From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
December 12th =E2=80=93 Our Lady of Guadalupe
On December 9, as Juan Diego was climbing Tepeyac Hill, he heard
beautiful, heavenly music, and saw a glowing cloud encircled by a
rainbow. A woman's voice called to him from the top of the hill,
urging him upward. Upon arrival, he saw a beautiful young woman,
dressed as an Aztec princess. From the first translation of the
accounts of that day: =E2=80=9CApproaching her presence, he marveled greatl=
y
at her superhuman grandeur; her garments were shining like the sun;
the cliff where she rested her feet, pierced with glitter, resembling
an anklet of precious stones, and the earth sparkled like the rainbow.
The mezquites, nopales, and other different weeds, which grow there,
appeared like emeralds, their foliage like turquoise, and their
branches and thorns glistened like gold.=E2=80=9D
Our Blessed Mother said to Saint Juan Diego: =E2=80=9CJuanito, the most hum= ble
of my sons, where are you going?=E2=80=9D
He replied: =E2=80=9CMy Lady and Child, I have to reach your church in Mexi= co,
Tlatilolco, to pursue things divine, taught and given to us by our
priests, delegates of Our Lord.=E2=80=9D
She then spoke to him of her desires and purpose for appearing to him: =E2=80=9CKnow and understand well, you the most humble of my son, that I am
the ever virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the True God for whom we live, of
the Creator of all things, Lord of heaven and the earth. I wish that a
temple be erected here quickly, so I may therein exhibit and give all
my love, compassion, help, and protection, because I am your merciful
mother, to you, and to all the inhabitants on this land and all the
rest who love me, invoke and confide in me; listen there to their
lamentations, and remedy all their miseries, afflictions and sorrows.
And to accomplish what my clemency pretends, go to the palace of the
bishop of Mexico, and you will say to him that I manifest my great
desire, that here on this plain a temple be built to me; you will
accurately relate all you have seen and admired, and what you have
heard. Be assured that I will be most grateful and will reward you,
because I will make you happy and worthy of recompense for the effort
and fatigue in what you will obtain of what I have entrusted. Behold,
you have heard my mandate, my humble son; go and put forth all your effort.=E2=80=9D
Juan Diego left her, reporting immediately to the bishop's residenc=
e,
where he informed Father Juan de Zumarraga, a recently arrived
Franciscan religious, of the events of the morning. After a
significant wait, he was allowed to speak to the bishop, who was kind
(but skeptical), and sent him away.
Disheartened, Juan returned to the Tepeyac Hill, where the Blessed
Virgin appeared to him again. Prostrate before her, he apologized for
his inability to carry out her request. She smiled upon him, radiant
like the sun, and gently said:
=E2=80=9CHark, my son the least, you must understand that I have many serva= nts
and messengers, to whom I must entrust the delivery of my message, and
carry my wish, but it is of precise detail that you yourself solicit
and assist and that through your mediation my wish be complied. I
earnestly implore, my son the least, and with sternness I command that
you again go tomorrow and see the bishop. You go in my name, and make
known my wish in its entirety that he has to start the erection of a
temple which I ask of him. And again tell him that I, in person, the ever-virgin Holy Mary, Mother of God, sent you.=E2=80=9D
Again, Saint Juan Diego agreed to do as he was told, first going home
to rest. The following day, he would again visit the bishop. Early the
next morning, he returned to the city, seeking audience with the
bishop. Again, he was made to wait, this time his sadness and anxiety
at not being able to immediately carry out the request of Our Lady
reducing him to tears. The bishop, upon seeing his reaction, agreed to
meet with him, asking him questions, and remaining skeptical. At the
conclusion of the meeting, the bishop requested a sign from the Lady,
to prove her identity.
Saint Juan returned to the hill, and again was graced with an
appearance from Our Blessed Mother. Upon recounting the bishop's
request, she said to him:
=E2=80=9CWell and good, my little dear, you will return here tomorrow, so y=
ou
may take to the bishop the sign he has requested. With this he will
believe you, and in this regard he will not doubt you nor will he be
suspicious of you; and know, my little dear, that I will reward your
solicitude and effort and fatigue spent of my behalf. Lo! Go now. I
will await you here tomorrow.=E2=80=9D
Saint Juan Diego returned home, full of joy, as his moments with the
Blessed Virgin always left him. Upon arriving home, he was informed
that his uncle was ill, and unlikely to live. It was requested that he
return to the city in the morning to bring a priest to the home to
administer the last sacraments. In the morning, Juan hurried to do so,
arriving at Tepeyac Hill, and attempting to skirt it, so as not to be
detained by Our Blessed Mother (as time was of the essence). As he was
taking an alternate route along the base of the hill, he witnessed Our
Lady of Guadalupe descend from above, as if on a cloud, glancing
upward to where they typically met. She approached him at the side of
the hill and said to him: =E2=80=9CWhat's there, my son the least? =
Where are
you going?=E2=80=9D
Ashamed, Saint Juan explained the situation, and the reason why he had
not kept his =E2=80=9Cappointment=E2=80=9D with her that morning. Smiling, = the Blessed
Virgin answered: =E2=80=9CHear me and understand well, my son the least, th=
at
nothing should frighten or grieve you. Let not your heart be
disturbed. Do not fear that sickness, nor any other sickness or
anguish. Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my
protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold?
What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything. Do
not be afflicted by the illness of your uncle, who will not die now of
it. Be assured that he is now cured.=E2=80=9D Upon returning home later tha=
t
day, Juan was overjoyed to discover that his uncle was, indeed,
completely cured of his illness.
Hearing Our Lady's response, Juan humbly requested the sign the bis=
hop
had asked for, so that he might take it to him and prove her identity.
Our Blessed Mother requested that he climb to the top of the hill,
where they had first met. She said: =E2=80=9CClimb, my son the least, to th=
e
top of the hill; there where you saw me and I gave you orders, you
will find different flowers. Cut them, gather them, assemble them,
then come and bring them before my presence.=E2=80=9D
Saint Juan Diego did as he was told, although given that it was
winter, he was certain that there would be no flowers in bloom.
Moreover, the top of Tepeyac Hill was exposed to the elements, and
generally the only things that grew there were weeds and thorny
plants. Nonetheless, obediently, he climbed to the top of the hill,
amazed to find it covered with the most beautiful, glistening roses of
every sort imaginable. Recognizing them as a gift of Our Mother, he
carefully cut them, placing them in his tilma--a coarse cloak he wore
for warmth--and returned to where Mary awaited him.
She said to him: =E2=80=9CMy son the least, this diversity of roses is the proof and the sign which you will take to the bishop. You will tell
him in my name that he will see in them my wish and that he will have
to comply to it. You are my ambassador, most worthy of all confidence. Rigorously I command you that only before the presence of the bishop
will you unfold your mantle and disclose what you are carrying. You
will relate all and well; you will tell that I ordered you to climb to
the hilltop, to go and cut flowers; and all that you saw and admired,
so you can induce the prelate to give his support, with the aim that a
temple be built and erected as I have asked.=E2=80=9D
Saint Juan hurried to the bishop's residence, his tilma laden with =
the
precious flowers of Our Blessed Mother. He was again made to wait, and
finally the bishop's attendants demanded that he reveal the content=
s
he was carrying. Juan Diego slowly opened his tilma, and the fragrance
and beauty of the flowers overwhelmed those present. Some tried to
take the flowers, to show the bishop, but their every attempt was
foiled, as upon reaching for them, the flowers would appear to be
drawn on the cloth, but when their hands were removed, would again
appear in three-dimensions. Realizing the miraculous nature of the
flowers, they quickly ushered him into the bishop's chamber.
Saint Juan recounted the story to the bishop, and opening his tilma,
let the flowers (Castilian roses, which do not grown in Mexico) fall
to the ground. Left on the cloak was a glowing image of Our Lady, as
she had appeared to Juan. Soon after, a church was built on the site
where our Lady appeared, and thousands converted to Christianity. Our
Lady of Guadalupe was declared the patroness of the Americas.
The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe which appeared on the tilma of
Saint Juan Diego has been examined repeatedly by scientists,
historians, and art experts. No plausible explanation--other than the supernatural blessings of Our Blessed Mother--has been offered to
explain this remarkable image. After 450 years, the tilma shows no
signs of deterioration, despite the fact that it is made from a coarse
fabric of the cactus plant which normally disintegrates in 20-60
years. Artist historians have discovered that there is no sketch
beneath the image, no protective coating, and microscopic examination
proves there are no brush strokes. The image is smooth, like a
photograph (despite pre-dating photography by 300 years), and appears
to increase in size and color when examined. No accurate reproduction
has been possible, either by brush or camera. When examined closely,
several images are clearly visible in reflected in the eyes of the
Virgin, including Saint Juan Diego. Moreover, miraculously, the stars
depicted exactly match the configuration and placement of the
constellations which would have been present in the sky on December
12, 1531!
Our Lady of Guadalupe revealed to the world her maternal love, her
protection, her solace and comfort, and her grace and clemency. We
turn to Our Blessed Mother today, placing our lives in her hands,
begging her pity and protection, her grace, and her love. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!
Saint Quote:
My daughter, I see more Pharisees among Christians than there were
around Pilate.
-- St. Margaret of Cortona
Bible Quote:
Giving thanks to God the Father, who hath made us worthy to be
partakers of the lot of the saints in light:=C2 (Col. 1:12) DRB
<><><><>
Eternal Father
Eternal Father, I desire to rest in Thy Heart this night. I make the
intention of offering to Thee every beat of my heart, joining to them
as many acts of love and desire. I pray that even while I sleep, I
will bring back to Thee souls that offend Thee. I ask forgiveness for
the whole world, especially for those who know Thee and yet sin. I
offer to Thee my every breath and heartbeat as a prayer of reparation.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)