Our Lady of Guadalupe

Introduction Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe: December 12 Apparition occurred in 1531, ten years after the seizure of Mexico City. The narration about the apparition of Our Lady to Juan Diego are contained in a document called Nican Mopohua (which means Here is stated…or Here is told) or Huei Tlamauitzoltica, written in Nahuatl, the Aztec language.

Nican Mopohua It was written around the middle of the sixteenth century by an Indian scholar named Antonio Valeriano. Unfortunately, the original work has not been found. A copy was first published in Nahuatl by Luis Lasso de la Vega in 1649.

Mexico City before 1531 Mexico City is ruled by the Aztecs Source: http://www.xtimeline.com/evt/view.aspx?id=38740 Mexico City is ruled by the Aztecs Human sacrifices are done Cannibalism is apparent The mightiest god was Quetzelcoatl, the feathered or stone serpent They have a great Mother God called Tonantzin

Story of the Apparition First Apparition: Saturday, December 9, 1531 On his way to the church in Mexico – Tlatilolco, while walking near the little hill called Tepeyac, he heard singing like the song of many precious birds When the singing suddenly stopped, he heard someone calling him, “Juanito, Dearest Juan Diego”

Our Lady’s Words “Know, know for sure, my dearest and youngest son, that I am the perfect ever virgin holy Mary, Mother of the One Great God of truth who gives us life…I want very much that they build my sacred little house here…” Source: http://users.polisci.wisc.edu/LA260/guadalupe.htm

Second Apparition: end of day (Saturday, December 9, 1531) Juan Diego begs our Lady to have one of the nobles or one who is held in esteem to deliver the message. Our Lady told him “Listen, my youngest and dearest son, know for sure that I have no lack of servants or messengers to whom I can give the task of carrying my breath, my word…; but it is very necessary that you, personally, go and plead, that my wish, my will, become a reality…”

Third Apparition: Sunday, December 10, 1531 He went to Tlattilolco to go to mass and see the bishop. The bishop still did not believe him and told Juan Diego that a sign was necessary to believe that Our Lady is sending him. Juan Diego told the bishop to think about the sign and Juan Diego will ask the Virgin for it.

As soon as he was dismissed, the bishop asked some of his staff to follow him. The Virgin said “That’s fine, my dear son, you will come back here tomorrow so that you may take the bishop the sign he has asked you for…So, go now. I will be waiting here for you tomorrow. “ Source: http://foros.catholic.net/viewtopic.php?t=37052

Monday, December 11 Juan Diego did not return because when he arrived at his house, he found his uncle, Juan Bernardino, to be very ill. He went to find the healer but it was too late; he was very ill. His uncle asked him to call a priest so he can confess and to get him ready for death.

Fourth Apparition: Tuesday, Dec. 12 After Juan Diego explained the sickness of his uncle, the Lady said “Listen. Put it into your heart, my youngest and dearest son, that the thing that frightened you, the thing that afflicted you is nothing. Do not let it disturb you…” Source: http://foros.catholic.net/viewtopic.php?t=37052

Am I not here, I, who am your mother? “Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Do you need something more? Do not let your uncle’s illness pressure you with grief, because he will not die of it now, you may be certain that he is already well.” Source: http://foros.catholic.net/viewtopic.php?t=37052

At the bishop’s house After retelling the bishop his encounter with the Virgin and the sign that the Virgin gave him, Juan Diego held out his tilma and as the flowers fall to the floor, the image of the Virgin appeared in the tilma. Source: http://www.followthissite.com/guadalupe.php

Miracles Conversion of the Aztecs By 1539, eight million Aztecs have converted Total eradication of human sacrifices Countless stories of healing and ending of plagues and floods through the intercession of Our Lady The miraculous preservation of the sacred image from destruction

The tilma (ayate) Made from maguey cactus The tilma is supposed to last for 15 years only but it is still in perfect condition after 481 years. Preserved from destruction when nitric acid was accidentally spilled in 1791. Survived bomb explosion on November 14, 1921. Source: http://gomexico.about.com/od/fooddrink/ss/mezcal_process.htm

The Bent Cross Source: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/mexico-city-basilica-guadalupe

The Image Image of the Virgin with Jesus still in her womb The ribbon symbolizes maternity for Spaniards but virginity for the indigenous No animal, plant or chemical matches the paint Image on the eye shows the people seen by the Virgin when Juan Diego laid the tilma

The Name “Guadalupe” Guadalupe is an Arabic word meaning “river of love” When the Virgin appeared to Juan Diego’s uncle Juan Bernardino and ask her for her name, his uncle heard the word coatlaxopueh (pronounced as quatlasupe) meaning “the one who steps or crushes the serpent”.

Reference: Johnston, Francis. The Wonders of Guadalupe. Rockford, IL: Tan Book and Publishers, 1981. Nican Mopohua (Text in English). Available on http://ndclmurray.weebly.com/uploads/3/1/6/2/3162790/nican_mopohua_english.pdf Nican Mopohua (Text in Spanish). Available on http://www.virgendeguadalupe.mx/acontecimiento-guadalupano/relato-apariciones#espa%C3%B1ol Our Lady of Guadalupe. http://www.sancta.org/