MEXICO CITY (Zenit.org): Mexico’s oldest pilgrimage – and the one that attracts the most pilgrims, with 50,000 participants this year – concluded on July 20 at the feet of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Reminiscent of pilgrimages of the Middle Ages, the group walked south from the state of Queretaro to Mexico City. The journey took anywhere from seven to 18 days to complete.
The diocese of Queretaro sponsors the pilgrimage each year. The men’s pilgrimage has a 118-year history. The women’s pilgrimage marked its 50th anniversary this year.
Bishop Mario de Gasper�n Gasper�n of Queretaro and rector of the basilica Monsignor Diego Monroy welcomed the pilgrims upon their arrival.
The prelate thanked the pilgrims for their participation: “For us it is a moment of grace and blessing to hear the Word of God, which makes us reflect on our lives.”
Hilda Garcia, who is vice-president of the 2008 Association of Women Pilgrims to Tepeyac, told ZENIT that the participants sang and were joyful throughout the pilgrimage, though they met with three consecutive days of heavy rains.
“Some of us left on July 12 and arrived in this shrine 18 days later,” she said.
Msgr Monroy said in a press conference that “these pilgrimages give us all feedback, benefit us by their dedication and commitment, 50 years by women and 118 years by men – a great motivation.
“I accompanied them on the walk and received them here, because it is the task of the rector of this shrine.”
He exhorted the baptised to be the leaven, “even if we see ourselves threatened by drug trafficking, alcoholism, injustice, corruption, famine, poverty and misery”.
