La Virgen de Guadalupe has embodied as a powerful representation of Chicana Identity by showing spiritual strength, and cultural resilience creating an impact on Chicana culture. La Virgen de Guadalupe is not just any religious figure she is our madre milagrosa who often helps us find strength and empowerment in all moments.
Saintly Mother and Soldier’s Whore written by Ana Castillo is a good representation of Chicana identity being portrayed as the author uses La Virgen de Guadalupe as a form of feminine strength when it comes to religion. The author states,
“The feminine principle to which I refer would be concerned with preservation, protection—especially of the young and less fortunate— and affiliations of communities for the common good. This feminine principle, which lies within both man and woman, is exemplified for Chicanos, especially in the model of la Virgen de Guadalupe. Since the Conquest Mexicans have also worshiped Jesus Christ, the incarnated God and revolutionary, while the Omnipotent Father, whom we fear, reminds us to stand guard against men and sin. By calling forth la Virgen de Guadalupe—the feminine principle within ourselves—we have hope,”(Castillo 94).
Castillo uses the Virgen de Guadalupe as a form of the feminine principle in Chicano and Chicana culture and it refers to the values the Virgen de Guadalupe upholds views of feminine strength. La Virgen de Guadalupe has been a very important role model in the Chicana culture as she shows representations of empowerment, resilience, and hope. Overall Castillo brings up a good representation of Chicana identity through La Virgen de Guadalupe as she is able to show the meaning she upholds with cultural and spiritual power.
Being able to experience firsthand growing up with the Virgen de Guadalupe I have been able to see my loved one and myself look up to her and honor her for who she is. We have many ways in which we show our respect of honor for her, for example growing up I remember owning and wearing a gold necklace of La Virgen de Guadalupe as a form of honor and respect we have towards for as long as I can remember. When December 12, comes around my family especially my Tita (my grandma) always pays her respects and honors La Virgen de Guadalupe by creating an ofrenda and doing a Rezo for our family to come over and pray to her. In situations in which life gets tough not only would we pray to Jesus Christ but we also remember to pray for La Virgen de Guadalupe as in my culture she is known to be our “madre milagrosa”. Paying our respects towards her my family and I have made it a part of our tradition to especially honor her on her birthday, as we also welcome anyone interested in sharing the same respect and honor to her. Moreover, La Virgen de Guadalupe has been an honorable representation for Chicana identity as she shows her strength and resilience for her people.
Castillo, A. (1994). Saintly mother and soldier’s whore: The leftist/Catholic paradigm. In Massacre of the dreamers: Essays on Xicanisma (pp. 91-100).
