“If you start thinking about who's going to read it [you're writing], or what grade will you get, or is it going to win that award, or are you going to get into this graduate program, you're blocking the light, and the light is that guidance and love we get when we open up our hearts and are guided by our higher selves, or God, or the Buddha Lupe [Buddha and the Virgin of Guadalupe fused together, as they are in the tattoo on Sandra's right arm], or whatever you believe in, or love.” IfsThinkingWritingBelieveHeartSelfLightTogetherWinningArmsHigherProgramAnd LoveBlockGuidanceGradesAwardsGraduatesTattooVirginsHigher SelfGuadalupe Author:Sandra Cisneros
“One of the things I like to pack, that I take with me all the time, is my Virgensita de Guadalupe. It doesn't take much room in your suitcase. If you have one that isn't so fancy, you can use it on the plane when you're scared.” IfsUseRoomsScaredPlanesFancyPacksSuitcasesGuadalupe Author:Sandra Cisneros
“In the last generation we've moved past a U.S.-Mexico relationship that while friendly on the surface, and demilitarized for the most part, really was not a genuinely cooperative relationship. As a result of the U.S.-Mexico War in the 19th century, and the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, half of what was Mexico was severed and became much of the western part of the United States. To add insult to injury, most Americans never knew that, and most Mexicans have never forgotten it.” WarStatesLastsPastUnitedResultsHalfUnited StatesGenerationsCenturyMovedAddWesternForgottenSurfaceInsultInjuryFriendlyMexicoTreaties19th CenturyCooperativesInsult To InjuryGuadalupe Author:Alan Bersin
“Catholicism believes in the Virgen de Guadalupe. The mother of God is worshipped, especially in Latin America. I find her very empowering. I find that the Virgen de Guadalupe allowed me to return to parts of my upbringing I had disregarded.” BelieveAmericaMotherReturnEmpoweringLatinCatholicismUpbringingLatin AmericaDisregardedGuadalupe Author:Sandra Cisneros
“To me, the Virgen de Guadalupe is just a vessel for me to recognize my own God within myself.” My OwnVesselGuadalupe Author:Sandra Cisneros
“I invite [journalists] to seriously study the facts of Guadalupe. The Madonna is there. I cannot find another explanation.” FactsStudyJournalistExplanationInvitesGuadalupe Author:Pope Francis
“It would be nice if you as journalists - there are some books that explain the painting [ of Guadalupe] what it is like, the significance, and that is how you can understand better this great and beautiful people.” PeopleIfsBookWould BeBeautifulNicePaintingJournalistSignificanceBeing NiceBeautiful PeopleGuadalupe Author:Pope Francis
“I asked [Guadalupe] for the world, for peace, so many things. I asked forgiveness, I asked that the Church grows healthy, I asked for the Mexican people. And another thing I asked a lot for: that priests be true priests, and sisters true sisters, and bishops true bishops. As the Lord wants.” PeopleWorldWantGrowsChurchLordHealthyBeing TruePriestsMexicanBishopsGuadalupe Author:Pope Francis
“My Virgen de Guadalupe is not the mother of God. She is God. She is a face for a god without a face, an indigena for a god without ethnicity, a female deity for a god who is genderless, but I also understand that for her to approach me, for me to finally open the door and accept her, she had to be a woman like me.” FacesMotherAcceptingDoorsApproachFemaleLike MeDeitiesEthnicityGuadalupe Author:Sandra Cisneros