The Virgin of Guadalupe refers to when the Virgin Mary— the mother of Jesus and a very important saint in the Roman Catholic religious tradition—appeared to a man named Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531. She holds a special place in the culture and religious life of many Mexicans and Mexican Americans.

What does Our Lady of Guadalupe represent?

It marks the date in 1531 when the Virgin Mary purportedly appeared to an indigenous Mexican, in the last of several apparitions. To the present day, Our Lady of Guadalupe remains a powerful symbol of Mexican identity and faith, and her image is associated with everything from motherhood to feminism to social justice.

How is the Virgen de Guadalupe a symbol of conquest?

She is both a symbol of conquest and liberation. The story of her apparition was told both in Spanish and Nahuatl, which helped convert a large population of indigenous people to Catholicism. This is also the first time in Western Catholic history where the mother of god appeared in the image of the native people.