadalupe in Mexico City.
Celebrating the appearance of the Virgen occurs every year in Mexico and different parts of the world. Winkelman residents, Braulio and JoAnn Amavisca, have also been celebrating this miracle since 1994 when Mike C. Martinez painted an image of the Virgen on a stone for them as a thank you for helping his family after his brother-in-law, Federico J. Ruiz, passed away.
Over the past 21 years, Braulio and JoAnn have given thanks for many blessings during the Virgen celebration. Most recently, they, along with Jesus and Rita Piña, are giving thanks for the continued recovery of Santiago Piña. Santiago was in a serious vehicle accident in August 2015. He was not expected to survive. But with many prayers and excellent medical care, he is making a great recovery.
This year’s celebration of the Virgen de Guadalupe will be at their home, 419 W. Quarelli Street in Winkelman, on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come sing, pray and give thanks for Santiago’s improved health and other blessings.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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