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Show THE CITY OF SANTA FE 153 year, on the 12th of December. The interior remains as for nearly three centuries, the flat ceiling resting upon heavy beams, with carved brackets at each end. Behind the altar is a magnificent painting of the Virgin of Guadalupe *°%* and her apparitions to the Indian, Juan Diego, the work of an artist of the city of Mexico, in 1683. Here also may be found another painting upon a copper plate, three or four feet square, upon which may be seen numbers of figures and views surrounding the image of the Virgin. In the old days, as at present, the plaza was the place for daily 104 Gregg, Josiah, Commecre of the Prairies, says of the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe that ‘‘on the 12th of December, 1531, an Indian called Juan Diego, while passing over the barren hill of Tepeyacac (about a league northward from the City of Mexico), in quest of medicinal herbs, had his attention suddenly arrested by the fragrance of flowers and the sound of delightful music ; and, on looking up he saw an angelic sort of figure directly before him. Being terrified he attempted to flee; but the apparition calling to him by name, ‘Juan Diego,’ said she, ‘go tell the bishop to have me a place of Worship erected on this very spot.’ ‘The Indian replied that he could not re- turn, as he was seeking him do as commanded, he was then well. an audience from remedios and Juan to for a dying relative. have Diego no went further care But about the figure bade his relative — that to the city, but being unable to procure the bishop, he concluded he had been acting under a delusion, Upon ascending the same hill, however, and again set off for his remedios. the apparition again accosted him, and hearing his excuse, upbraided him for his want of faith ee an) ta it ae 3 PE ee Ae) be *% the Virgin Mary, thee.’ The Presence of * hd * ek a &@ ae ee Se > ‘ * 2 ae * 2-2& ~ and said, ‘Tell the bishop that it is Guadalupe, to dwell amongst and protect the Mexicans, who sends his way into the jeers, and treated him as a maniac; telling him finally to bring some sign, which, if really the Mother of God, his directress could readily furnish. The perplexed Indian left the bishop’s presence resolved to avoid further molestation from his spiritual acquaintance, Pee energy; Indian, returning again to the city, forced the bishop, who received the messenger with by neeting, he again ek and come taking another encountered route; yet, mssion, ordered him to climb a naked rock flowers which he would find growing there. obeyed, when, to his surprise he found the them to the Virgin, ‘arry them well knows to the that who, bishop; flowers do when the apparition, throwing saying, them ‘When not bloom The humble messenger rock.” ban shop ’g presence, and threw out the the place of his first hardby, and collect a bouquet of Juan Diego, albeit without faith, flowers referred to, and brought into he near who, hearing the result of his his tilma, sees these at this season, he commanded believe, will much less now with more courage blooming credentials of him to as he upon the sought the his mission ae him ; when lo! to the astonishment of all, and to the entire conviction pe Seiioria ilustrisima, the perfect image of the apparition appeared as The reverend Prelate now fully inci ed ed on the inside of the tilma. i the divinity of the picture, and in a conclave of acclesigatics convene it the image tect €88'@ purpose, of Mexico.he pronounced A splendid chapel was of La V erdadera Virgen and pro- soon after erected upon the spot deposited, wheewated in the mandate, in which the miraculous painting was c 1t is preserved to the present day.’’ ; tulma is a loose sort of mantle made of the fibre of the maguey plant. |