December 12
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Queen of Mexico
(1531)
In December 1531, ten years after taking Mexico City by Cortés, walking the Indian Juan Diego, who came from Cuautitlán, towards the hill of Tepeyac - hill that is north of the metropolis - he heard a melodious music that was called sweetly. She was a beautiful Lady, who spoke to her with maternal words. -Juan Diego, my son, where are you going? - He replied that to Tlatelolco to hear Mass. -And the Lady added: I am the always Virgin Mary, Mother of the true God.
The dialogues between the Virgin and Juan Diego are a delight of sweetness. - Juan Dieguito, my youngest son, do not disturb your heart. Am I not here that I am your mother? Am I not the source of your joy? Aren't you in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? - And Juan Diego answers: My lady, my youngest daughter, my young lady, my daughter, my little girl, how did you wake up? Do you feel your beloved little body well, my girl?
The Virgin asks him to go to Bishop Zumárraga to tell him that he wants a temple to be put up there, where he will show his clemency and console all those who come to her. The Bishop told him to ask for some proof of his message. Several appearances follow. Juan Diego did not dare to go to the bishop. One day he deviates so as not to meet the Virgin. But the Virgin comes out to meet him. Juan Diego tells him that he was going to see his uncle Juan Bernardino, sick. The Virgin appears to him and heals him.
Juan Diego obtained the proof: some roses like those of Castile, which in the middle of winter and on the barren summit he cut by mandate of the Lady, and collected in his tilma or ayate - a kind of coat of coarse fabric that the Indians used. He returns to the bishop, extends the tilma and the Lady appeared painted.
It is not known how or by what means or with what materials the beautiful image of Our Lady could have been printed on the tilma. Also striking is the perfect conservation of Juan Diego's tilma, made with a yarn of not very long duration, and exposed to all kinds of tests, over the centuries.
The figure that represents the image of the Immaculate Conception is very beautiful, harmonious and simple. NASA scientists, who have recently studied it, have pointed out that the stars in its mantle are as many in number as the constellations visible in the northern sky, in the same place and time of the apparitions.
The eyes of the image have been studied by various researchers. In the iris of the Virgin appears Juan Diego unfolding the tilma and showing the flowers to the bishop. You can also see two figures of a man, one indigenous, sitting, and another with a beard, with European features, standing. The face of a woman with negroid characteristics also appears, amazed at the fact.
Why is it called from Guadalupe, and not from Tepeyac? It is true that there was a Virgin with this name in Extremadura, Cortés' homeland. Columbus went there before undertaking the discovery expedition and gave the name of Guadalupe to an island in the Antilles. But both images are totally different. The only thing that is known is that the Virgin told Juan Diego's uncle, Juan Bernardino, her desire to be invoked with the name of Santa María de Guadalupe, an Arabic name that means river of light.
And that is the Guadalupana for every Mexican: light and comfort, joy and hope. Every Mexican carries the Guadalupana in his heart, and the Virgin takes them. She is the Queen of Mexico and Empress of America.
Church of the Savior of Toledo at 18:00:00
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