The Basilica is the headquarters of the Catholic church in Mexico. It is located on the outskirts of Mexico City, occupying a hilltop and the area around it.  There is a lot of Catholic lore associated with this place.  It is said to be the place where the virgin of Guadalupe (Mary) manifested herself to a council of priests on the shirt of Juan Diego.  I have had a fair bit of experience with Catholicism, but never have I seen a place or a people who so reveres the virgin Mary above her appropriate place, and even in replacement of Jesus Christ.

One approaches the Basilica along a long pathway lined by merchants.  The pathway leads to an opening into a sprawling, flat stone-floored square.  Here you see two main structures - the old, original cathedral at this place, and a new, modern edifice which is now the main center of activity (Image 1).

I must say, the Basilica is both marvelous and depressing.  Marvelous for its architectural grandeur, but depressing for its lostness and dedication to a faith based not on the truth of God's word but upon the assumption of man-made traditions and creeds.  One of the things that Billy Moore pointed out to me was the huge seat made out of white marble that is elevated at the front of the modern cathedral (see Image 1).  This is the throne where the pope sits and addresses the people when he visits Mexico City.

Another thing that is notable about the Basilica is that the old cathedral is literally sinking to a tilt.  Its front corner next to the new structure is sinking, leaving the whole building at a dangerous slant (Most apparent in Image 1, see also Image 2).  This exact same case was true of the National Cathedral as well.  At the National Cathedral (and possibly at the Basilica as well), they had all sorts of bracing up all over the inside of the cathedral in order to support it while they undergo the process of pumping sand underneath the foundation to level and stabilize it.  Pretty fascinating.  I could comment about the parallel between the structural integrity of Catholic cathedrals and that of Catholic doctrines, but I think I can let that go unsaid.

Upon entering the new cathedral, my eyes fell upon a mass of people all facing an elaborately adorned priest.  This was the same thing I spent four years observing at the Catholic high school I attended.  However, I couldn't help being shocked when, at the ring of a bell, every knee in the crowd bowed and worshipped a piece of bread being held in adoration by the priest (in other words, they were celebrating the Eucharist in their usual way).  It was around this time that I also noticed that in the center of the back wall, in the place of prominence, was a large painting of Mary, while off to one side there hung a banner with a picture of a long-bearded man which said "Nuestro Padre," or  "Our Father."  How symbolic of a faith that so easily sets aside the Father, Son and Holy Spirit with non-deity!

Exiting the cathedral, my companions and I started the trek up the hill behind the old cathedral.  At the top of this hill is yet another cathedral, and the hilltop and hillsides are surrounded by some gorgeous gardens.  The cathedral at the top houses a gigantic shrine to the virgin and a series of murals depicting the life of Juan Diego, especially the appearance of the virgin to him and to the priests. In addition to this, the hilltop cathedral afforded a majestic view of Mexico City, this time from from the edge of the city into its heart (Image 3).

At this place, I had to stop and marvel over the city and consider that I was standing at the place where Catholicism looms over the city and rules it, both physically and ideologically.  But, for sake of getting overly burdened by this, I also enjoyed some relaxing time with my companions and some good photo opportunities (Images 4 and 5).

I could keep writing about the things I saw there - about the huge sculpture of Aztec warriors bowing and offering gifts to an image of Mary (compare to Philippians 2:10 - "...that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on the earth...").  I could write about the people I saw in the Basilica square who, having been taught a salvation by works and merit, were in the process of crawling on their knees from the back of the square all the way to the assembly inside the cathedral.  But I will just end this thought by quoting thus:

"God our Savior ... desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time" (1 Timothy 2:3-6).