Our Lady of Guadalupe

 Last week, Decemeber 12, the Church celebrated the Memorial of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Here at the seminary, we celebrated the day with a festive mass in Spanish.  I'd like to share some of the reflections that Bro. Nereo from Mexico offered to us.  (Don't worry, I translated it from his Italian!)

The chapel decorated for the celebration.

Today we celebrate the Mass of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of Mexico and Queen of the Americas.  For us Mexicans, it is a very special day.  In fact, the Marianists of Mexico, their works are dedicated to her in a special way.  Having said this, I want to tell you the story of the apparitions of Our Lady.  

 

Bro. Nereo teaching us music in Spanish.

On Saturday, December 9, 1531, Juan Diego went early in the morning from his village to Mexico City.  He heard a voice that affectinoately called to him, using his indigenous language (Nahuatl):  “Juanito, Juan Dieguito!”  And he saw before him the most beautiful Lady coming towards him saying: “Listen, my son, my dear Juan, where are you going?”  Juan Diego responded: “My dear Lady, I must go to your house (the church) in Mexico-Tlatelolco, to hear the teachings of the Lord taught by our priests.”  

Bro. Beams leading us in singing.

The Lady then said to him: “Know and keep in your mind, most dearest of my sons, that I am the Ever Virgin Mary, Mother of the true God for whom we live, the Creator that is everywhere, Lord of heaven and of earth.  You will have much merit and reward for the work and the effort which I ask of you and which you will do.  See, this is my task, my dear son, go and do all that you can.”  

And Bro. Javi, too.

The Virgen asked Juan Diego to go to the Bishop of Mexico City and to tell him her desire that a church be erected in her honor in the place where she met Juan Diego. It would be a place in which Our Lady can give her love, compassion, help and protection to all people. The Bishop, Juan de Zumarraga, refused the request many times.

Celebrating.

Juan Diego told the Virgin what had happened to him, describing the disbelief of the Bishop and asked her to send another messenger other than himself. But she insisted that he try again. According to the instructions of Our Lady, Juan Diego returned the next day to the Bishop who asked him for a sign of the veracity of his words. Finally, roses would be the sign on December 12. Mary asked Juan Diego to climb to the top of Tepeyac Hill where he would be able to gather some flowers to take to the Bishop. Juan Diego obeyed immediately, and found some beautiful roses of Castiglia, something unexplainable in the season when winter was just beginning.

Fr. Pachi getting into the spirit with Bro. Nereo.

Juan Diego rose to pick them up and gather them into his tilma (a cloak made ​​of rustic vegetable fibers). He quickly went to the bishop's palace. In front of the bishop, he opened his cloak and to the amazement of those present, the image of the Holy Virgin of Guadalupe miraculously appeared on the tilma. Today, after 482 years, the image remains on the tilma of Juan Diego in the cathedral of Mexico City.

The sombrero was very popular...with Bro. Bosco and Bro. Jinu.

Our Lady of Guadalupe gave to Juan Diego a beautiful way to elevate the status of his people – the dignity of every man and woman. Our Lady of Guadalupe continues to guide us to Jesus. The miracles obtained from the Virgin are so extraordinary that one can’t help but exclaim: “The power of God is here.” The omnipotent God is pleased to pour out God’s gifts through her in that God chose her to be the mother of Jesus. The Virgin of Guadalupe appeared before her children as the Mother of the Creator. She comes to her people because she wants to welcome all with her maternal love. Mary always sings, “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit exalts in God my savior.”

And even Fr. Andre!

The words from the Book of Sirach are appropriate today: "I am the mother of beautiful love and fear, of knowledge and of holy hope.  In me there is the grace for every path and there is truth, in me there is every hope for life and virtue."

Painting by Bro. Brian Zampier called "Guadalupe Breakthrough."  One of my favorite pieces of his.

Ciao!