Just reading some info in the back of one of my books. It says that 20 Million people visit the Basillica in Mexico to see the image every year, the natural life of such a cactus poncho is 20 years, after that they turn to dust. For the first 100 or 200 years it hung in the open air. Socialists tried to destroy it by planting a bomb under it in 1921.
In 1979 it underwent infra red testing that would have revealed overpainting, alterations, the presence of varnish, sizing or preliminary drawings.
Still unexplained.
I suggest getting a few books on the subject because the info and miracles fill volumes.
If any of you have cable and are interested, I'm sure Mother Angelica will have several stories on the apparition tonight on EWTN.
Great network. She had alot on Guadalupe last year.