Our Lady of Guadalupe...

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on December 12th.  It is a very important day to the Mexican people. You have to know the story of her to understand what the image is to Mexico. She defines Mexico, she is the country's most important icon, the essence  that binds it together...she accompanies her many believers today in their everyday struggles....She is larger than life and is found in churches and most homes, her image is in offices, restaurants, markets, nightclubs, parking lots, and hospitals. She is in wallets, purses and now in cell phones..She is found backstage in all theaters, bullrings and soccer events...She is 'Mexico's spiritual gift to the world'...maybe that is the reason I love her so...that a whole country can come together to celebrate one image....

Here is a very short rendition of the story of Guadalupe....

In 1531 a "Lady from Heaven" appeared to a humble Native American at Tepeyac, a hill northwest of what is now Mexico City.

She identified herself as the ever virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the True God for whom we live, of the Creator of all things, Lord of heaven and the earth.

She made a request for a church to be built on the site, and submitted her wish to the local Bishop. When the Bishop hesitated, and requested her for a sign, the Mother of God obeyed without delay or question to the Church's local Bishop, and sent her native messenger to the top of the hill in mid-December to gather an assortment of roses for the Bishop.

After complying to the Bishop's request for a sign, She also left for us an image of herself imprinted miraculously on the native's tilma, a poor quality cactus-cloth, which should have deteriorated in 20 years but shows no sign of decay 477 years later and still defies all scientific explanations of its origin.

The faithful believe, that the image of the Tilma, or cloak, of a poor Indian named Juan Diego, was miraculously created by the Virgin Mary in 1531. The image - which continues to baffle scientists – is now the most recognizable religious symbol in Latin America, and devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe is a favorite of Catholics throughout the Americas.

the actual image of the Tilma

It apparently even reflects in Her eyes what was in front of her in 1531. The image of her eyes reflect a bearded man.....this was found in 1951...
 

Her message of love and compassion, and her universal promise of help and protection to all mankind, as well as the story of the apparitions, are described in the "Nican Mopohua", a 16th century document written in the native Nahuatl language.

There is reason to believe that at Tepeyac Mary came in her glorified body, and her actual physical hands rearranged the roses in Juan Diego’s tilma, which makes this apparition very special.

An incredible list of miracles, cures and interventions are attributed to Her. Yearly, between 18 - 20 million pilgrims visit the Basilica, making it Christianity's most visited sanctuary. On this day of December 12, there is a huge pilgrimage that travel to Mexico City for the feast day....it is something many Mexican people do at least once in their lives....they travel on foot for days to get to the church to celebrate San Juan Diego's request to the bishop...

The true miracle of the Virgin of Guadalupe is her overwhelming presence in the hearts of the Mexican people, many who have tolerated the intolerable only because of their faith and devotion....

and again who can say they don't love her too?......after all she can make roses, beautiful roses grow in December....

Cheers to Happy  !!