Marian Shrine
Patterned after the Mission-type architecture prominent in most California churches (OLPH is one), the Shrine's building features exposed rafters, arched entry, tile roof, mosaic art and earth tone colors. The altar holding the icons blends with the structure, the niches connected by protruded wood railings to symbolize the assembly of three icons from different places of origin: Our Lady of Guadalupe from Mexico, Our Lady of Perpetual Help from Italy, Our Lady of Immaculate Conception associated with Lourdes, France. The tiled floor and walls in earth tone contrasts with the light blue ceiling, blue representing the clouds of Daly City and the color of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In December of 1531, "La Virgen de Guadalupe" appeared before Juan Diego, a poor Mexican peasant asking him to tell the Bishop to build a temple, saying "...anyone coming to me, I will give console, my help and all my love." When the Bishop rebuffed him, Juan Diego was told by the Lady to pick flowers from the barren rocks to offer as a sign to the Bishop. As he showed the flowers, there was the image of the Lady on his cape, an image existing until now in the basilica at Tepeyac hill.
In the 1500s a miraculous painting stolen from a church in Crete and brought to Rome attracted devotees to its iconic beauty and wonder-working powers. In 1866, the Pope granted custody of the painting to the Redemptorists with instructions to make the Mother of Perpetual Help known all over the world. The icon's depiction of Mary holding Her child's hand directs attention on Jesus, Son of God and source of all salvation. The Mother of God, from the moment of her conception in the womb of St. Anne, was preserved "free from the stain of Original Sin", thus she is the Lady of Immaculate Conception, greeted by the Angel Gabriel as "full of grace". The icon's dress in its whiteness reflects this.
In December of 1531, "La Virgen de Guadalupe" appeared before Juan Diego, a poor Mexican peasant asking him to tell the Bishop to build a temple, saying "...anyone coming to me, I will give console, my help and all my love." When the Bishop rebuffed him, Juan Diego was told by the Lady to pick flowers from the barren rocks to offer as a sign to the Bishop. As he showed the flowers, there was the image of the Lady on his cape, an image existing until now in the basilica at Tepeyac hill.
In the 1500s a miraculous painting stolen from a church in Crete and brought to Rome attracted devotees to its iconic beauty and wonder-working powers. In 1866, the Pope granted custody of the painting to the Redemptorists with instructions to make the Mother of Perpetual Help known all over the world. The icon's depiction of Mary holding Her child's hand directs attention on Jesus, Son of God and source of all salvation. The Mother of God, from the moment of her conception in the womb of St. Anne, was preserved "free from the stain of Original Sin", thus she is the Lady of Immaculate Conception, greeted by the Angel Gabriel as "full of grace". The icon's dress in its whiteness reflects this.
