THE TILMA (CLOAK) OF JUAN DIEGO
The fringe of his garment, from Our Sunday Visitor, 3/23/03
Sixty two years ago, Archbishop Jose Martinez of Mexico City gave Archbishop John Cantwell of Los Angeles a token of his appreciation - a small piece of Juan Diego's tilma, the cloak upon which the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe miraculously appeared in 1531.
This year, in preparation for the first celebrated feast day of the newly canonized St. Juan Diego next December 9, the small relic will go on a pilgrimage to a number of cathedrals and basilicas across the United States.
The Apostolate for Holy Relics (AHR), a non profit group dedicated to the preservation and veneration of sacred objects, has received permission to take the tilma piece on tour from Cardinal Roger M. Mahoney of Los Angeles.
"We pray that this pilgrimage, The Tilma of Tepeyac Tour, will rekindle the faith of hundreds of thousands of American Catholics and will provide a springboard for further Marian devotion in this Year of the Rosary," said an AHR statement announcing the tour.
Following the tour, the tilma relic will be permanently enshrined in the new Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles.
Dioceses interested in hosting the pilgrimage may contact Thomas Serasfin at Tom@ApostolateforHolyRelic.com or write the AHR, P.,O. Box 20131, Los Angeles, CA 90021