The Virgin of Guadalupe is the patron saint of Mexico, making the celebration especially important for attendees of Mexican descent. According to the story, Juan Diego, a recent Catholic convert living in a borough of Mexico City during the winter of 1531, was visited by the Virgin Mary. She reportedly told him to instruct the Bishop of Mexico to build a church in her honor. After refusing him twice, the skeptical bishop asked Diego for a sign. When the Virgin reappeared, she instructed Diego to put flowers in the folds of his cloak and return to the bishop. After gaining another audience, Diego opened his cloak and, as the flowers fell away, an image of the Virgin Mary was revealed in the petals that remained on his shirt.
The annual celebration is organized by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. This organization is responsible for the more than 4 million Catholics that reside within its boundaries which covers roughly 8,800 square miles across Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. The event draws participants from the 288 parishes of diverse ethnic backgrounds who come to decorate the floats, march in the procession or simply attend this important religious celebration.
The tradition was begun in 1931 by a small group of Mexican immigrants fleeing persecution from the dictatorship of the time. Today, the procession features floats that depict scenes from the story of Juan Diego and the Virgin and participants such as mounted riders, dancers dressed in traditional Aztec clothing and mariachi bands. The procession begins at the corner of Cesar Chavez Avenue and Ford Boulevard in East Los Angeles. It follows a 2-mile route through the city until it reaches the East Los Angeles College stadium where a mid-afternoon mass is conducted.
At the East Los Angeles College stadium, the Bishop of Los Angeles conducts mass for the diverse group of practicing Catholics that fill the stands. Every year, the mass is given a theme. In 2012, the theme was "Blessed are you who believed," an excerpt from a conversation between Mary and Elizabeth in Luke 1:41-49. The bishop, along with auxiliary bishops of Los Angeles and other clergy members give sermons around the theme and invite believers to follow the example set by the Virgin Mary in her words and deeds.
