The Basilica of Guadalupe, Mexico's main Marian shrine, has begun to receive the first pilgrimages of the year, made up of faithful from various states of the Mexican Republic and neighboring countries. The devotees come to Tepeyac with two main intentions: to give thanks for favors received or to ask for the intercession of the Virgin of Guadalupe for a miracle. This influx anticipates the massive crowds that traditionally gather every December 12, the feast day of Guadalupe.
Testimonies of faith along the way
Among the first pilgrims is Uriel, a 21-year-old from Tlaola, Puebla, who made his first pilgrimage on foot with his family. "The first day you start with a lot of enthusiasm, with a lot of desire; the second day is a little tough, and by the third day you're very tired, but it's faith that motivates us," he shared as he entered the Basilica. After almost a week of walking, Uriel said that his main motivation was to thank the Virgin for his health, overcoming the physical challenge of the journey through his trust in Marian intercession.
Promises fulfilled and renewed
Teresa Martínez, from Nuevo Necaxa, Puebla, is attending for the second consecutive year, accompanied by her grandchildren and nephews. Her pilgrimage has a dual purpose: to accompany her godson on a bicycle trip to the shrine and to give thanks for four years of dialysis treatment. "I'm still here, thanks to God, and that's something very important to be thankful for and to make the effort to climb," she said. Martínez plans to repeat the experience next year, considering it a source of pride and a way to pass on the faith to new generations.
Gratitude for everyday blessings
Gloria Calderón arrived from Zacatecas with three family members to give thanks for their health, work, and other blessings received during the year. "It was a very good year and we have many things to be thankful for, so we came," she said. In a similar gesture, Gerardo Farruzca, from Nezahualcóyotl, State of Mexico, joined a pilgrimage organized with coworkers to give thanks for employment and health, combining work with personal devotion.
International pilgrimage and personal sacrifice
The international nature of the devotion to Guadalupe is evident in cases such as that of Elena Yaxon Chávez, who traveled alone from Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala. "I'm very tired, but very happy, because it was a goal," she confessed as she climbed the stairs of the enclosure carrying her backpacks. For her, the journey represents a sacrifice that is also a source of pride, strength, and gratitude to God for her life, the health of her daughters, and the longevity of her mother, who will soon turn 90.
Original source: www.eluniversal.com.mx (published on November 22, 2025)
