Rose Petal Recipes
Mexico is a country held together by a common strength of faith. Much of this faith revolves around Our Lady Guadalupe who first appeared in 1531 and is still inspiring acts of kindness and courage in her native land. In 1531 there were approximately 100 native Mexicans who considered themselves Christians. The Spanish missionaries who devoted their lives to converting the Mexicans must have begun to believe that this land was simply not going to "see the light" of their savior with the European countenance. Against this backdrop, one of the 100, Juan Diego was stopped on a hilltop walk (through Sacred Aztec ground) by a white light and music. A vision appeared of a dark skinned woman who identified herself as the Virgin Mary and asked Juan to tell Bishop Juan de Zumarraga that a church should be built on the spot where she appeared. The Bishop was skeptical of Juan's request and asked for proof which Juan went in search of. On December 12, the Virgin appeared again and asked Juan to pick roses from the hillside he was crossing. Juan held his flowers in his cloak as he went to visit the bishop. When he dropped the flowers out of his cloak for the Bishop, the Bishop and Juan were the first to view the imprint of the face of the Virgin. The shroud is now housed in a small basilica on the very spot the Virgin originally requested a church be built. Within a short period of time, millions of Mexicans converted to a religion that witnessed miracles from a dark skinned woman on sacred ground. Pilgrimages to the basilica are only part of the yearly celebration of Our lady of Guadalupe. Festivals, crafts, food, masks and a rodeo complete the days celebrations. While celebrating the Miracle of Guadalupe, why not honor the vision with foods created from rose petals? |
