At dawn on Dec.9, 1531, on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City, Our Blessed Lady appeared to an Indian named Juan Diego. She revealed herself to him as “the Ever Virgin Mother of the True God,” and made known her desire that a shrine be built there to bear witness to her love, her compassion, her succor and protection. “For I am a Merciful Mother,” she said, “to you and to all your fellow men on this earth who love me and trust me and invoke my help. Therefore, go to the palace of the Bishop in Mexico, and say that I sent you to manifest to him my great desire.” The Bishop was loath to believe the Indian’s story. So Juan returned to Our Lady on Tepeyac and told of his failure. She bade him go back a second time. The Bishop then requested that the Lady give him some sign. Juan reported this to her and she promised to grant a sign on the following morning. But Juan was prevented from coming by a sudden illness of his uncle, Juan Bernadino. The next day, Dec. 12, when he was on his way by Tepeyac Hill to Mexico City to bring a priest to the dying man, Our Lady came down to meet him. She reassured him of his uncle’s recovery and told him to gather fresh roses which he would find growing on the frosty summit of the rocky and barren hill. This done, she arranged the roses in his mantle, and bade him show them to the Bishop, giving him an account of their origin. To the Bishop’s amazement, when Juan opened up his mantle before him there was painted upon it a beautiful image of Our Lady, exactly as she had appeared at Tepeyac. Earlier in the day, in another apparition granted to Juan’s uncle, whom she cured, Our Blessed Mother intimated that she wished to be called, “Holy Mary of Guadalupe.” This miraculous picture, marvelously preserved, can still be seen over the High Altar in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, on the site she requested… every year several million pilgrims from all parts of America make their way to venerate Our Merciful Mother and to implore her intercession. (Our Lady of Guadalupe Abbey, Lafayette, Oregon)
Prayer to the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, that in thy celestial apparitions on the mount of Tepeyac, thou didst promise to show thy compassion and pity towards all who, loving and trusting thee, seek thy help and call upon thee in their necessities and afflictions. Thou didst promise to hearken to our supplications, to dry our tears and to give us consolation and relief. Never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, either for the common welfare, or in personal anxieties, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, we fly unto thee, O Mary, ever Virgin Mother of the True God! Though grieving under the weight of our sins, we come to prostrate ourselves in thy august presence, certain that thou wilt deign to fulfill thy merciful promises. We are full of hope that, standing beneath thy shadow and protection, nothing will trouble or afflict us, nor need we fear illness, or misfortune, or any other sorrow. Thou hast desired to remain with us through thy admirable image, thou who art our Mother, our health and our life. Placing ourselves beneath thy maternal gaze and having recourse to thee in all our necessities we need do nothing more. O Holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer us. Amen. (Here mention your petition and say five Hail Mary’s in gratitude for the four apparitions to Juan Diego and one to Juan Bernadino.) 200 days indulgence, Edwin V. Byrne, Archbishop of Santa Fe
Words of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego: “Listen my son, to what I tell you now: do not be troubled or disturbed by anything; do not fear illness or any other distressing occurrence, or pain. Am I not your Mother? Am I not life and health? Have I not placed you on my lap and made you my responsibility? Do you need anything else?” (This and the above prayer are taken from the publication from Our Lady of Guadalupe Abbey, Lafayette, Oregon)
Blessed John Paul II prayed: “Virgin of Guadalupe, intercede with the Lord that He may instill a hunger for holiness in the whole people of God.” (Taken from the Magnificat, Yonkers, NY, December, 2011)
My thoughts: I recently heard a beautiful explanation of Mary’s arranging the roses in Juan Diego’s tilma on the EWTN TV show, Women of Grace. Apparently, Juan Diego gathered the roses and basically tossed them into his tilma. Mary, as any loving mother would do, rearranged them so that they appeared in a beautiful display. That is what happens to our petitions offered to Jesus through Mary. She takes them, and beautifully arranges all our needs and desires onto a “golden paten” which she lovingly presents on our behalf to her Son, Jesus Christ. Blessed John Paul II’s apostolic motto was “Totus Tuus”, totally yours. May we, in preparing for the great feast of Christ’s birth, give ourselves over to the care and protection of the Mother He so lovingly chose as His own, and the Mother He so caringly gave to us. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.
Don't forget to say your Christmas Novena 15 times today for your special intention!
Christmas Novena
Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born
Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires(mention request here).
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.
