Miracles of Mexico City

The year was 2018…

Danny and I were visiting Mexico City for the first time. We had signed up for a tour that included the historical and archeological site of Tlalteloclo, Teotihuacán and the ancient pyramid ruins, a couple stops for shopping, lunch, and lastly, the Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe. 

The Miracle of Juan Diego

During our time on the Tlalteloclo part of the tour, our guide Carlos brought us into a church and pointed to a large baptismal font. He pointed to it and said, “This is where Juan Diego was baptized in 1525.” Danny and I exchanged a glance like, “Who??” We soon learned that Juan Diego would become the first Catholic saint indigenous to the Americas and here in Tlaltelolco was where he would have his first apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1531.

I learned many things that day, including the word apparition. (ap·pa·ri·tion: the appearance of something remarkable or unexpected)

I know this might be met with skepticism but just listen —

Juan Diego would go on to see visions of Guadalupe three more times. She was indicating to him that it was here, on the hills of Tepeyac, that she wanted her place of worship, to relieve the stress of all of those calling upon her. 

Of course, you can’t just go around saying these kinds of things and expect to be believed, right? He needed proof. During his fourth sighting, she instructed him to climb the hill and collect flowers as evidence of her appearances to him. Juan Diego was surprised to find an abundance of unseasonable flowers. He collected them in a cloak and when he returned to bring them to the bishop, he unfurled the cape and as the flowers fell to the floor, an imprint of Guadalupe’s image was discovered on the cloth. 

The basilica was erected and houses the original cloak, referred to as a “tilma.”

It was the final stop on our tour

As we entered the gates, we saw a woman on her hands and knees crawling over uneven cobblestones. We were told that this was not uncommon: This sacred site is a place that people come to pray and ask for miracles. And when they receive them they come back, like this woman hobbling painfully, to express gratitude.

As you walk into the massive church, the tilma is front and center behind bulletproof glass. It’s large, so you can see it easily, or you can get up close and view as many times as you’d like zooming by on a people-mover.

When visiting one of the most important
spiritual places in the world

it’s difficult not to feel something. You don’t have to be religious to appreciate beauty, history, hope, and inspiration. Danny and I tried our best to take it all in. We decided that we would like a miracle and the opportunity to return and give thanks. 

Sometimes you just don’t know what you’re asking for.

One of countless examples

On May 1990, a severely depressed teen named Juan José Barragán jumped from the balcony of his Mexico City home and fell 30 feet down to the concrete. He sustained serious injuries and was not expected to survive. His family went to the Basilica and prayed to Juan Diego and here’s what happened. Within just three days he completely recovered, leaving his doctors stunned. 

Here’s another example

The year was 2022. Out of nowhere one day, Danny appeared to be suffering from stroke-like symptoms and from there, we embarked on a nearly 2 year journey that involved countless doctor visits, medical exams, hospital stays, and at one point Danny’s mobility declined to such a degree that he lost the ability to walk. He was ultimately diagnosed with hydrocephalus, had brain surgery to correct, and now walks 3-5 miles per day unassisted. Danny doesn’t recall many of the details. I do. But guess what — We got it all back. What else can you call this??

Our first big trip in over 2 years

I bet you can guess where we went. 

On a bright and early morning one week ago, we reentered the Basilica as very different people than the couple that were here 6 years ago. 

Since 2018 we have amassed a small collection of Guadalupes from around the world that we display at home, now in Palm Springs, California. And this journey was no exception. We bought a hand carved Mary from a man on the street outside of the chapel and headed home to add her to our shrine.