Massive Lady of Guadelupe Celebration Coming to L.A. Coliseum in August

Thousands of people crammed the Cathedral of our Lady of the Angeles Thursday and Friday for the annual free performances of La Virgen de Guadalupe, Dios Inantzin by the Latino Theater Company.

As they walked out they got 2012 calendars ""exploring the gift of Our Lady of Guadelupe in preparation for the Guadelupe Celebration."

That celebration is coming to the 93,000-seat Los Angeles Coliseum Aug. 5.

See the Guadelupe Celebration website here.

The event is co-sponsored by the  Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Knights of Columbus, who have sponsored similar gatherings before.

Catholics, especially those in Latin America, believe that the Virgin appeared to now St. Juan Diego, in 1531, and left her image on his cloak.

They celebrate that vision on or around Dec. 12 each year with prayer, plays and celebration.

On Sunday, in Echo Park, St. Anne's Catholic Church celebrated with a mass and festival.

On Monday, our "Lady of Guadelupe" was one of the trending topics on Los Angeles Twitter.

And, of course, images of the Lady abound all year in our neighborhood, where she is often painted on walls to prevent graffiti.

Our Lady of the Angels is the only church in the United States where a piece of Juan Diego's original cloak is kept.