Our Lady of Guadalupe - Queen of The Americas. 2008 by Stephen B. Whatley

© Stephen B Whatley

Today , December 12, is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe; or in Mexico where her image is most venerated, La Virgen de Guadalupe - Mother of All Mexico. She is also known as the Queen or the Empress of The Americas.

This tribute painting by expressionist artist Stephen B. Whatley was made on this date in 2008 inspired by the earliest image (from the 16th century ) known - and the affection the Catholic artist has for the USA; where his work is especially popular.

The remarkable and enlightening story surrounding this holy image of our Blessed Mother begins on December 9, 1531, as a 57-year old Aztec Juan Diego was walking to daily Mass. As he walked by Tepeyac Hill, he heard the sound of exquisite choirs; and when the music stopped, he heard the sweetest of voices beckoning to him. There stood a beautiful young Mexican woman, looking like an Aztec princess. Dressed in a scarlet gown, her head and shoulders hung with a jade-coloured cloak, she could be seen standing on a crescent moon, supported above the ground by a tiny angel.

After expressing her love and telling him who she was, she asked that Juan Diego go to the bishop and request that a chapel be built on the hill for the Mexican natives, for whom she expressed deep love.

Initially dismissed by the bishop on his first meeting, he was then asked by the bishop to bring proof that he had indeed seen the Mother of God.

The next day before he could go to see the Virgin, Juan Diego was distressed to find his one surviving relative, an uncle, seriously ill. As he rushed to find a priest to go to his dying uncle, his path was intercepted by the Blessed Mother - who assured him that his uncle would recover. She then asked him to gather roses, growing on the mountainside, despite winter; before she arranged them in his tilma (shirt) - instructing him not to open his tied shirt until he reached the bishop.

Once with the bishop and releasing the gathered flowers , he saw that the bishop looked past the flowers, tears streaming down his face and sunk to his knees... there, where the flowers had been pressed against his shirt, the Blessed Virgin had left an image of herself- exactly as he had seen her- surrounded by rays of the sun.

On his return home, Juan Diego found his sick uncle completely recovered - and learnt that the Madonna had appeared to him as well.

December 9th is the Feast Day of Saint Juan Diego - who was blessed with these apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Mexico.

The chapel that the Virgin requested was quickly built; and today an average of 1,500 pilgrims visit the new Basilica of Our Lady of Gadalupe (built in the 1970s) in Mexico City - to kneel before the miraculous tilma (shirt)- on which the image has been perfectly sustained for 477 years.

His Holiness Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) visited the Basilica in 1979, 1999 and 2002.

Our Lady of Guadalupe - Queen of the Americas. 2008
Oil on canvas, 30 x 24in/76 x 61cm
Private collection, California, USA
www.stephenbwhatley.com

Taken on: October 2, 2012

Tags:

art

expressionism

modern art

contemporary art

Guadalupe

Our Lady of Guadalupe

USA

Mexico

Catholic

St Juan Diego

John Paul II

oil painting

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Stephen B. Whatley

artist Stephen Whatley

Whatley

kunst

artist Stephen B. Whatley

Stephen Whatley

peace

healing

healing art

prayers

hope

light

Catholic art

Christian art

BlueRibbonWinner

FlickrUnitedWinner « less

Sets appears in: • Stephen B Whatley: Christian Tributes

Groups appears in: • Art Now • Ciudad de Mexico more » • !FlickrSoup for Soul • Guanajuato, Mexico • art gallery • America • ART OUT LOUD • *Art of the Bible* ::NEW RULES::: • Art - Drawing and Painting • ART / REAL • Christian • Catholicism • Chihuahua, México. • Artists Without Borders • Artists of flickr! • ! ART & PHOTOGRAPHY ! All artistic works welcome • Blue Ribbon PHOTOGRAPHY (INVITE ONLY) • **FlickrsBest** • CATHOLIC CHURCH • Flickrs Mexico //retratos de usuarios Flickr • CITRIT,Best of yours! / Invited shots only/comment 2 / • Artists And Their Art • "FRIENDS" P1/A2 • Art Evokes Emotion • Art World • Gods chosen picture (Award!) • México Colores y Fantasía (Sube y Comenta la foto de a lado) • Amazing Capture ***No Rules, No Banning, No Sweepers*** • **HARMONY**(Post 1-Award 3) • !*Flickr Award Group*! (GIVE 5 AWARDS) • Flickr United (Award 3) • All Gone to Look for America (USA, United States of America) • ART OF LIGHT - ARTE DA LUZ • Art International *show your flickriver badge* • " ARTSHOW " - Quality images only - P1/C1 - • Art, and Soul 4 U • "HEALING ART" - FOR RELAXATION • Mother Mary for all People • ☮✎EXTRACOLOUR !🎨 « less

Stats: 2,470 views / 10 comments

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: