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The Virgin of Guadalupe is a Christian figure, but one with a special meaning for the Mexican and Chicano people. The legend goes that Mary revealed herself to a man in ancient Mexico and asked him to build a church. Antonio sees the Virgin as something separate from the rest of Catholicism – a mother-figure who is willing to listen and forgive, unlike the strict, punishing God. Even though she is a Catholic symbol, for Antonio the Virgin symbolizes something of that "new religion" he resolves to build at the novel's end – she has aspects of several cultures and religions, and feels truer and more comforting to his identity.
The Virgin of Guadalupe Quotes in Bless Me, Ultima
The Bless Me, Ultima quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Virgin of Guadalupe. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 4 (Cuatro)
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God was not always forgiving. He made laws to follow and if you broke them you were punished. The Virgin always forgave.
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Chapter 9 (Nueve)
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"The golden carp," I said to myself, "a new god?" I could not believe this strange story, and yet I could not disbelieve Samuel. "Is the golden carp still here?"
"Yes," Samuel answered. His voice was strong with faith. It made me shiver, not because it was cold but because the roots of everything I had ever believed in seemed shaken. If the golden carp was a god, who was the man on the cross? The Virgin? Was my mother praying to the wrong God?
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Chapter 11 (Once)
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"The golden carp," I whispered in awe. I could not have been more entranced if I had seen the Virgin, or God Himself… I felt my body trembling as I saw the bright golden form disappear. I knew I had witnessed a miraculous thing, the appearance of a pagan god… And I thought, the power of God failed where Ultima's worked; and then a sudden illumination of beauty and understanding flashed through my mind. This is what I had expected God to do at my first holy communion!
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Chapter 14 (Catorce)
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You foolish boy, God roared, don't you see you are caught in your own trap! You would have a God who forgives all, but when it comes to your personal whims you seek punishment for your vengeance. You would have my mother rule my heavens, you would send all sinners to her for forgiveness, but you would also have her taint her hands with the blood of vengeance –
Vengeance is Mine! He shouted, not even your golden carp would give up that power as a god!
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Get the entire Bless Me, Ultima LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Virgin of Guadalupe Symbol Timeline in Bless Me, Ultima
The timeline below shows where the symbol The Virgin of Guadalupe appears in Bless Me, Ultima. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1 (Uno)
Antonio starts to fall asleep and he prays to the Virgin Mary. María wants him to become a priest someday, but she does not know about...
(full context)
...owl is a comforting, watchful presence. That night he dreams of the owl and the Virgin of Guadalupe gathering the children in Limbo and flying them to heaven.
(full context)
Chapter 4 (Cuatro)
...help her brothers with the harvest. After dinner they pray to the statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Antonio's favorite saint. He imagines that she is a real person who is...
(full context)
Chapter 5 (Cinco)
...the devil across the river, but then he hears Ultima's owl and thinks of the Virgin and feels comforted.
(full context)
Chapter 7 (Siete)
...excited. María hears that her sons are returning and she cries and prays to the Virgin for hours, until all the children eventually fall asleep.
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Chapter 9 (Nueve)
...a grade. She is sure he will become a priest, and immediately prays to the Virgin.
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Chapter 11 (Once)
...bigger than Antonio and covered in golden scales. Antonio feels like he is beholding the Virgin or God, and he trembles at the miracle. He realizes this experience is what he...
(full context)
...they argue about what water flows in Antonio's veins – the moonlit water of the Virgin, or the salt water of the ocean which binds him to the golden carp. The...
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Chapter 13 (Trece)
...always punish people, but would forgive them in their lostness and confusion. He thinks the Virgin Mary could be a god like that.
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Chapter 14 (Catorce)
...won't come down. Horse screams and fights until he is finally convinced to play the Virgin. Abel tries to leave for the bathroom the whole time but Miss Violet won't let...
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...Narciso, but only if he can also forgive Tenorio. Antonio protests and then sees the Virgin, who says she forgives everyone, even Tenorio. God says Antonio wants a god who punishes...
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Chapter 16 (Dieciseis)
...Tenorio should live. Antonio starts praying after school for answers, and he prays to the Virgin more and more often. He hopes to meet the Virgin of Guadalupe just like the...
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Chapter 17 (Diecisiete)
...he proposes that maybe God comes in cycles, and maybe when God is gone the Virgin or the golden carp rules in his place. There is a thunderclap as he speaks...
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Chapter 19 (Diecinueve)
...been troubling him, but no answers come. He looks at the church's statue of the Virgin and feels empty.
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