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CATHOLIC TEACHINGS

Mary’s Mission in America

        Mary, the Mother of Jesus, the Mother of God, first appeared in Scared Scripture as a young Jewish girl living in Nazareth. When the angel Gabriel came to her with God’s message, she responded with her “yes”, voluntarily turning her will over to God’s Will for her. She became the first follower of Jesus, continually believing in Him and supporting His work in her state of life. Conceived without original sin, but fully human, Mary is the perfect example for us all. Since God’s favor rests upon her and she is closer to God than any other human, she is also the prefect help for everyone.

        Over the centuries Mary has appeared in many times and places, always as beautiful, caring woman concerned about both specific happenings and problems of that time, offering help and instruction for all people. She is the very same Ever Virgin Mary, but she is remembered by different names for the places she has appeared or the missions she requested. Many have heard of Our Lady of Fatima (1917 in Portugal) or Our Lady of Lourdes (1858 in France), but Our Lady of Guadalupe (1531 in Mexico) is perhaps not as well known.

        It is a wonderful story and so appropriate because Mary appeared in America (there were no country boundaries at that time), and she was pronounced Empress of Queen of the Americas by the Pope. By knowing and reflection about Mary’s appearance at Guadalupe, perhaps we can be inspired to pray more, turn more to God, do His Will better, and lead other to Him.

        The story begins with an Aztec Indian Juan Diego, walking to Holy Mass on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception near what is no Mexico City in 1531. He had become a Catholic though the work of the Franciscan Friars who came to this new Land after it had been conquered for Spain in Hernando Cortez, some thirty years earlier. Although the victory of Cortez stopped the almost unimaginable horror of the human sacrifices of the Aztecs to their gods, estimated by some to be 50,000 lives a year, many Spanish leaders unfortunately did other evils as they succumbed to the greed and oppressive power in their grasp. To many native peoples the Spanish rule did not seem much better, therefore the Spanish religion of Catholicism did not fare well.

        But this was all to change. As Juan Diego passed a rock place called Tepyac Hill, he fell to his knees dazzled by a bright light and heavenly music. Looking up he saw a beautiful Lady who smiled at him and told him:

“Know for certain, my on, that I am the perfect and perpetual Virgin Mary, Mother of True God through whom everything lives, the Lord of all things near and far, the Master of heaven and earth. It is my earnest wish that a church be built here to my honor. Here I will.. give all my love, my compassion, my help and my protection to the people.

“I am your merciful mother, the merciful mother of all of you living united in this land, and of all mankind, of all those who love me, of those who cry to me, of those who seek me, of those who have confidence in me. Here I will hear their weeping, their sorrow, and will remedy and alleviate all their multiple sufferings, necessities, and misfortunes. Go to the house of the bishop in Mexico and tell him what I have told you. Tell him of my desire for a church to be built on this site in my honor.”

Juan Diego went immediately and told the bishop, a good and faith-filled man named Fray Zumarraga, about the message of the Mother of God. Although the Bishop listened patiently before dismissing him, Juan Diego felt that he really wasn’t believed and discouragedly went back to Tepeyac Hill. Our Lady was waiting there and assured him that he was the one chosen especially for this task and that she did not need or desire a noble or chief person. He was told to go and repeat her request. Still the Bishop had doubts. This could be just a made-up fictional account. After all, Juan Diego was just an ordinary and poor country man, a humble villager. Could Juan Diego bring some proof of his story that Our Blessed Lady had appeared to him and given this request?

        Mary assured Juan that she would give him a sign in the morning, and he returned home joyfully only to find his uncle, Juan Bernardino with whom he lived, very ill. Because Juan took care of his uncle all the next day, he missed meeting with Our Lady. So the following day as he went to get a priest for Bernandino who was dying, Juan avoided Tepeyac Hill because he thought Mary would be upset with him for his not having met her the previous day. Instead, Mary met him on the path; consoling him and telling him not to fear for his uncle’s life, she said:

“Listen, my son. Do not be troubled nor disturbed by anything; do not fear illness nor any grievous happening nor pain. Are you not under my shadow, my protection? Are you not in my favor and do you not go on my errand? Do you need anything else? Do not be troubled or take thought of your uncle’s illness for he will not die and is well even now (which, as it turns out, he was!) Go now to the top of the hill, and there you will find roses blooming. Pick as many as you can hold in your cloak and bring them to me”

        Flowers had never been seen on this rocky area where only cactus could thrive, but Juan Diego trusted Mary and obediently went to the top of the hill where he saw a profusion of beautiful, fragrant roses. He picked as many as he could and brought them to Our Lady who arranged them herself carefully in his cloak or “tilma”, as it was called.

        Joyfully he went to Bishop Zumarraga who had been praying for just such a sign. As Juan Diego opened his tilma to reveal the roses, the bishop, at the same instant as the roses dropped to the ground, witnessed the appearance of the Image of Our Lady on the rough cactus fabric. Falling to his knees, he thanked God for this heavenly gift.

        Bishop Zumarraga built the church that Mary requested, and to this day the tilma of Juan Diego with the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is still exhibited in the Basilica that is no in Mexico City. Millions of pilgrims visit it every year, marveling at the colors and detail of this image which has been preserver far beyond the usual life of the cactus fiber material. Besides this, the image seems to have a natural life-like quality like no other known portrait. Some think it resembles a photograph. However, in 1531, photography had not been developed.

        As can be imagined, when word of this beautiful picture first began spreading among the native people, they flocked to see it. The message of the visions and the symbolism of Our Lady’s portrait, as they interpreted it, had tremendous significance. In great numbers they turned to the God to whom Mary was praying. Over eight million Indians were converted in the next seven years. What a great evangelizer Mary is!

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St. Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into Hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

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