The Wonder of Guadalupe: The Origin and Cult of the Miraculous Image of the Blessed Virgin in Mexico

by Francis Johnston

This relatively short book is widely regarded as the best on the apparition of Our Lady in 1531 in Mexico City. Tells the complete story: From the Conquest of Mexico and the conversion of the Aztecs through the development of the devotion and on into the modern era. An enthralling story and an essential devotion for our times!

Genres: Religion, Catholic, Christianity, Nonfiction, Christian, Spirituality, Indigenous

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A HELPFUL HISTORICAL AND ANALYTICAL STUDY OF THIS SACRED RELIC

Francis Johnston was an Irish priest and author. Wrote in the ‘Acknowledgements’ to this 1981 book, “this book is not intended to be an exhaustive treatise on the subject of Guadalupe, but simply an introduction to enable the reader to become acquainted with the story.”

He stated in the Preface, “It remains one of the great paradoxes of our age that while belief in the existence of God appears to be in general decline, perhaps never before in history has there been so much concrete, scientifically demonstrated evidence confirming His reality. The very technology that is invoked that is invoked to deny the existence of a Supreme Being has also served to confirm His actuality in the light of investigations … conducted under the most rigorous conditions that modern science can impose… This book recounts another such prodigy---the sacred image of the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, Mexico City, the supernatural origin of which was scientifically demonstrated in the 1960s. A thoroughly up-to-date account of the wondrous story in the light of history and modern science is recorded here since relatively little is known of the startling discoveries of recent years concerning the sacred image…

He begins the first chapter, “The story of Guadalupe really begins with the arrival of the Spanish forces in Mexico in 1519 under their brilliant commander, Captain Hernando Cortes.” (Pg. 11-12) He recounts, “Among the first Mexicans to receive baptism was Princess Papantzin in 1525. When… a poor peasant and his wife… were … received into the church, he took the name of ‘Juan Diego’ and his spouse became ‘Maria Lucia.’ Juan had been born in 1474… his abiding virtue seems to have been humility… He found solace in his new faith, which he practiced with an ardent devotion. It is instructive that he offered himself for instruction and baptism only two years after the first Franciscans had landed in Mexico.” (Pg. 24) He continues, “in 1529 Maria Lucia died… Childless, he found life in the empty house… almost unbearable. Finally he decided to… live hear his aged uncle… He continued his regular journeys over the broad hills… though by 1531, when he had reached the age of 57, he was beginning to tire more easily.” (Pg. 25)

He goes on, “On the morning of Saturday 9 December 1531, which was then the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin, Juan rose early… There was something special for him about this particular feast. Had not the good friars explained how the Mother of Christ had been born without the stain of original sin, how she had been redeemed in advance in anticipation of the merits of Calvary? And she… was his own personal Mother…

“Approaching the shoulder of Tepeyac hill… he was startled to hear strains of music… he saw a glowing white cloud, emblazoned by a brilliant rainbow… Then he heard someone calling to him … ‘Juanito… Juen Dieguito,’ she called affectionately, using the diminutive of this name… ‘Juanito, where are you going?’… ‘Noble Lady,’ he heard himself murmur, ‘I am on my way to the church … to hear Mass. The Lady smiled approvingly and said: ‘I am the perfect and perpetual Virgin Mary… I ardently desire a [temple] be built here for me where I will show and offer all my love, my compassion, my help and protection to the people. I am… the Mother of all who life united in this land, and of all mankind, of all those who love me. of those who cry to me, of those who have confidence in me… [I] will remedy and alleviate their sufferings, necessities, and misfortunes. Therefore, in order to realize my intentions, go to the house of the Bishop in Mexico City and tell him that I sent you … Tell him all you have seen and hear…’ … He then took leave of her.” (Pg. 25-27)

He recounts, “he threaded his way … to Bishop Zumarraga’s house… Kneeling before the prelate… Juan Diego recounted his extraordinary experience … and repeated the lady’s message exactly as he had heard it. The bishop… couldn’t being impressed by Juan’s evident sincerity and humility… [The Bishop] gave him a sign of dismissal and Juan rose to his feet crestfallen, conscious that he had failed in the Lady’s mission.” (Pg. 27-28)

“As he approached the rocky hill, Juan suddenly felt instinctively certain that the Lady clothed in light would be waiting for him at the summit… [He] found here standing there, bathed in the same supernatural radiance… He fell to his knees at once… ‘Noble Lady… I obeyed your orders… I knew by the manner of his response that he thought I was inventing the story of your desire to have a temple [teocalli] built here… Forgive me if I have disappointed you for having failed in my mission.’ The Virgin smiled tenderly on him and said, ‘…it is altogether necessary that you should be the one to undertake this mission … I urge you to go to the Bishop again tomorrow… And repeat to him that it is I in person, the ever virgin Mary, the Mother of God, who send you.’” (Pg. 28-29)

The next day, “he was conducted to the Bishop… Juan … repeated the Lady’s message with all the fervor at his command… Zumarraga was impressed, but he was not going to be induced into building a temple at that remote spot simply on the basis of one Indian’s unproven testimony. How could he be sure that the man was not suffering from some form of self-delusion?. He needed something more convincing, such as a sign from Heaven… ‘Senor,’ [Juan] asked eagerly, ‘just what kind of sign do you ask for? I shall go at once and request it…’ the Bishop hesitated, and then indicated that he would leave it to the supposed vision to supply the sign.” (Pg. 30)

“[Juan] climbed the rugged slope of Tepeyac and found himself once again in the radiant presence of the Mother of God… the Lady smiled tenderly at him … ‘Return here tomorrow and you will have the sign he has requested. Then he will believe and no longer doubt or suspect you.’” (Pg. 31) But when Juan returned home, he found his uncle very ill with a deadly fever. “All that night and throughout the following day, Juan Diego sat broken-hearted by his uncle’s bedside… Surely the lady would understand his predicament and excuse his absence… The stricken man pleaded with his nephew… to bring a priest to hear his confession…” (Pg. 31-32)

Johnston comments “Researchers have often wondered why Jua failed to have confidence in the power of the Blessed Virgin at this critical juncture. It seems surprising that… his first thought was not rather to have kept his rendezvous with her and pleaded in person for his uncle’s life… Perhaps the Bishop was right after all. Maybe he was only imagining the visions, or suffering from hallucinations. Doubtless it was in consequence of thoughts such as these revolving in his mind that he decided not to keep his appointment with the Lady the following day. If this was the reason, that would explain his acute embarrassment when he subsequently met her … on the Tuesday morning.” (Pg. 31-32) He deliberately passed the hill on the other side of the hill.

The Lady stopped him, and asked where he was going. He apologized and explained his uncle’s situation, and promised to return the next day; then she told him, “Do not let the illness of your uncle worry you because he is not going to die of his sickness. At this very moment, he is cured.” (Pg. 33) She told him to gather flowers from the spot where he previously saw her: “[He] was amazed to find a brilliant profusion of flowers… blooming in the frozen soil. Not only were they in bloom completely out of season, but it would have been impossible for any flowers to grow in a terrain so stony that is could only yield thistles…” She told him, “tell [the Bishop] everything: explain how I sent you to the top of the hill where you found these flowers… Tell him once again all that you have seen and heard here to induce him to comply with my wishes so that the teocalli I asked for may be built here.” (Pg. 34)

When Juan showed the Bishop the flowers, “Zumarraga [was]... momentarily speechless. It was the sign he had asked of the Blessed Virgin… he lifted up his eyes to the tilma [cloak] and at that instant there appeared on it a glorious image of the Mother of Christ. For one electrifying moment, the eyes of every person in that hushed room were riveted on the glowing image as if they were contemplating an apparition. Then slowly then sank to their knees in awe and veneration.” (Pg. 36)

He explains, “it is undeniable that the Virgin radiates a sense of purity which generations of Mexican women have been inspired to imitate… The crowds who first gazed in awe and wonder on the miraculous picture spread word of the prodigy all over Mexico, attracting immense multitudes to the cathedral.” (Pg. 52)

He argues, “Unfortunately, most of the original documents concerning the great event of 1531 have not survived the centuries… The scarcity of the original documents relating to Guadalupe may be partially explained by the acute shortage of paper in Mexico at that time… While it cannot be affirmed with certainty how far these two constraints were responsible for the shortage of contemporary records on Guadalupe, it need hardly be pointed out that written evidence of a past even is not the only factor required to validate it. The value of tradition must also be taken into account… the evidence for this living tradition is decisively upheld by incontestable, if scantily documented proof.” (Pg. 62-63)

In the last chapter, he states, “Over the centuries, the sacred image has been subjected to a variety of detailed examinations and close experts on art and by scientists to determine whether there co8ld be any possible natural explanation for its existence. But every investigation to date, whether by microscope, infra-red radiation of computer-enhanced photography, has pointed to its supernatural origin… The hypothesis that the sacred image is a painting was further discredited in 1946 when a microscope examination revealed that there were no brush strokes.” (Pg. 121)

He concludes, “As in 1531, when only a handful of clerics were praying for deliverance, we can surely trust that, if the faithful few were praying for deliverance, we can surely trust that, if the faithful few of today persevere and multiply their ranks. Our Lady will intervene again and overwhelm the powers of darkness… This, perhaps is the ultimate significance of the sacred image in Mexico City today… From the center of the American continent, there blazes a beacon of reassurance in a nightmarish world… a supernatural Statue of Liberty holding up the Light of the World…” (Pg. 134-136)

This book will be of great interest to those studying the image of Guadalupe.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a nice and condensed account of every aspect related to the history and mystery of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is a short, concise, and easy to read summary although the author seems to be very intent on making sure the reader knows that there is unmistakable evidence to show that the apparitions and image are legitimate. Unfortunately this takes away from the book because anyone who believes does not need to have it reiterated over and over - the evidence speaks for itself - and anyone who doubts is probably only going to doubt more simply because the author feels the need to insist on it. Otherwise, it would be nice to have an updated chapter as an addendum since the book was published over 30 years ago.

[Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego and through her miraculous intercession directly converted 9 million Americans, the greatest mass conversion to Christianity in history. The ayate fiber tilma which should have disintegrated after 20 odd years, still displays in excellent condition the proof of the Mother of God's love for Mexico and by extension the peoples of the New World 500+ years later. That fact alone should soften the hearts of men who still refuse to love in return this beautiful Queen of Heaven. "He hath not done in like manner to every nation."

Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe! Viva Cristo Rey!

[Lynn Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Educational and Spiritual!

This was factual, respectful, direct and to the point. It laid the history of Our Lady of Guadalupe out beautifully in a very simple, understandable way. I found out so much about the wonderful story of this aspect of my faith that I had never known. Thank you! It brought me closer to the Blessed Mother.

[Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Oldie but a goodie

[Stephen Heiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author does an excellent job of offering devotional history as well as the modern scientific investigations that have failed to explain the coloration of the tilma (the colors are not known to science and match no animal or mineral signature), the fact that it persists (it is similar to a potato sack in construction and should have disintegrated sometime in the last five centuries, but it hasn't), the reflections in the retinas (achievable with camera technology and some kind of synthetic printing, neither of which were available in the 1500s), or the fact that it was undamaged by a bombing attempt in the 1920s which destroyed a marble altar, bent a crucifix, but left the image not even damaged slightly.

"'Listen and let it penetrate your heart, my dear little son,' she said consolingly, in words that were to echo down the centuries, moving millions of her children to throw themselves into her comforting arms. 'Do not be troubled or weighed down with grief. Do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety, or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need?' She paused, smiling at him, and then added, 'Do not let the illness of your uncle worry you because he is not going to die of his sickness. At this very moment, he is cured.'" (p. 33)

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our Lady of Guadalupe’s (Our Lady, Virgin Mary) appearance to Juan Diego, an Indian while on a mountaintop in what is now, Mexico City. To Juan Diego, she demanded a chapel be built on that exact spot. Juan Diego’s role was to convey her wish to the local bishop. After several unsuccessful attempts to get the bishop to believe he had really seen the apparition of Mary, she has Juan bring flowers from a place on the mountain where it is impossible to grow anything. In the process she also cures Juan’s uncle who was on his deathbed. Finally the bishop believes Juan and has a small chapel built until a larger chapel can be construction. This movement back in the 1500’s lead to the conversion of 9 million Aztecs to the Catholic faith.

5) Five stars for the telling of the story. (3) Three stars for how the story is intermingled between historical information and a constant evaluation into the evidence the apparition was real.

[Dan DalMonte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book that describes the story of how the Blessed Mother converted millions of Mexicans from a cruel religion involving human sacrifice. You will get a full account of the Guadalupe story, along with scientific evidence showing that the image is not explicable in natural terms. In fact, in the eyes in the image, there are reflected images of figures at the scene of the appearance when Juan Diego first opened his tilma. The shrine of Guadalupe in Mexico City is the spiritual center of the Americas and we should all visit it at some point.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The astounding story of how a visitation of the Blessed Mother to a simple man in 1539 on a hill outside Mexico City. She left miraculous evidence: her image on a tilma which should have lasted only 20 years, but is now over 400 years old and was subjected to a risky environment. News of this converted thousands of native people with great devotion. This existence of this image is not explainable by modern science.

[Sandra Mascio · Rating 4 out of 5]

History of the Aztecs and of the Tilma is excellent. Science chapter dated as well as info on the shrine. Would like to see them issue an updated edition. This was just purchased at the shrine in 2025.

[Jacob Florez · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, brief account of Our Lady of Guadalupe

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an excellent book about Catholic belief. I enjoyed the historical part of the book and the early evangelization of the Mexican people by the image of the Virgin Mary to Christianity over the scientific and formation of the "Cult of the Lady of Guadalupe" by the Church that follows the evangelization. Basically, the miracle as far as I am concerned is the mass conversion of previous pagans to Christianity via the Image of The Lady of Guadalupe and science simply explains the phenomenon. Again, science explains the how of things whereas the why of things can only be explained by God.

1) The first chapter deals with the separation of church and state and how a check on one is advantageous to both. In the book the Church served as a check to abuses of the earthly administration. This is also the reason why I think the American cultural wars should remain in the purview of culture not in legislative government. Addendum to below.

2) Conversion of Christians really work for people who are dispossessed. Again and again, Christian faith seems to be most alive in people who are not in power but work through the Holy Spirit to change the culture in which they live in. Thus, despite the various persecutions that Christians endured throughout the centuries, the faith remains strong. I think this is where Christianity is unique in that it thrives despite persecution and it is truly a religion that is grass roots movement that was not a top down religion. Perhaps, this is a reason why Christianity fits the best with a Republican sort of government.

3) Usually, emissaries of the Divine take the shape of people who are unlikely like Juan Diego. I think that the veracity of The Lady of Guadalupe can be proven by the mass conversion of the Aztec people to Christianity. Mass conversion of a society can only occur if the Holy Spirit works through man via whatever means such as an image of the Lady of Guadalupe. The mistake of Protestantism is to hold that God disfavors images because it is image. Hello, he is God; he can do whatever He wants to encourage belief. Thus, I do not particularly care for Dogma for Dogma's sake. Isn't that why Jesus Christ came down to earth to destroy meaningless Dogma that Jews lived but did not understand how it brought them closer to God. Thus, Dogma, all religious symbols like Bible only works if it brings us closer to God.

4) Even though protestant Christians decry Catholicism as not pure Christianity because of our veneration for Mary and the Saints, I disagree because all the intercessors are Holy Spirit incarnate and thus parts of the body of Christ. Just as Pauline Scriptures cite that we are many parts but are all one body in Christ. The different intercessors are the various parts with different missions in the one body in Christ.

5) This is also an example how the Divine meets us where we are currently. Since we do not understand everything, the Divine always makes us understand in metaphors or signs that we understand in our current level. Thus, I believe in the spiritual reading of the Bible as a living document not the literal. Because the Bible and all other Catholic text was written with a particular culture in mind, and as the culture changes so to does its application. That is, even though the essence of the Sacred Text is everlasting, it must be understood in today's cultural context.

6) I think it is amazingly fascinating how the lady of Guadalupe crush the serpent God of the Aztecs that it is the conqueror displacing the previous god by making the previous god a demonic being. This is where Catholics got the image of Lady of standing and crushing the neck of the serpent.

[Oscar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating account of the event that created the modern Mexican nation and defined the role of the Mexican people as recipients of the image of the blessed mother of God for all nations. Our Lady is The Mother of all the nations "don't fear, "no estoy aqui que soy tu madre" am I not here who am your mother". What we discover in this book is how the Aztecs went from beeing a proud but very poor and despicable people to becoming the most powerful, and hated, tribe in the valley of Mexico. We learn how they saw themselves as the guardians of the universe with a mission to sustain the sun in its fight against the moon by means of extensive human sacrifices required to satisfy the need for blood of their terrifiyng gods. A brilliant and advanced culture in many respects, the Aztecs were thus trapped in a culture of death, superstition and fear for the end of the world that the coming of the Spaniards seemed to confirm. Therefore, the conquest of Mexico was in large part due to their emperor's belief that Quetzalcoatl, their long gone god, had come back to regain his throne. Another factor was the real desire the other tribes had to free themselves from the Aztec domination. This elements combined were probably more important than the Spaniard's weapons.
The importance of the message of Guadalupe is to have reinstated the real mission of the pre-colombian Mexican tribes which is to bring our Lady's message of hope and love to the entire world. It is a message carried by the moderm Mexican people, the sons and daughters of reconciled ennemies that came together to give birth to a new race. So the Aztecs, who knew they had a mission, who thought they were accomplishing it with human sacrifices, found their true vocation as the standard bearers of the Tilma and with it of Our Lady's love for all who turn to her in search of confort and love.
Let's turn our eyes to Our Lady with confidence that no one who has sincerely done so has gone empty handed.

[Orpiment99 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is probably one of the best introductions to the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Aztec peoples in Mexico (and specifically with St. Juan Diego), the history/development of this cult, the scientific examination of the tilma, and the widespread effect of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the entire world. It is a relatively short read (I read it within a week, which is surprising for me juggling my work schedule and reading schedule) with small print and multiple black-and-white photographs. Before reading this book I was not "too big" on Our Lady of Guadalupe since it's assumed that she is vastly popular with Hispanic Catholics; boy was I ever wrong. The apparitions of Guadalupe truly have a world-wide, universal appeal to Catholics from all different cultures (similar to how Lourdes and Fatima have world-wide importance to all Catholics).

The reason why I am giving this book 4 out of 5 stars is not due to the presentation of the material (which was excellent) but due to multiple typos which were present throughout the book. This book needs some more concise editing. The black-and-white photos are not terribly bad but are increasingly difficult to see specific details.

[Alice Riethman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating history of Our Lady of Guadalupe. While it is written from a religious respective, the book is an appropriate history for anyone wanting to learn more about this quintessential part Mexican and Mexican-American Catholicism and culture.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adding to my knowledge of Mexico.

[Ulrich Utiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books presents a survey of the scientific analyses made on the miraculous image of the Saint Virgin created in 1531.

[Esperanza Smrtc · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book