Our Lady of Guadalupe: model of inculturation

Abstract

This article discusses the significance of the Our Lady of Guadalupe phenomenon, with an examination of the historical context in which the apparition took place, the various interpretations of this event and the controversies surrounding it. It also attempts to demonstrate that the conquest of Mexico was just as tragic and brutal because the conquistadors not only tried to destroy the Aztec Empire physically, but its cultural and spiritual heritage as well. As a model of inculturation, devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe symbolises a religious triumph of the indigenous people as they responded and adopted the conquistadors’ faith as their own, but with native characteristics. The name ‘Guadalupe’ was appropriated from a place in Extremadura, Spain, and though not part of the natives’ vocabulary, Guadalupe became an emblem that brought together the various disparate groups in Mexican society, forging a national identity that is cohesive and enduring.

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