Growing up in LA, I heard about the Virgin Mary and knew her association with Catholicism. I, having grown up Christian, knew of the background concerning her. From what I read I knew the angel Gabriel had appeared to a young woman named Mary before she had any relation with Joseph, the man she was betrothed to. She was told that she was going to have the child that she should name “Jesus,” Who would be the Son of God. I know she was very present in that part of the Bible, as well as when Jesus is at the cross. Additionally, she went on to have children other than Jesus, so she did not stay a virgin forever, though the term virgin continues to be attached to her name.
Apart from a few select passages, there is not a lot of mention of her. She is known solely for her role as giving birth to Jesus, but I think the focus is more on Jesus, rather than her. Because of the very limited information provided concerning Mary, I was always confused as to why people in the community I grew up in celebrated her. I wanted to know why they celebrated her but the few I asked did not have a strong understanding of why they did so.
I know that the Virgen de Guadalupe stems from the Virgin Mary and is a vision of her that appeared in Mexico to an Aztec. In addition to religion, she is also used in nationalism, specifically when her image was represented during the Mexican Civil Wars.
I also briefly remember a friend watching the “Virgen de Guadalupe,” a show where the character in dilemma would pray to the Virgin and their issues would be resolved accompanied by a rose somewhere. But it always struck me as odd as to why they didn’t just pray to Jesus or God the Father. I am interested in learning about the significance of the Virgin and her role in Chicano culture as well as the beginnings of her incorporation in this movement.
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