It is Mexico's most popular religious and cultural image: Nobel laureate Octavio Paz wrote in 1974 that "the Mexican people, after more than two centuries of experiments, have faith only in the Virgin of Guadalupe and the National Lottery" Guadalupe's feast day is celebrated on December 12, commemorating the traditional account of her appearances to Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin on the hill of Tepeyac near Mexico City from December 9, 1531 through December 12, 1531. The Virgin of Guadalupe is a symbol of significant importance to the Mexican identity. Mainstream Catholics believe that Guadalupe was a manifestation of the Virgin Mary in the Americas, and recognize her as "Empress of the Americas."
With the Brief Non est equidem of May 25, 1754, Pope Benedict XIV declared Our Lady of Guadalupe patron of what was then called New Spain, corresponding to Spanish Central and Northern America, and approved liturgical texts for the Mass and Liturgy of the Hours in her honour. Pope Leo XIII granted new texts in 1891 and authorized coronation of the image in 1895. Pope Saint Pius X proclaimed her patron of Latin America in 1910. In 1935 Pope Pius XI proclaimed her patron of the Philippines and had a monument in her honor erected in the Vatican Gardens. In 1966 Pope Paul VI sent a Golden Rose to the shrine.
2007-01-07 15:52:27
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answer #1
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answered by Nuttie Nettie 4
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The day of the virgin of Guadalupe is on december 12th
The name of the church consecrate to the virgin is "Santuario"
In most cities in Mexico there is a Santuario, which is just like the other churches, but everybody goes there specially to prey to the virgin of Guadalupe.
Around the Santuario every year at the beguining of december they place a kind of "feria" on the streets around the Santuario where they sell tradicional food and candies, and also candles or Rosarios to pray in church or in your house
So everyday this place is full of people and it´s like a party for the virgin
People organize pilgrimage in the other churches, in their jobs or in their neighborhoods and it doesn´t matter how far is the Santuario, they walk with an image of the virgin and with the tradicional dancers: The Matachines. Everybody follows the matachines while dancing, praying and singing. Matachines are people who practice the dance the whole year and who are wearing special costumes. So in the cities and towns, you can see many pilgrimages even in main avenues and everybody is welcome to join any of those pilgrimages and people who are driving respect and understand it.
When they get to the church, to the Santuario, Matacines dance in front of it and almost the whole day yoy can see many groups of those dancers at the same time. People watch them and then they go into the Santuario to attend the mass and pray and they bring flowers to the virgin. The Santuario is so full of people that sometimes you only have the chance to walk to leave the flowers in front of the virgin and keep walking to let the rest of the people to do it too
This last for at least 2 weeks and on december 12th they bring Mariachis at midnight for the vigin and there is a mass and the party grows bigger and they spend the whole day celebrating with more mariachis in front of the Santuario.
Many people don´t work and if you want to go to the Santuario you better walk because any car can reach that place with so many people.
I don´t know if in Spain they celebrate this day, but I don´t think so, this is more mexican and for mexicans this is one of the most important and beautiful days. I was describing it in a city but its traditions exists even in the poorest and more little town, where they also make this day very special.
2007-01-08 17:13:20
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answer #2
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answered by Dani 2
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Dear Member of the Roman Catholic Church,
The Roman Catholic Church says it never changes; yet, it invents new doctrines which are contrary to the Bible, and has practiced rites and ceremonies taken bodily from paganism. Some scholar has found that 75% of the rites and ceremonies of the Roman Church are of pagan origin.
The Sign of the Cross, the use of wax candles, incense and holy water, praying to angels and deceased saints, the false doctrine of purgatory (established by Pope Gregory I in the 6th century) and praying for the dead are all rooted in paganism and were adopted into the R.C. Church centuries after the death of Christ.
The Lord Jesus Christ clearly tells us that souls who have passed on go either to eternal paradise or to eternal torment (Matthew 25:46), so praying for the dead does not help them.
The Papacy is of pagan origin and the title of “pope” which means “father” is given to the bishop of Rome who is the leader of the worldwide R.C. Church. In Matthew 23:9, the Lord Jesus Christ warns that giving the title of “father” to human spiritual teachers is a sin because we are to look only to our Heavenly Father for ultimate truth and power.
Jesus did not appoint Peter to the headship of the apostles and forbade any such notion. (Read Luke 22:24-26; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; 1st Corinthians 3:11). There is no mention in Scripture or history that Peter ever was in Rome, much less that he was pope there for 25 years; Clement, 3rd bishop of Rome, remarks that "there is no real 1st century evidence that Peter ever was in Rome."
The kissing of the Pope's feet was adopted in the 8th century. It had been a pagan custom to kiss the feet of emperors. The Word of God forbids such practices. (Read Acts 10:25-26; Revelation 19:10; 22:9).
Canonization of dead saints was first established by Pope John XV in 993. Every believer and follower of Christ is called saint in the Bible. (Read Romans 1:7; 1st Colossians 1:2).
In the 11th century, Pope Hildebrand, Boniface VII was the first pope in centuries to rigorously enforce the Roman Church’s ancient policy of celibacy of the priesthood. Jesus imposed no such rule, nor did any of the apostles. On the contrary, St. Peter was a married man, and St. Paul says that bishops were to have wife and children. (Read 1st Timothy 3:2, 5, and 12; Matthew 8:14-15).
In the 13th century, the adoration of the wafer (Host) was decreed by Pope Honorius. So the Roman Church worships a God made by human hands. This is plain idolatry and absolutely contrary to the spirit of the Gospel. (Read John 4:24).
A few years later, the Bible was forbidden to laymen and placed in the Index of forbidden books by the Council of Valencia. Jesus commanded that the Scriptures should be read by all. (Read John 5:39; 1st Timothy 3:15-17).
In the 15th century the Roman Catholic Church forbade also the cup to the laity. The Bible commands us to celebrate the Lord's Supper with unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine. (Read Matthew 26:27; 1st Corinthians 11:26-29).
The Creed of Pope Pius IV was imposed as the official creed 1560 years after Christ and the apostles. True Christians retain the Holy Scriptures as their creed – which is 1500 years older than the creed of Roman Catholics. (Read Galatians 1:8).
In the year 1870 after Christ, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of PAPAL INFALLIBILITY. This is a blasphemy and the sign of the apostasy and of the Antichrist predicted by St. Paul. (Read 2nd Thessalonians 2:2-12; Revelation 17:1-9; 13:5-8, 18). Many Bible scholars see the number of the beast (Rev. 13:18), 666 in the Roman letters of the Pope's title: "VICARIVS FILII DEI."
In the 19th century, the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary was proclaimed by Pope Pius IX. The Bible states that all men, with the sole exception of Christ, are sinners. Mary herself had need of a Savior. (Read Romans 3:23; 5:12; Psalm 51:5; Luke 1:30, 46, 47).
In the year 1950 Pope Pius XII proclaimed the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Centuries ago, titles used for Isis (the pagan deity of darkness, witchcraft and chaos) by her devotees such as “Mother of God”, “Queen of Heaven” and “Ocean Star” were given to Mary, and Isis and Horus temples were converted to Mary and Jesus temples.
“The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the Queen of Heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger. Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces?” (Jeremiah 7:18-19).
The Queen of Heaven is mentioned four times in Jeremiah 44 and this chapter tells us that God’s wrath and punishment fell on the Israelites because they were worshipping the Queen of Heaven as well as other gods.
“Queen of Heaven”, “Ocean Star”, “Mother of God” and “Star of the Sea” are titles given to the demon Isis by her devotees. “Mediatrix of All Graces”, “Queen of Peace” and “Queen of the Rosary” are also false titles for Mary and if you call her by these titles you will upset her and provoke God.
As for the entity who appeared to the visionaries in Medjugorje, Guadalupe, Lourdes, Aparecida and Fatima and claimed to be a protector and mediator between persons and God, and requested Feast Days to be held in her honour and the daily chanting of the Rosary, it could have never been Mary the humble and blessed servant of God who birthed our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:14 warns us that evil spirits can appear as benevolent beings.
The Rosary was introduced by Peter the Hermit, in the year 1090. This has been copied from Hindus and Mohammedans. The counting of prayers is a pagan practice and is expressly condemned by Christ (Matthew 6:5-13). Also, Mary is not the mediator between people and God. The Lord Jesus Christ the second person of the Trinity is the true mediator between human beings and God.
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5).
The following verses show that the Lord Jesus Christ does the will of God and not the will of Mary.
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. (Matthew 12:46-50).
In the above verses we see that although Mary wanted to see Jesus, He didn't go to her right away but continued preaching. It is plain to see that the Lord Jesus Christ does the will of God and not the will of Mary. Also, Lord Jesus who is the second person of the Godhead (the Holy Trinity) points out that He has several mothers, sisters and brothers. Lord Jesus is related to all those who do the will of God. So, are you part of God’s family or are you incurring God’s wrath through false beliefs and sinful practices?
HERESIES are those doctrines and practices which are contrary to the Bible. They are also called "human traditions" or "doctrines of men". Both Peter and Paul predicted and warned that in the later times "false teachers" would rise within the Church and bring in "damnable heresies" and "doctrines of devils". (Read 2nd Peter 2:1-3, and 1st Timothy 3:2-5). Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, for they transgressed the commandments of God by keeping their traditions. “in vain,” He said, "they worship me by keeping for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:9).
BRETHREN! The Word of God commands us to get out of Babylon, saying: "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Revelation 18:4). All true Christians will remain faithful to the religion of Christ as taught in the Bible, and heed the warning of the Apostle Paul, who said: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8).
With Love,
Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ
THE BIBLE TEACHES ETERNAL LIFE BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH
Because mankind is incapable of meeting God’s standard of perfection necessary to abide in God’s presence (Romans 3:19-20,23), God sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the total debt for the believer’s sins and mercifully credits to his account Christ’s righteousness (Romans 3:21-28,5:1-11; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21). Jesus’ gracious act of atonement was complete and covers all sin (Colossians 2:13-14; 1 John 1:9). Salvation is not based on good deeds but according to the mercy of God (Titus 3:4-5). Believers are justified by faith; it is a gift by God’s grace (Romans 4:3-8; Ephesians 2:8-9). A true, living faith will result in a desire to live a holy, loving life of good works (Ephesians 2:10; Galatians 5:6; James 2:14-26), but failure to be absolutely successful at righteous living does not negate the believer’s justified status.
https://victoryinjesuschrist.wordpress.com/
2015-06-08 05:35:31
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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