Atrium - Our Lady of Guadalupe Stained-Glass Window

The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe depicts the Virgin Mary appearing to an indigenous Mexican man, Juan Diego, in 1531. The image is rich in symbolism, combining European and Indigenous imagery to represent a message of hope, unity, and her role as a maternal, powerful, and unifying symbol for Mexicans and Latinos. The image is currently housed in a golden frame above the main altar of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, where it has been since the new basilica was completed in 1976.

The Virgin is depicted with brown skin and dark hair, making her relatable to the indigenous people of Mexico. Her blue-green mantle is adorned with gold stars, which some believe represent the exact position of the constellations at the time of the apparition. The mantle's color was traditionally reserved for Aztec emperors, symbolizing her royalty. She stands on a crescent moon, which was a symbol of the Aztec moon god Quetzalcoatl, signifying that she has defeated evil. The sunburst behind her connects to the significance of the sun in native civilizations. A black maternity band around her waist signifies she is pregnant, a sign of Jesus’ coming birth.

She is considered the manifestation of the Virgin Mary and holds immense religious importance for Roman Catholics, representing hope and a connection to the divine. The Virgin of Guadalupe is a powerful national symbol of Mexico and a symbol of Mexican identity, uniting people across social, cultural, and political divides.

The Franciscan friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a coast-to-coast Catholic brotherhood devoted to living the Gospel in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. Founded in October 2023, the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe was formed from friars coming together from five provinces that are part of the long history of the Order of Friars Minor in the United States: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province, Holy Name Province, Our Lady of Guadalupe Province, Sacred Heart Province, and St. John the Baptist Province (the founding province of Roger Bacon High School). This stained-glass window honors the work of the friars since the time of St. Francis of Assisi and is a reminder of the Franciscan charism and mission of Roger Bacon High School.