Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 155

Introduced by Senator Nguyen

(Coauthors: Senators Anderson, Bates, Cannella, Morrell, and Vidak)

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Chang, Gonzalez, and Kim)

June 15, 2016

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 155—Relative to La Virgen de Guadalupe.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 155, as introduced, Nguyen. La Virgen de Guadalupe: recognition.

This act would commend the meaningful contributions that Latino customs, such as the celebration of La Virgen de Guadalupe, make to the diverse heritage of American society.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, La Virgen de Guadalupe has been recognized as
a remarkably significant cultural symbol for Latinos not only as a
religious icon, but also as a figure of pride; and

WHEREAS, La Virgen de Guadalupe is believed to have first
appeared to an indigenous man named Juan Diego on December
9, 1531, and has since brought warmth and great comfort to her
believers; and

WHEREAS, With a long history of devotion by her believers,
in 1754 Pope Benedict XIV granted her a proper feast and mass
on December 12 and since then La Virgen de Guadalupe has been
widely observed by millions of people from all over the world,
including in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Among a diverse Latino population in the United
States of over 55 million hard working and invaluable residents,
over 14 million of which live in the state of California, La Virgen
de Guadalupe, to this day, continues to be widely revered and has
assumed a cultural familiarity; and

WHEREAS, Latino cultural influence is apparent in California
through, among other things, music, the arts, the sciences, food,
humanities, business, and trade with each contributing to a stronger
and more prosperous community; and

WHEREAS, Today Latinos are proud to embrace their
multicultural roots and the day of La Virgen de Guadalupe is yet
another example of ways the Latino community contributes to the
vastly diverse and ever changing landscape of America’s social
and cultural heritage; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby commends the
meaningful contributions that Latino customs and traditions have
made to the rich, diverse heritage of American society and
encourages the celebration of the day of La Virgen de Guadalupe
in recognition of its profound cultural significance; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.