Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan facts for kids
The Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan (Spanish: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Zapopan) is a famous church and abbey in Zapopan, Jalisco, México. It was built by Franciscan friars in the 1600s.
This basilica is one of the most visited holy places in Western Mexico. It holds a special wooden statue of the Virgin Mary. This statue is very old, coming from Spain in the 1500s. There is also a museum about the Huichol people inside the building.
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Who Uses the Basilica?
The church complex belongs to the Franciscan religious group. This group includes areas like Jalisco, Monterrey, Guanajuato, and Zacatecas. A retirement home called Valle de la Misericordia (Valley of Mercy) is also connected to the church.
Many different Franciscan groups use the abbey. These include the Friars Minor, Capuchins, Clarisse nuns, and Franciscan sisters. Other groups like the Dominicans have also worked with them.
The Virgin of Zapopan
The statue of the Virgin Mary in the basilica is very important. She is also known as Our Lady of Expectation. People sometimes call her La Generala or the Zapopanita. In 1734, she was named the protector against storms and lightning.
Every year, the statue travels. She stays in Guadalajara from June 13 to October 12. After Mexico became independent in 1821, she was named the protector of the state of Jalisco. She received a special honor called a Canonical Coronation in 1921. During this event, she was given the keys to the city of Guadalajara.
The Romería: A Special Pilgrimage
The Romería of the Virgin of Zapopan is a huge yearly event. It is a long walk, or pilgrimage, from the Guadalajara Cathedral to the Basilica of Zapopan.
This pilgrimage is one of the most important in Mexico. It is only smaller than the pilgrimages to the Virgin of Guadalupe and the Virgin of San Juan de los Lagos. The Romería covers about 8 kilometers (5 miles).
On October 12 each year, the procession starts at dawn. Many people join, including Catholic followers, dancers, and priests. They carry the statue of the Virgin Mary from the cathedral to the basilica. Over a million people walk with the statue. The day ends with a special church service outside the basilica. There are also traditional dances and fireworks in the evening.
In 2018, UNESCO recognized the Romería. It was added to the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This means it is an important cultural tradition.
History of the Basilica and Abbey
Native tribes lived in the Zapopan area around the 1100s. Spanish explorers, led by Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán, took control of this land in 1530. Soon after, missionaries arrived. In 1541, the town of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción de Tzapopan was founded. A local story says the Virgin Mary helped the Spanish and native people. She supposedly convinced the native people to stop fighting and become Christians.
Building the main abbey and basilica started in 1689. Over the years, parts of the building were changed and added. The front of the church has a grand entrance. It features Spanish Baroque designs with columns and sculptures.
The main altar inside is made of beautiful Italian marble. The stand for the Virgin's statue was made by local artists in the 1600s. The abbey also has rooms for priests and quiet gardens for meditation. The basilica is used as a training center for Franciscan priests.
Another local story says the Virgin helped the people fighting for independence from Spain in 1821. In 1979, Pope John Paul II visited the church.
The basilica is a great example of 17th-century colonial Baroque architecture. Other old buildings are nearby, like the Chapel of Nextipac. There are also newer buildings from the 1600s, such as the Church of San Pedro Apóstol.
Art and Museums
The church has many artworks, including paintings and sculptures.
- A painting of Juan Cruz Ruiz de Cabañas y Crespo, who supported the church.
- The statue of the Virgin, made by artists from Michoacán in 1541.
- A sculpture called "The Holy Family" by Victoriano Acuña (1832).
- The church's entrance area has two bronze statues. One is of Fr. Antonio de Segovia and the other is of Pope John Paul II.
The Huichol Museum is right next to the basilica. It shows art from the Huichol, Tepehuan, and Cora people. There is also a Museum of the Virgin of Zapopan. It is on the north side of the basilica, near where the Virgin is honored.
See also
In Spanish: Basílica de Zapopan para niños
- List of basilicas
- List of Christian pilgrimage sites
