Blog Post 5: The Virgin of Guadalupe

The Virgin of Guadalupe is an iconic symbol in the Catholic church and in Mexican culture. As a Chicana who grew up in a heavily religious family, the Virgin of Guadalupe played an important role in shaping my life. Since both of my parents are Catholic, I’ve always heard stories of the Virgin of Guadalupe and how she magically appeared before Juan Diego and asked him to build a shrine in her honor and asked him to collect roses, so when he opened his cloak the roses would fall and reveal an image of herself imprinted on the cloak. Another religious encounter with this figure includes the television show La Rosa De Guadalupe. In this series, characters who undergo hardships or commit sins experience life changing miracles after praying to the Virgin of Guadalupe. These experiences caused me to view the Virgin of Guadalupe in a religious light. In my eyes, she was a powerful, magnificent being full of love, hope and trust. Her soft appearance was also mother-like, so whenever I looked at her I always felt safe and comfortable. When I got older and stopped having religious affiliations, my perspective on the Virgin of Guadalupe negatively shifted. I no longer saw this figure as a symbol of hope and love; instead I felt trapped whenever I looked at her. In particular, her image was a reminder of the limitations the Catholic religion placed on my life and how my parents forced me to act and believe in things I didn’t completely agree with. I also viewed the Virgin of Guadalupe negatively because she presented a list of expectations for Chicana women. Just like the Virgin of Guadalupe, I was expected to dress modestly and act submissive. After taking this class and learning about Chicana/x artists and their experiences with the Virgin of Guadalupe and how they used those experiences to create artworks of her that emphasized strength and empowerment I view her differently. Instead, I see the Virgin of Guadalupe as a symbol of Mexican identity.