Shrines of Jalisco

Our Lady of Zapopan

Zapopan is one of the  Marian Shrines of Jalisco that is located about ten miles west of Guadalajara.

Also known as  Queen of Jalisco, its main feature is a twelve-inch statue of Mary, brought here by a Franciscan friar in 1530.

Some six thousand Indians were converted within a week after a strange light encircled the statue of the Madonna.

Numerous miracles are reported, especially during the pilgrimages on August 15 and September 8.

This is a favorite place of Pilgrimage for the local people.

San Juan de Los Lagos

Another of the Shrines of Jalisco is the Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos 76 miles northeast of the city of Guadalajara.

The small town of San Juan de los Lagos is the second most visited pilgrimage shrine in Mexico.

The sanctuary's history begins in 1542 when Father Miguel de Bologna, a Spanish priest, brought a statue of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception to the village.

Following a miracle, the statue began to be venerated by an increasing number of pilgrims including Indians, Spanish and mestizo.

During this period the statue acquired its own local identity as Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos.

Between the early 17th century and the middle of the 19th century a pilgrimage fair was held each year on November 30 to celebrate the original installation of the statue in the shrine.

The first time we visited San Juan, it reminded me of Bethlehem.