BLESSED PORTRAIT; THRONGS FLOCK TO SEE RELIGIOUS ICON ON TOUR.

Byline: Patricia Farrell Aidem Staff Writer

In silent awe, dozens prayed and laid flowers Friday at the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a portrait, blessed by the pope, that depicts the Virgin Mary as she is said to have appeared in 1531 to a Mexican man.

For two days, the digital replica of the ``Mother of the Americas'' was stationed in Santa Clarita, where more than 2,000 gathered Thursday night at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church to celebrate, with some returning Friday to the church for silent prayer.

``She, she is beautiful,'' said Rosa Maria Nunez, of Newhall, tears welling in her eyes. ``She will bring to us peace.''

The icon is a replica of the image said to have been left on the cloak of Juan Diego after Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, appeared to him. It came to the Newhall church on Thursday, was carried through the streets of Val Verde Thursday night, transferred Friday afternoon to Blessed Kateri Catholic Church in Saugus and is due today at St. Mary's Church in Palmdale.

At St. Mary's, parish children will perform a special dance in honor of the icon during its welcoming ceremony at 1:30 p.m.

The icon will be displayed at a midnight Mass, as well as during the regular Sunday masses at 7, 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. in English and at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. in Spanish.

The icon will depart Palmdale after the 8:30 a.m. Monday Mass.

The portrait in gilded frame depicts Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico. It is one of 140 digital reproductions blessed by Pope John Paul II. The pontiff proclaimed the Lady of Guadalupe ``the Mother and Evangelizer of America.''

``She is our mother in heaven; she watches over us and our children,'' Sofia Cortilla said, clutching her two toddlers who lay roses at the icon's feet.

The lady's history begins Dec. 9, 1531, when Diego was traveling, and saw before him a beautiful woman surrounded by light and wearing a cloak filled with stars. She told him to go to the bishop and tell him to build a cathedral on the site. Unconvinced, the bishop told Diego to return, but when he did so the bishop asked for proof.

In another vision, the lady told him to pick roses for her - roses Diego found in a place where the flowers seldom grew, the story goes. Picking them, he placed them in his poncho, then brought them back to the lady, who sent him back to see the bishop and show him the sign he had asked for.

When Diego did so, the bishop saw on the poncho the image of Mary, the image replicated and now visiting the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys.

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Photo: (1 -- 2 -- color) Above, parishioners pray before an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which was on display Friday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. Left, visitors kneel before the portrait at the Newhall church.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News