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Through history, the catholic tradition that the missionaries brought to Mexico has been evolving to what it is now: a mixture of paganism, European .
tradition, and it also has some elements of witchcraft. In Mexico, a great number of people worship the catholic patron with great devotion, as if they were gods. Churches are built in their honor and even almost each one has its own prayer. Every year, a lot of people travel to the city where the spirit of the saint they want to pay tribute to rests. .
Catholicism, which is virtually in every corner of Mexico, not only differs noticeably from country to country, it also differs from region to region and from place to place. In some areas, such as Puebla, people are very devoted. In the town of Cholula, the ringing of the bells in their approximately 400 churches shows the great importance that is given to this religion. In other more remote regions such as Oaxaca, Nayarit, Chihuahua, the presence of the Catholic Church is also very powerful.
Recently, the first Mexican saint was canonized. His name is Juan Diego of Cuauhtlatoatzin. He is one of the most respected saints of Mexico. He is famous for being the only witness of different apparitions of the Virgin Mary. According to tradition, Juan Diego was an Indian that was baptized and therefore converted to Catholicism by the Franciscans, a group of missionaries. He had an encounter with an apparition of the Virgin Mary. She told him to tell the bishop that was in Mexico City to build a temple for her. The bishop didn't believe him. The next day (December 12th), the Virgin appeared again and told Juan Diego to pick up flowers for her and to take them to the bishop. Juan Diego obeyed and when he went with the bishop and showed him the flowers. They were amazed to see that an image of the Virgin had mysteriously appeared on Juan Diego's clothes. The temple was built and Juan Diego's clothes were kept there.
