Originally published at Orange County Catholic
STARTING ON NOV. 1, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange will be hosting a tour of the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a historic apparition of the Virgin Mary that is deeply symbolic and significant to Southern California’s Catholic faithful, particularly those of Hispanic heritage.
The Missionary Image is a Catholic Church-authorized digital image of the original Guadalupe tilma image, which dates to 1531 and is above the main altar at the Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Like the tilma, the Missionary Image has been associated with miraculous phenomena, such as doctors hearing a human heartbeat where the Virgin Mary carries the Christ Child and reports of oil dripping from the Image.
The Missionary Image tour begins on Nov. 1 at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove and lasts through Nov. 24. The public is invited to venerate the Image at host parishes and sites throughout the Diocese of Orange. For a complete list of sites hosting the image, visit www.rcbo.org/tilma
While there are many pictures in circulation and routinely taken of the tilma in Mexico City, the touring Missionary Image is the only one with a Catholic Church-recognized title, mission and certification. Diocese
