During language class last week, I read
about the Virgin of Guadalupe whose appearance to an indigenous man
in 1531, will be commemorated here on the 12th of
December. Our language tutor suggested a field trip to the Basilica
of Our Lady of Guadalupe for our next class to round out our language studies and
learn a little about Mexican culture.
As the legend goes, the Virgin appeared
to Juan Diego numerous times, commissioning him to go the Bishop in
Mexico City in order to build a shrine. Reluctant to believe his
story, the Bishop wanted proof.
On his way to visit his dying uncle,
the Virgin appears again to Juan. She declares that his uncle
is well and to gather the flowers from the place of her first
appearance to bring to the Bishop. Juan fills his cloak with the
flowers and travels to him. When Juan lets down his cloak, the
flowers cascade to the ground and miraculously an image of the
Virgin, as Juan previously described, remains etched on his cloak.
The faithful recognize this as the original cloak
and image displayed in the great Basilica today.
Thousands of faithful pilgrims trekked
to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the day we visited, yet
the crowds will only grow larger as her day of commemoration nears.
Will you pray with us for the beautiful
people of Mexico?
May our hearts and lives be always drawn to God's one
and only Son, Jesus; that we all may know the power of his
forgiveness, the hope of his resurrection, and be ever guided by the light of
his truth.
