Patroness of the Americas

“I entrust you all to the

Immaculate Virgin,

Our Lady of Guadalupe,

Patroness of the Americas...”

Pope John Paul II



T
he second most visited Catholic shrine outside of

St. Peter’s can be found in the northern neigh-

borhood of Villa de Guadalupe Hidalgo in Mexico

City. High on a wall in the circular basilica hangs a

nearly 500-year-old tilma, or cloak, mysteriously

imprinted with the image of a dark-skinned woman

clad in a star-spangled blue cape. She is Our Lady of

Guadalupe.

Why has the message of this shrine and appari-

tion so endeared itself to millions of believers across

the world? Because Our Lady, like the God whom

she bore and adored, took on the form of the poorest

of the poor, to encourage, to remind, to love, to com-

fort, to reveal her Son. And her message is intended

for each and every one of us.

The Story of

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Our information about the Lady ojGuadalupe is

based on a sixteenth-century work written in

Nahuatl, the Aztec language, by the Indian scholar

Antonio Valeriano.

On Saturday, December 9, 1531, a poor Aztec

named Juan Diego was on his way to Mass when he

neared a hill not far from a former temple once dedi-

cated to the virgin mother of Aztec gods. Suddenly,

he heard the most beautiful music and smelled a

sweet aroma that made him wonder if he was

dreaming. But then, he spied a beautiful lady with a

dark complexion who asked him where he was

going. When he told her he was going to Mass, she

smiled and said:

Juan Diego was then charged with taking this

message to his bishop.

“Know for certain, my son, the smallest one,

that I am the perfect and ever virgin holy Mary,

mother of the true God, through whom one

lives, the creator of mankind, the one who

owns what is Near and Beyond, the owner of

heaven and earth. I ardently desire that here

they build me my sacred little house, a Teocalli,

where I will show him, I will exalt him and

make him manifest. Where I will offer him to

all the people with all my love, my compas-

sionate gaze, my help, and my salvation,

because I am truly your merciful mother, yours

and mother of all who live united in this land,

and of all mankind, of all those who love me,

of those who cry to me, of those who search

for me, of those who have confidence in me.

There I will listen to their cry, to their sadness,

so as to curb all their different pains, their mis-

eries and sorrow, to remedy and alleviate their

sufferings.”



there anything else you need?”

Juan Diego’s uncle recovered from

his illness at that very moment.

Our Lady then told Juan to go to

the top of the hill, where he would

find a variety of flowers blooming in

the frozen ground. They would be

the sign the bishop requested.

Juan obeyed, gathered the blooms

and arranged them in his tilma,

after which Our Lady instructed him

to reveal the content only to the

bishop.

When he arrived at the bishop’s

residence, authorities first met Juan

with suspicion and demanded to

know the contents of his tilma. But

when the bishop heard the commo-

|
tion, he welcomed Juan. At this wel-

5
come, Juan knew the time was right

to show the bishop the sign he had

requested. So he opened his cloak, the flowers cas-

caded to the ground — and the bishop and others in
the room gazed in awe and fell to their knees in ven-

eration. Amazed, Juan Diego looked to his tilma and

realized that the image of Our Lady was miraculous-

ly imprinted there. In light of this clear sign, the

humbled bishop begged for Juan Diego’s forgiveness

and invited him to be his honored guest at his resi-

dence.

A Holy Day

The Bishop’s Challenge

Although impressed with Juan’s

humility and sincerity, the bishop

hesitated to trust his word. He asked

Juan to visit with him on another

day when, he promised, he would

take the heavenly Lady’s message

into consideration.

A deflated Juan Diego met with

the heavenly Lady and begged her to

entrust the message to a more

important person than himself. But

the beautiful woman only repeated

her request and assured Juan that

her desire was to entrust him with

this mission. Heartened, he

promised to deliver her message the

next afternoon.

The next day, Juan Diego arrived

at the bishop’s place of residence

and requested an audience. Once again, the bishop

questioned him but did not believe what he was told

and asked for a sign from the heavenly Lady.

When Juan surprised the bishop by confidently

asking him what type of sign he would like, the

bishop didn’t answer, only dismissed him and sent

some trusted aides to follow and observe him. Juan

went directly to Tepeyac Hill, where he met Our Lady

and communicated the bishop’s demand. She lis-

tened, then asked Juan to return the next morning,

December 12.

The Signs of Guadalupe

The next day, instead of meeting with Our Lady,

Juan went to find a priest to administer the last rites

to his dying uncle. Even on this alternate route,

however, Our Lady appeared to him and asked where

he was going. Ashamed, Juan explained. Our Lady

responded, “Listen and let -it penetrate your heart,

my dear son. Do not be troubled or weighed down

with grief. Do not fear any illness or vexation, anxi-

ety or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are
you not under my shadow and protection ... is

Our Lady of Guadalupe may be the most

recognized apparition of the Blessed Virgin in

the world. Twenty-five popes have honored

her, and millions of pilgrims have come to

ask her intercession and to recognize her as

mother, protectress, and guardian. In 1999,

Pope John Paul II declared December 1 2 a

holy day for the entire American continent

and placed all young children, especially the

unborn, under her care.



Celebrate!

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a day

of regional and spiritual pride for Hispanics, is

marked by major fiestas throughout Mexico,

Central America, and the

Southwestern United States.

Typically, December 12 is

celebrated with fireworks,

processions, feasts, and

the celebration of Mass.

One favorite custom is

to place a small tin or

silver object shaped

like a heart, arm, or leg

on or near a statue of

the Virgin to represent

answered prayer, espe-

cially for health.

In Mexico City, pil-

grims gather near the

cathedral, where the

tilma is displayed as

early as three days in

advance. Thousands come

on bicycle, and many crawl

long distances on their knees

as a sign of penance. In Oaxaca,

young children are dressed up to represent the

many native tribes of Mexico who come to

honor Our Lady. In other areas, children dress

like Juan Diego or even the Virgin herself.

Coming as it does during the Advent sea-

son, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe pro-

vides parishes and families an opportunity to

remember Our Lady in a special way as we

wait with her for the birth of Christ. A meal

showcasing Mexican fare, such as enchiladas,

tacos, sopapillas, mole, and guacamole, is

always appropriate. Corn cakes (or corn chips)

and candy sticks can be given to children, as

well as paper roses to symbolize the flowers

that Juan Diego gathered in his cloak.



5 Ways to Celebrate the Feast

of Our Lady of Guadalupe in

Homes and Parishes

I
Our Lady of Guadalupe reminds us of answered

prayer. Create images of answered prayers to

place beside a picture or statue of Our Lady of

Guadalupe. This might be a heart to represent comfort

received, an eye in thanks for successful eye surgery,

or a business card in gratitude for a new job.

2
Discuss issues prevalent in our world today to

which Our Lady calls our attention. Conclude

with a prayer for these concerns and discuss the

possibility of further action to respond to these

situations.

3
Make a novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe as a

parish or a family. See www.sancta.org.

4
Include the story of St. Juan Diego in your

Advent preparations. Serve Mexican flan as a

treat. (Find a simple recipe at

www/recipezaar.com/1 13507.)

5
Invite local Hispanic parishes, families, and

individuals to share their devotion to Our Lady

of Guadalupe.

Prayer
Our Lady of Guadalupe, we find you

among the poor, the small, those the world

counts for nothing. You remind us of our pri-

orities. You remind us how precious each of

us is to you and to your Son, Our Lord, Jesus

Christ. You comfort us in our suffering. You

challenge us to use our strengths. You call us

to do whatever He tells us (John 2:5).

May we heed your message given us at

Guadalupe: to acknowledge God’s love, to pro-

tect the innocent, to replace our fear with

trust, to keep our priorities in order. We ask

this through the mercy and grace of Our Lord,

.. Jesus Christ. Amen.



For More Information:

Father Virgilio P. Elizondo, Guadalupe: Mother of

the New Creation (Orbis Books, 1997).

, La Morenita: Evangelizer oj the Americas

(Mexican American Cultural Center, 1980, now in its

sixth edition and published also in Spanish)

.

Francis Johnston, The Wonder ofGuadalupe (Tan

Books and Publishers, 1981).

Catherine Odell, Those Who Saw Her, Revised:

Apparitions ofMary (Our Sunday Visitor, 1995).

William G. Storey, Mother of the Americas: A

Novena in Honor ofOur Lady ofGuadalupe (Liturgy

Training Publications, 2003).

Web sites:

http://www.sancta.org

http://www.guadalupeshrine .org

http ://www.olgaustin . org/symbolism .html

For additional Catholic resources

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