LOS ANGELES—For Catholics in Los Angeles, the feast of St. Juan Diego on Dec. 9 will be a double homecoming.

The return of the Tilma of Tepeyac, the fragment of the saint's cloak that bears the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, is scheduled to coincide with the saint's feast and will likely be one of the most memorable events in the history of the archdiocese.

After making stops in 21 U.S. cities, including the Register's offices, the relic will find a permanent place in a new chapel to be dedicated to St. Juan Diego in Our Lady of Angels Cathedral.

Prior to the Tilma of Tepeyac Tour this year, the small relic was housed in the archdiocese's archives.

The small swatch of the tilma is a link to the biggest event in Catholic history in the Americas. Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego at Tepeyac Hill in 1531, sending him to tell the bishop of Mexico City that she wanted a church built there. Twice the bishop doubted Juan Diego, requesting a sign that would serve as proof.

The humble Nahua Indian, whom Pope John Paul II canonized in 2002, urged Mary to find a more worthy messenger. But she instructed him to carry her message to the bishop again, this time with his cloak filled with roses in full bloom despite the December frost. When he opened his tilma in the bishop's presence her image appeared in full color. The tilma bearing this image, which is not a painting, is displayed in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.

The half-inch piece of the tilma that has been on tour is itself a well-preserved part of the history of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. In 1941, Bishop Luis Maria Martinez of Mexico City sent the relic as a gift to thank then Los Angeles Archbishop John Cantwell for leading a delegation of American clergy to Mexico City.

For Mexican-Americans, the return of the relic to Los Angeles bears special significance. Devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe is part of Mexican cultural and spiritual identity.

According to Deacon Manuel Martinez, director of deacons for the archdiocese, many Mexicans in the area are working poor who feel a strong sense of connectedness to Juan Diego and the Blessed Mother, whom they affectionately call “Madrecita.” Having a piece of the tilma is having a piece of home, he said.

Festive Days

Cardinal Roger Mahony's decision to dedicate a chapel to St. Juan Diego, Deacon Martinez said, “makes sense.” Outside of Mexico City, Los Angeles has the second-largest Mexican population in the world.

“For me in particular it is definitely significant. Juan Diego was Mary's favorite son, and he is one of us. It was on his garment that she chose to leave her image. This is of great importance,” said local artist Lalo Garcia. “Now our saint is within reach. We can actually touch that piece of garment. It is so important for every Catholic, but especially for Mexicans.”

The dedication of the chapel will be part of three days of festivities in honor of St. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe. Deacon Martinez said the traditional Mexican festivities are a “family celebration.”

The celebration will begin the evening of Dec. 9, the feast of St. Juan Diego, with a solemn processsion of the tilma relic through the outdoor plaza. Cardinal Mahony will then celebrate Mass inside.

Hundreds of pilgrims are likely to come throughout the three days, bringing roses to honor the Blessed Mother. Dance troupes will perform traditional dances representing various states in Mexico.

A traditional re-enactment of the Guadalupe apparitions promises to draw a crowd large enough to fill the outdoor plaza, which holds 7,000, the evening of Dec. 10.

The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dec. 12, will begin early in the morning with serenades to the Blessed Mother, known as mañanitas. In keeping with Mexican custom, native Aztec dancers will perform a pre-Hispanic dance in honor of the Blessed Mother during the Mass that will follow.

The day ends as it began, with serenatas to the Blessed Mother to bid her “good night.”

“It is amazing how many people are devoted to Our Lady,” Deacon Martinez said. “It is incredibly moving to see the love and reverence people have for the Blessed Mother, to see people come together as a community of faith, to gather and pray.”

Successful Tour

Since the Tilma of Tepeyac Tour began in Denver in May, more than 100,000 people have turned out to venerate the tiny piece of fabric shorn from Juan Diego's cloak along with a 17th-century pilgrim statue of the Blessed Mother.

The tour was organized by the Los Angeles-based Apostolate for Holy Relics, a nonprofit group dedicated to the preservation and veneration of relics. The Knights of Columbus Supreme Council in New Haven, Conn., co-sponsored the tour.

Andrew Walther, vice president of the Apostolate for Holy Relics (and a Register correspondent), said the pilgrimage has been an occasion for conversion for many people, some for the first time and others after years of being away from the Church.

“It has been remarkable to see the number of people who wait in line peacefully for hours, mostly praying the rosary, and the long lines for confession,” Walther said. “And it's humbling to see the number of people who are moved to tears when they venerate the relic.”

According to Tom Serafin, executive director of the apostolate, the tilma is unique partly because it is a double-class relic. As St. Juan Diego's cloak, it is a second-class relic. At the same time, the tilma bears the image of Our Lady.

“It's the only thing she left behind,” Serafin said.

Msgr. Francis Weber, archivist for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and Serafin saw the tour as an opportunity for spreading devotion to the saints and as a fitting way to celebrate the Year of the Rosary. When Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony agreed to the pilgrimage last February, Walther said they “hit the ground running.”

Serafin said the tour, a first for both the relic and the apostolate, gave him a view of a Church that is “alive.”

“People need a vehicle to express their devotion, and the tour allowed that. People came to see their Mother, to get close to her,” Serafin said. “In every place, there have been beautiful liturgies and beautiful participation on everyone's part, from the cardinals and archbishops to the laity.”

Irene M. Lagan writes from Alexandria, Virginia.