Anecdotes about the Virgin Mary

«The Generala that runs through Guadalajara»

Zapopan, Jalisco (Mexico)

In Zapopan, near Guadalajara, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, Our Lady of Zapopan is venerated. This small image, made of cornstalk paste—an indigenous technique from the early days of evangelization—is one of the most beloved Marian devotions in western Mexico and the patron saint of the region.

The devotion is ancient, linked to the Franciscan evangelization of the area, and the image, renowned for its protective nature, received popular titles such as "La Generala" (The General) or "La Pacificadora" (The Peacemaker), having been invoked during times of epidemics, storms, and floods. The most moving aspect of its veneration is the great "Romería" (pilgrimage) on October 12th: after spending months traveling through the parishes of Guadalajara, the image returns to its basilica in Zapopan accompanied by an immense crowd, in one of the largest religious gatherings in Mexico, with dances, music, and vows.

It is important to distinguish between tradition and history. The antiquity of the devotion, its indigenous origins in sugarcane paste, its popular titles, and the enormous pilgrimage on October 12th are widely attested in the collective memory and pastoral practices of Jalisco. However, the details of specific accounts of ancient miracles vary depending on the source, and anything not found in solid documentation should be considered pious tradition. Where there is no certainty, it is honest to say that it is not documented.

The Rosary naturally accompanies the Marian devotion of Zapopan and its celebrations, without there being a singular episode that specifically links it to the origin of this devotion.