The Miraculous Tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe

CONTINUED FROM The Apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe

When Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego in 1531 on Tepeyac Hill outside Mexico City, many people throughout the world were not literate. Most cultures had some sort of pictorial system to communicate and instruct. One example familiar to us is the stained glass windows in the great cathedrals of Europe. All could equally read the Gospel and the lives of the Saints within the colored glass.

Juan Diego’s cloak (tilma) was made of fibers from the agave (or maguey) plant. Our Lady arranged fresh flowers in the tilma and instructed Juan to take the roses as a sign to the bishop. The humble man obeyed, told his story, and opened the cloak. As roses tumbled to the floor, the bishop dropped to his knees in awe and wonder. Imprinted on the tilma was a brightly-colored image of Our Lady in native dress, surrounded by a halo of radiant light. The relic is still revered nearly 500 years later. Within the image is a wealth of iconography that tells a story to the two different cultures in 16th Century Mexico. It is no accident that Our Lady appeared as a mestiza, symbolizing a subsequent mixture of the races which led to a synthesized Mexican culture under God.

Aztec Iconography

The Aztecs were well acquainted with pictograms, and they would have recognized numerous symbolic elements. Many of those symbols match those of the Aztec Amoxtli language. Some examples include that, though human, she is greater than the pagan gods as she stands on the moon and is obstructing the sun. She is wearing a heavenly and regal blue mantel. Her hair is loose, signifying virginity, yet around her waist is a sash tied with a bow, signifying pregnancy. Over her womb is a quincunx flower with four petals surrounding a fifth part in the middle, signifying meeting God.

Spanish Iconography

The Aztec symbols would have meant little to the Spanish, but to them the aureola around the woman brings to mind a halo representing sanctity, her hands are folded in prayer, the sash around her waist symbolized her virginity, within the gold brooch around her neck is a cross, while the stars, sun and moon would immediately bring to mind Revelation 12:1; “A great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”

Scientific Mysteries

Some of the many mysteries of the Tilma include:

1) The stars on the mantle are a map of the constellations in the December sky as viewed from outer space.

2) The layout of the flowers on her rose-colored tunic correspond to a map of major mountain summits and volcanoes in Mexico.

3) Digital technology has ascertained detailed images reflected in the eyes of the lady just as they would be reflected in one’s eyes today. Thirteen people have been counted, including a kneeling man, and it is suggested that this was the scene as Juan Diego unrolled the image in front of the bishop.

4) As Juan Diego heard music during the apparition, a mathematical experiment reportedly discovered a musical score within the image.

One can reasonably be skeptical about some these claims. The Tilma itself, however, should have long-ago disintegrated, as the lifespan of the fiber is only about 20 years. Now in the 6th century of its existence, it shows little sign of decay. The relic was displayed unprotected for more than 100 years, exposed to candle smoke, incense, humidity, and an unknown number of pilgrims touched, kissed, and rubbed items against it. The Tilma has been studied by painters, chemists, and infrared technology, and none could detect paint, brushstrokes, dye, or any other natural explanation for the image. In 2009 an American diplomat left roses at the base of the image and asked the rector, “Who painted it?” (Note to diplomatic staff: You’re fired.) To which the priest reportedly replied, “God did.” There is no other explanation.

One final story: In 1921, an anti-Catholic activist posing as a pilgrim laid flowers at the altar beneath the image. Within the offering were numerous sticks of dynamite. The resulting explosion was felt for blocks, destroying the altar, shattering windows, and twisting a brass crucifix upon itself. The image, and its glass casing, was left undamaged.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pray for us.

Further reading: Guadalupe Mysteries, Deciphering the Code by Grzegorz Górny and Janusz Rosikon, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 2016