Since a trip to Mexico in the mid-90s, I have made it a point to attend las mañanitas for the virgin de Guadalupe. I invited Joe to come along (though I had failed to tell him that pick up time was at 4:30 AM) for this very Mexican tradition.
The basilica of Mission Dolores puts on a good celebration. By 4:30 on a rainy morning there was already a crowd outside door. Just before 5:00 am, the procession entered: altar servers, a Knights of Columbus color guard, lectors, deacons, priests, and the bishop. Within a few minutes the church was filled and the faithful stood and lined the side aisles. The altar was decorated with a scene from the narrative and the entire altar was filled with flowers. After the offertory a man dresses as Juan Diego runs up to the bishop, opens up his tilma, and reveals the image of La Virgen de Guadalupe, to which the faithful applaud as rose petals fall from the copula. At the end of the mass, the people approach the sanctuary to have the priest bless their flower boquets and images of Guadalupe. They also receive a rose. Afterwards the parish offers tamales, pan dulce, chocolate caliente and ponche (with alcohol if you wish). So by 6:30, people are off to work if they must.
It is a wonderful tradition that I am fortunate to attend.
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