Transforming America

Present-day devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe has expanded well beyond the bounds of Mexico and of Catholicism. Theological analyses have expanded in tandem with Guadalupe’s growing acclaim. In response to the increasing consciousness of injustice and poverty and the advance of popular social movements, Guadalupan writers have addressed an array of perspectives such as those of marginalized persons, women, and evangelization. For the first time, theological analyses have examined Juan Diego as a protagonist in the struggle of oppressed peoples for survival and dignity. Such articulations are not just new interpretations of Guadalupe but also comprise a new approach to engaging Guadalupe from the perspective of those the world counts as least. This chapter examines this crucial epistemic shift in Guadalupan theologies and the Guadalupe tradition, underscoring how contemporary understandings of Guadalupe advance visions for personal and social transformation.