Our Lady of Gaudalupe Dec 12th

 

Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, when the Blessed Virgin Mary came down from heaven and appeared to Juan Diego, in Guadalupe, Mexico.

In the year 1531, Our Lady first appeared to Juan Diego was on his way to Holy Mass.

She wanted him to ask the bishop, to build a church on Tepeyac Hill. The bishop refused his request, and Our Lady once again appeared to Juan stating, “Humblest of my sons, I ask that tomorrow, you go again, to see the bishop, and tell him, that I, the ever Virgin Holy Mary, Mother of God, am the one who personally sent you.” He returned to the bishop. But the bishop wanted a sign, before he would build a church, on the hill.

Once again, Juan returned to the Hill, called Tepeyac, and met Our Lady again. She wanted him to return to the bishop. However, he wanted to get a priest to hear the confession of his uncle, who was very sick. But Mary said, “There is nothing to frighten and distress you. Do not let your heart be troubled, and let nothing upset you. Is it not I your Mother, who is here? Are you not under my protection? Are you not, fortunately under my care? Do not let your uncle’s illness distress you. It is certain that he has already been cured. Go to the hilltop, my son, where you will find flowers.”

At the top of the mountain, in the middle of the December winter, Juan Diego found Castilian roses, which don’t grow in the winter, and don’t grow in Mexico. He placed the roses in his apron and took them to the bishop. At the bishop’s residence, Juan opened the apron, the roses fell to the ground, and an image of Mary instantly and miraculously became present on the apron.

The image was not painted by any human being. God Himself created the image on the apron. It was proof, Mary wanted a church built, on Tepyac Hill. Because of this miracle, the bishop built a chapel on the hill.

The book of Revelation, states, “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet.” The image of Our Guadalupe shows Mary clothed with the sun, with the moon under Her feet. The people, who lived back then, worshiped the sun. They believed the sun was god. The image helped the people to understand the sun is not God, and Mary is not a goddess. Her hands are folded in prayer.

On the image, there are stars on Mary’s mantle, matching the stars, as they appeared in the sky, on that exact date in 1531.

The black ribbon around Mary’s waste indicates, She is expecting a baby. The Mexican Indians wore a black ribbon, which indicated pregnancy. The book of Revelations states, “the woman is clothed with the sun”, & “She was with child.”

At the time of the apparitions, the Aztec Indians were killing thousands of people by sacrificing the innocent victims on giant pyramids. They would cut the beating hearts out of their chest while they were still alive. But when the people heard of Mary’s apparition to Juan Diego, and saw the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the horrible killings stopped, and 9 million Indians converted, began to believe in Jesus, and practice the Catholic faith.

Mary took the poor Mexican people under Her care, to help them understand, Jesus is the true Son of God. And today, Mary comes to us, and is always with us. She never leaves us alone. Perhaps we wonder, “Why is it that Mary, the Mother of my Lord should come to me”.

She comes to us because She is the patroness of the Americas, and the patroness of the unborn. Today, she comes to us, because She loves us, and wants Her children to call upon Her, in every need and to help keep us close to Jesus.

When we are frightened, or worried, or when our heart is troubled, we should call upon Mary to help us. When we are under the shadow of Her protection, we fear no evil, no pain, and no worry.

We pray to you, O Lady of Guadalupe, the Mother of Mexico, the Mother of the United States, the patroness of the Americas, grant these your people-- the great gift of the practice of their faith.

Help us O Mother, as we turn to you, to renew and bring about the conversion of hearts. O sweet Mother Mary, we hide under the shadow of your protection, because with you we fear no pain, no worry. O Maria, O most merciful Mother, Our Lady of Guadalupe pray for us, who have recourse to thee! And pray for an end to the child sacrifices occurring every day in abortion clinics and planned parenthood facilities in our country and throughout the world. Amen.