[Written for my parish bulletin last year]
This weekend in Mexico City, over three million people will gather for the Solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the location where almost 500 years ago Our Lady appeared to a poor and humble boy, Juan Diego.
The apparitions took place between December 9th and 12th of 1531. They not only fueled millions of conversions from the indigenous population of Mexico, but continue today as a foundational block of the faith of every Mexican Catholic. Over the centuries, unique traditions have developed to honor Our Lady that reflect the ethnic make-up of her devotees – a blend of European and Native customs, dances and foods.
The miraculous characteristics of the image, which is originally Saint Juan Diego’s tunic, intrigues many scientists today. The image has no brush strokes and its poor material should have rotted centuries ago. Mary’s eye-balls, when viewed with powerful tools, reveal the scene of Saint Juan Diego opening his tunic and letting roses fall to the ground in front of an amazed bishop who sees the image of Mary printed on the tunic. The image is like a photograph of Mary plastered onto Juan Diego’s tunic at the moment he stood before the bishop. No art technique could have captured such detail in 1531.
Mary’s apparitions and miraculous stories ultimately lead us to Christ her Son. They help us ponder the amazing deeds of God. At the wedding feast of Cana, Mary said to the attendants, “do as He tells you.” Mary’s prayer for us today has not changed – she asks us to do as her Son tells us. To honor her we must do as her Son’s will, so honor her, is to honor Christ.
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