Every year, "the General" travels around her diocese

Our Lady of Zapopan is the patron saint of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, Mexico.

The conquistadors arrived in this region in 1530, accompanied by Franciscan missionaries. In the year 1541 they founded the city of Our Lady of the Conception of Zapopan (or Tzapopan), under the Spanish crown. The shrine of Our Lady was built later, in 1690.

The natives did not bother about the origin of the Madonna and adopted her as one their own. It had been brought from the Old World by the conquistadors, but it was so light that it did not look like other statues from Spain. The image was small—34 cm tall (13 inches) and brown like the natives. It proabably was blackened by the smoke of candles, or its varnish could have been affected in the dark, being wrapped in linens under the sails that had long covered it up.

Our Lady of Zapopan is also called "the Virgin of Waiting," "the General," or "The Lady of Zapopan."

Since 1734, every year, from June 13th to October 4th, the statue visits all the churches of Guadalajara, staying 2-3 days in each one, and 8 days in the cathedral. The church that hosts her stays open day and night for the faithful, and the presence of the Virgin Mary in her image is always a source of innumerable graces.

Marie de Nazareth