Week 3: Virgin of Guadalupe

Though I identify as a Chicana woman, my relationship with the Virgin of Guadalupe has always been rather distant yet loving. Her image was always present in the homes of my relatives, so I always perceived her as an omnipresent and observant figure that offered a level of protection or guidance. Still, I very rarely took time to connect with the deeper meaning of this iconic figure. However, interestingly, the origins of my life are very much rooted in the hope that this symbol offers. As I grew older and learned more about my family history, my mother explained to me the comfort that the Virgin of Guadalupe offers, especially to women and mothers. As my mother struggled to have children, she often prayed to the Virgin of Guadalupe for the opportunity to have children, especially in her most somber moments. Throughout a seven-year period of struggle, she often wore a gold pendant of the saint, which she held to her heart in times of fear and doubt. Once I learned of this, I continued my adolescence with an altered perception of the symbol. She became less distant to me and I felt deeper gratitude toward what she represented to my parents, my family, and my culture. Though I still seek to learn more about her background, I understand why the Virgin of Guadalupe is such a prevalent figure. Her symbolic meaning, as an image of maternity, femininity, and love, offers faith and strength to those who lose hope due to hardship. I am grateful for the comfort that this symbol bestowed to my mother. As I walk past images of the Virgin of Guadalupe across many buildings in my neighborhood, I realize that my community looks to her image for hope just as my family did. This figure then not only cultivates personal strength but also fosters solidarity and collective hope in peace, love, and justice. I hope to continue learning how this symbol has continued to fuel pursuits of resistance in the face of fear.