¡Que Viva la Morenita! ¡Que viva la Virgen de Guadalupe! ¡Que Viva la emperatriz de las Americas! ¡Que Viva Cristo Rey!Today the church rejoices in God's gift to the people of the Americas: Our Lady of Guadalupe. Four hundred seventy-six years ago a pregnant Aztec Mary appeared to the lowly Juan Diego Quauhtlatoatzin. Juan Diego, meek and humble of heart, was a reluctant messenger charged with the task of speaking on behalf of the woman who revealed herself as Coatlaxopeuh (later changed to Guadalupe). Juan Diego's messages were received with skepticism and serious doubt by Fray Zumarraga, the bishop of Mexico at that time. In order to prove himself, Juan Diego was to return to the Bishop's house with red castille roses. The roses would not have been much of a challenge were it in another season, but in the middle of winter the roses are nearly impossible to find. Juan returns to the Lady crestfallen to let her know of Bishop's request. She beckons him to return the following day. When Juan Diego returns home he finds his uncle close to death. First he finds a doctor who does not give hope for survival for the ailing uncle. On December 12, on his way to fetch a priest for his uncle Juan Diego rounds the hill of Tepeyac for fear that the Lady might keep him. To his surprise the Lady catches him. After assuring him that his uncle with be healed, the Lady sends Juan Diego to the hilltop to gather roses that have miraculously grown. After arranging them in his cloak, Juan Diego is sent back to the Bishop. As Juan Diego unravels his tilma, the cloak, roses spill out leaving behind the image of the Lady on the tilma.
The story is a very romantic one. Different elements come into play. But, perhaps, the most important element is
faith. The story moves us to appreciate the love of God who concerned himself with the Aztecs. Even more beautiful to the story is that God himself does not reveal himself as mighty and powerful (much like the Spanish had done), but rather, sends the softer edged hand maid to attract and love. --- I am reminded of the Vatican II document that reads, "Our Church should be one of attraction, not of coercion"Guadalupe said to Juan Diego, "No estoy yo aqui quien soy tu Madre?", "Am I not here who am your mother?" Those same words spoken to Juan Diego reverberate through the ages and are spoken to each of us who resort to Mary... "is she not here who is our Mother?" In Mary we find an advocate and source of maternal love that beckons us to experience God's love through her own love.
May our Lady bring great blessings to you and may you find in her a source of solace, peace, and a model of faith.
