OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
The above 'holy card' was produced for a remembrance of my ordination May 1, 1962. The original photo card was distributed by St. John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota.
Our Lady of Guadalupe was designated as the Patroness of all the Americas. It was on December 9-12, 1531, that a mysterious 'lady appeared to an Aztec Indian, Juan Diego. Juan was a convert, along with his wife and his uncle Bernadine. Juan was a widower, aged 50 years old when he had this vision. This 'beautiful lady' called him by name: "Juanito", (Johnny, my little Johnny).
And she identified herself as "Know then, that I am the ever-virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the True God. I wish that temple be erected here without delay. Go to the bishop's palace in Mexico City, and tell him what I desire." (Events and notes based on The Image of Guadalupe, Myth or Miracle? by Jody Brant Smith, Image Books,
chapter I).Juan de Zumarraga, a Franciscan became a bishop just a year before this event. The Bishop, of course asked for some proof, some sign that this request came from the Virgin Mary. After many further visions of the 'beautiful lady', Juan was instructed to go to the top of the hills of Tepeyac, outside Mexico City and gather roses there. This was in the middle of winter and roses do not blossom in such harsh weather. But Juan did find the roses there and gathered them in his tilma (cape-like cloak). Juan then described to the Bishop
and his assistants the instructions he had received from the 'lady'. Juan then stood and untied his tima from around his neck so that the roses fell on the floor. Suddenly, on the cactus cloth of the tilma, there appeared a brightly colored image of the Virgin Mary. The bishop fell to his knees, as did all those present knelt down before the image of Guadalupe on the tilma of Juan Diego."The miraculous picture played a major role in advancing the Church's mission in Mexico. In just seven years, from 1532 to 1538, eight million Indians were converted to Christianity." (Ibid., chapter I).
Pope John Paul II, in his address in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe on January 27, 1979, acknowledged the unwavering appeal of this unique portrait. Addressing the Virgin directly, he said: "When the first missionaries who reached America ... taught the rudiments of Christian faith, they also taught love for you, the Mother of Jesus and of all people. And ever since the time that the Indian Juan Diego spoke of the sweet Lady of Tepeyac, you Mother of Guadalupe, have entered decisively into the Christian life of the people of Mexico." (Ibid. p. 4).
There are many more important details that can be found in other writings about the miraculous image of Guadalupe, Mary the Mother of God, Patroness of all the Americas.