J.M.J. Happy Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe!
"The alluring story of the apparitions of Our Blessed Lady to Juan Diego
in 1531 is increasingly better well known throughout the world.
Seemingly more and more persons are coming to realize that even though
these noteworthy appearances occurred in North American, their deep
significance is universal.
"The 'Guadalupe event' was quite straightforward: the Ever-Virgin Mother
of God showed herself to an unlettered peasant and directed him to
approach the local Bishop. Although wary of such a spectacular claim on
the part of Juan, the Bishop believed when he saw the delightful roses
(in December!) and the image of Our Blessed Mother on Juan's tilma.
"What has always intrigued this writer about Mary's appearances in
Guadalupe is the long-term and profound effect that they had on the
people nearby as well as on their behavior. In the ten years following
the apparitions, an estimated nine million Aztec Indians were converted
to the True Faith, and the abominable practice of child sacrifice to the
pagan deity--which had been performed with horrifying
regularity--abruptly ceased.
"Such a halt to this indescribable sin, however, was not unexpected. Why?
Because Our Lady was involved! It was her firm gentleness that
impressed those responsible for this abhorrent act. They soon realized
that Mary would never countenance any sin against human life. Hence,
they knew that they needed to make a break with this reprehensible
tradition.
"Our Blessed Mother's visitation to Guadalupe teaches us about many
things: the utter goodness of the Madonna in appearing to the human race
(thanks to the mercy of our Creator), the heroic patience of Saint Juan
Diego, the humble willingness of the Bishop to accept the divine sign.
But let's not forget another important lesson: the strength of Mary's
example and the power that comes from her heavenly intercession.
"The people in the area near Guadalupe were changed by the apparitions.
These men and women, boys and girls came to know the unique person of
Mary. They marveled at her--the loving Mother of Jesus. And very soon
they accepted a vital truth: the Mother of the Messiah really does care
how we act. It is not enough that we believe in her and venerate her as
the Immaculate Virgin now assumed into Paradise. Our words and deeds
must mirror our belief. We must permit the Virgin's example and prayers
to convert us.
"In our difficult age, when it is easy--and even anticipated--to speak
virtuously for the public eye but to act immorally, we desperately need a
forceful corrective to this disturbing schizophrenia. The appearances
of Our Lady of Guadalupe remind us that once we have heard the message
of the Lord, we are, like the Aztecs, to put it into practice. It does
not suffice to say 'yes' with out mouths but to remain resistance in our
souls.
"As the Church--the Mystical Body of Christ on earth--commemorates once
again the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we beg for the divine grace
that Mary distributed nearly five centuries ago: the courage to assent
to what she asks of us and to live anew in Christ, thanks to the Holy
Spirit for the glory of the Father."
Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe
(Pope John Paul II at Puebla, Mexico in January 1979)
O Immaculate Virgin Mother of the true God and Mother of the Church!
You, who from this place revealed your clemency and your pity to all
those who ask for your protection: hear the prayer that we address to
you with filial trust, and present it to your Son Jesus, our sole
Redeemer. Mother of Mercy, Teacher of hidden and silent sacrifice, to
you, who come to meet us sinners, we dedicate on this day all our being
and all our love. We also dedicate to you our life, our work, our joys,
our infirmities, and our sorrows. Grant peace, justice and prosperity to
our peoples; for we entrust to your care all that we have and all that
we are, our Lady and Mother. We wish to be entirely yours and to walk
with you along the way of complete faithfulness to Jesus Christ in His
Church: hold us always with your loving hand. Virgin of Guadalupe,
Mother of the Americas, we pray to you for all the bishops, that they
may lead the faithful long paths of intense Christian life, of love and
humble service of God and souls. Contemplate this immense harvest, and
intercede with the Lord that He may instill a hunger for holiness in the
whole People of God, and grant abundant vocations of priests and
religious, strong in faith and zealous dispensers of God's mysteries.
Grant to our homes the grace of loving and respecting life in its
beginnings, with the same love with which you conceived in your womb the
life of the Son of God. Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Fair Love,
protect our families, so that they may always be united, and bless the
upbringing of our children. Our hope, look upon us with compassion,
teach us to go continually to Jesus and, if we fall, help us to rise
again, to return to Him, by means of the confession of our faults and
sins in the Sacrament of Penance, which gives peace to the soul. We beg
you to grant us a great love for all the holy Sacraments, which are, as
it were, the signs that your Son left on earth. Thus,. Most Holy Mother,
with the peace of God in our conscience, with our hearts free from evil
and hatred, we will be able to bring to all true joy and true peace,
which comes to us from your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who with God the
Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
From Manual of Prayers, compiled by the Reverend James D. Watkins (Rome: Pontifical North American College, 1998).
