Our Lady of Guadalupe

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1519 the Spanish explorer Cortes sailed to Mexico and there he found the Aztec people enslaved to a culture of death, literally a cult of human sacrifice.

For the Aztecs worshipped demonic spirits represented by

·       the "serpent god" under the sign of the Crescent Moon

·       the “god of war” under the sign of the Sun

·       The Aztecs believed both demanded human sacrifice

The Aztec priests offered at least 50,000 men, women and children, in human sacrifices to their gods every year

·       80,000 in 4 days in 1487

·       1 out of every 5 children were sacrificed

·       For the Egyptians and Israelites, this demon was named Molech,

·       For the Aztecs, the demons name was Quetzalcoatl;

·       For Americans, this demon hides behind the name of “Freedom” and “Pro-Choice” or “Woman’s rights”

·       Sacrificing more than 60,000,000 in US since 1973; 1 out of every 5 children

·       Whatever the name, Satan always demands child sacrifice

Witnessing this Cortes, though originally sent to gain new land for Spain, became convinced he was sent by God to put an end to the human sacrifice. So, he sunk his ships, leaving his men no option but to fight their way into Mexico City and put an end to this evil occult which they did in 1521.

However, the Franciscans had little success with conversions

·       b/c of the corruption of the Spanish Gov’t

·       Cortes was replaced as Governor by Nuno de Guzman, a vicious tyrant who enslaved thousands of the indigenous peoples shipping them to the Caribbean colonies

In 1530 the Bishop of Mexico City, Zumarrago

·       Excommunicated De Guzman for his crimes

·       De Guzman then tried to assassinate the Bishop

·       The Mexican people lost half their population to the small-pox brought by the Spanish

·       The Aztech Astrologers said it was the end of their world

·       This was a culture that was impossible to convert to Christ

·       The situation seemed so hopeless that the Bishop wrote a letter to Emperor Charles V at the end of which he said “If God does not provide a solution from His own hand, the land is about to be completely lost.”

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At the darkest hour, when all hope seemed lost, the unimaginable occurred. At dawn on Saturday, December 9, 1531 – Mary the Mother of God appeared to 57 year old Juan Diego as he was running to Mass and Catechism class 9 miles away!

As Juan Diego ran by Tepeyac hill

·       He heard singing, saw a brilliant white cloud and a rainbow

·       A beautiful young woman appeared to him

Juan Diego fells to his knees and the Woman spoke to him, asking him to go to Bishop of Mexico City and tell him she wanted a Church built on that spot in her honor. Juan went to the Bishop, but the Bishop did not believe him

As he was returning home, passing once again, Tepayak Hill, the Woman, Mary was waiting for him. Juan explained what happened and begged Mary to send someone of more importance…

Our Lady answered: I have many servants and messengers whom I could send, but I have chosen you…Go and tell the Bishop that I, in person, the ever-virgin Holy Mary, Mother of God, sent you.

The next day, Sunday December 10, Juan Diego ran back to the Bishop, who this time said, “Tell this woman I need a sign.” Once again, on his way home Mary was waiting for Juan

·       She already knew the answer of the Bishop and she assured Juan that she would provide a sign saying:

·       I will await you here tomorrow

But that night Juan Diego’s uncle fell gravely ill with small-pox

·       Therefore, Monday December 11, Juan skipped his appointment with the Blessed Virgin to call a doctor who told Juan his uncle would die - The situation seemed hopeless.

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Tuesday December 12

·       Juan ran to Mexico City to get a priest to provide the Last Rites for his dying uncle

·       On his way he tried to avoid Tepeyac Hill

·       But Mary came down and intercepted him

·       He explained about his uncle

·       However, Mary already knew because she was appearing to his uncle at that very moment – healing him

·       Let these words penetrate your heart as well – in whatever you are facing.

Mary responded: “Hear and let it penetrate into your heart, my dear little son; let nothing disturb you. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else that you need? Do not fear any illness, anxiety or pain. Your uncle will not die now.

Be sure that he will get well.”

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Then Mary told Juan to climb the hill

·       Where he found the sign - Castillian Roses from Spain, not yet introduced in Mexico, were blooming on top a barren hill in the mountains in winter

Juan gathered up the roses

·       Mary arranged them in his tilma, his cactus fiber cloak bleached white

·       She tied it up around his neck

·       And Juan ran to the residence of the Bishop where he gained an audience

When Juan untied the cloak, the roses fell to the floor

·       While to the astonishment of all 13 witnesses in the room, an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe developed like a photograph right before their eyes on the tilma of Juan Diego

·       The Bishop placed the cloak with the Image of Our Lady in his private chapel where there he prayed for two weeks

December 26, 1531,

·       As the Bishop was transferring the Tilma to the main church

·       A family, carrying a young man who had died from an arrow wound, encountered the procession with the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When the two processions met, the young man rose from the dead.

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Mary appeared to Juan Diego in 1531.

·       She left a permanent indestructible sign – Her Image on the Cloak

·       Shortly after, 5-10,000 Aztec Indians began to come daily for Baptism until 10,000,000 were converted because they understood the message conveyed by the Tilma

And what was the message expressed by the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe?

·       This woman is greater than their Sun god of war whom she blots out

·       Greater than their serpent God – represented by the crescent moon, which is under her feet

·       Both of whom demanded human sacrifice

·       She is a Queen – designated by the blue-green color of her mantle

·       By the style of her hair, they knew she was a Virgin

·       At the same time, she was wearing a maternity belt indicating she is pregnant

·       This woman was a Queen, who was also a virgin yet she was pregnant – and pregnant with whom?

·       The four-petal jasmine flower over her womb told them she was pregnant with the One True God

This woman is the Virgin Mother of the One True God

·       But she herself was not a god because she was praying to the one indicated by the black cross on her broch – Jesus Christ – who came to offer his own life in sacrifice to put an end to all human sacrifice.

At every point in the history of the Church – precisely when things look hopeless – Mary intervenes, and a new beginning takes place. We live in a time of darkness where it seems impossible for things to turn around – yet Our Lady promised the Triumph of Her Heart. Like Juan Diego She asks to play our part: to pray the Rosary every day; to accept and offer up our personal crosses – for Mary said, “Prayer and fasting can stop wars and change the laws of nature.” But we also believe the best way to lead people to Jesus is through friendship, good conversation and the Rosary. So, join us in answering the call of Mary and share in the reservoir of graces available to all the members of the Movement.