I grew up in a Catholic household, therefore as a child I learned much about the symbolism that the Virgin of Guadalupe carries for many. I, myself, hold her as an important figure in my life and respect her heavily. One of my most significant experiences that I have had with the Virgin of Guadalupe is that each year on December 12th, there would be a pilgrimage that my church would do. It consisted of walking from All Souls Church, located in South San Francisco, to the Cathedral of Saint Marys in San Francisco. This walk was tiring and lasted all day, from sunrise to almost sunset. We would arrive in the afternoon in time for the scheduled mass that was dedicated in her name. On my journey there, I would see people walking barefoot and at the time I did not understand but it was a way to demonstrate their repentance over the past year and also to show the devotion that they hold for her. My family still tries to go every year but when we couldn’t, we would go to mass early in the morning and watch the live broadcast of the celebration that took place in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexico). I remember seeing the faces of people who attended the event and the surge of emotions that would be brought upon by different performances of artists. Looking back at those instances, it is evident that Catholicism is heavily practiced by many in Mexico. I was able to learn more about her through my catechism program, where we learned prayers dedicated to her and her involvement in the process of bringing Jesus to life. She has been a prominent figure and symbol in my life and the lives of many that surround me. I carry a necklace with the Virgin engraved on it and so do my siblings too, showing how important she is to us.
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