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Our Lady of Guadalupe Apparition
Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to the peasant,
Juan
Diego, on Tepeyac, close to Mexico City in 1531.
Juan Diego was walking from his home to Mexico City
when a young girl around 15 years old appeared before
him, emanating a bright light. When she began to speak,
Juan knew in his heart that she was the Blessed
Virgin Mary.
Juan reported the apparition to Bishop Fray Juan de
Zumarraga. The bishop directed Juan Diego to return
to the hill of Tepeyac and ask the vision of the girl
to give some sort of miraculous proof of her appearance.
Answer to the Bishop’s Demands
Juan returned to Our Lady of Guadalupe and asked for
the sign. Our Lady of Guadalupe’s words were, “Well
and good, my little dear, you will return here tomorrow,
so you 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.”
The next day she instructed him, “Climb, my son
the least, to the 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.” Juan did not hesitate
but climbed the hill. At the top, he discovered Castilian
roses blooming. These roses were native to the Bishop’s
homeland but did not normally grow at Tepeyac. Juan
picked the roses and the Virgin Mary placed them in
his cloak. Juan returned to the bishop and showed him
the roses and the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared
on the front of Juan’s cloak. These are two of
the Our Lady of Guadalupe miracles.
The Bishop’s Reaction
After seeing and believing Our Lady of Guadalupe’s
miracles, the Bishop asked Juan
Diego where the Blessed Virgin would like her church
to be built. Since that time, Our Lady of Guadalupe
has become the Patroness of Mexico, the Patroness of
the Philippines, Patroness of the Americas, and Patroness
of the Unborn. Many Christians wear Our Lady of Guadalupe
medals as a sign of veneration to the Virgin
Mary and as a symbol of Pro-Life.
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