Today is one of my favorite feast days - the day we honor the humble servant of our Blessed Mother, Saint Juan Diego. Click on this link to read the enchanting story of Our Lady of Guadalupe's appearance to him in Mexico in 1531. http://www.catholic.org/about/guadalupe.phpMary spoke with great gentleness and tenderness when she told Juan that she was the "ever virgin Mary, Mother of the true God."
And to prove to Juan and to the people of Mexico (and us) that she really was the Mother of God she miraculously left her image on Juan Diego's tilma (cloak). The miracle continues since the image is still intact after more than 400 years and it can be venerated in the Cathedral in Mexico City, Mexico.
What is the lesson for us today? Considering the photo above, let us come before our Blessed Mother today in great humility and allow ourselves to be her servants, to bring the gift of her Son to others. Juan Diego was a simple man with few recognizable worldy gifts but God used him in a very powerful way. God can do the same with us - if we open ourselves to His love - and to the love of His ever virgin Mother!
We celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Friday (December 12). She is the declared Patroness of the Americas. When she came to Mexico she brought the graces of conversion to the people there who had a long history of human sacrifice. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patroness of the unborn - the heavenly warrior against the anti-life forces in the world. Let us beg her to intercede that the culture of life will be established in every nation - especially in our own United States.
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