Last Thursday, when Madrinas Padrinos Leadership Program (MPLP) held its 3rd Annual Toy Drive for children with cancer at Tamayo’s, I met three young, vibrant and professional Latinas. We shared information about professional development opportunities and when I told them I lived in Long Beach, they immediately shared invitations to the Annual La Virgen art exhibit 2007*. Reading that invitation reminded me of how La Virgen Morena has touched the lives of those of us that believe in her and how she continues to connect us in unpredictable ways.
That same Thursday, when I arrived at home and read the invitation carefully, I couldn’t help think about my grandmother, mi Nana tell the story of La Virgen de Guadalupe**, Juan Diego and the hope La Virgen represented for the indigenous people of Mexico. My grandmother was part Yaqui Indian from Sonora with strong faith and devotion to la Virgen de Guadalupe. Nana always spoke of La Virgen de Guadalupe with such fondness that I can still picture her face light up when she told the story of Juan Diego showing the roses to the priests as the Virgen appeared on his mantle that December 12, 1531. As I sit here and write about la Virgen and how important she was to mi Nana, I can’t help think about her silhouette. Mi Nana was tall, had a full-figured body, hair white as snow and her skin was a beautiful bronze tone. I closed my eyes to visualize her and I saw that long gold necklace with a medallion of la Virgen, the same medallion that reminds me of her when I see “Abuelitas” wearing one.
Every year, on December 11th, Nana created a masterpiece of an altar for la Virgen de Guadalupe with candles, fresh flowers, papel picado and a small Mexican flag. She then had family and neighbors join her for rosary prayers all night (velando la Virgen) and then everyone attended mass at midnight.
La Velada de la Virgen is a tradition that has remained in my family for as long as I can remember. Every year, Mom and Dad host over 60 people for dinner, pray the rosary throughout the night and attend mass for the traditional Mañanitas with a Mariachi Band. This year is not any different; I will be in San Diego with the family at the traditional Velada. Instead of me falling asleep to the rosary prayers, this time my nieces and nephew will be falling asleep to that very familiar echo of voices from my childhood, “…ruega por nosotros”.
*The Annual “LA VIRGEN”- The exhibit started December 1st and will remain on display until December 29, 2007. For more information about operating hours and the art show, call Picture this Gallery (562) 425-4861 or email [email protected]
**To learn more about the Virgen de Guadalupe and Juan Diego, a brief story is told by Dale Hoyt Palfrey here.