MC Celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe

At dawn on December 9, 1531, on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City, the Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe  appeared to Juan Diego, an Aztec Indian.   Juan Diego was on his way to attend mass when Our Lady revealed herself to him as "the Ever Virgin Mother of the True God," and made known her desire that a Shrine be built on Tepeyac Hill.  The shrine was to bear witness to her love, her compassion, and her protection. She sent him to the Bishop of Mexico City.  The Bishop asked Juan Diego to request a sign from Our Lady.  Juan reported this to her and she promised to grant a sign the morning of December 12.

On December 12, Our Lady performed a sign.  She asked Juan Diego to pick some roses and place them in his tilma, or cloak, and deliver them to the Bishop.  When Juan Diego  opened up his tilma before him there was painted upon it a miraculous beautiful image of Our Lady exactly as she had appeared on Mount Tepeyac. The Bishop prostrated himself in veneration and soon after began the building of the Shrine on the top of Mount Tepeyac.  Juan Diego's cloak, miraculously preserved, canstill be seen behind the main altar in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Millions from all over Mexico and the world make their way to venerate Our Blessed Mother and to implore her intercession.

Today let us also implore her motherly intercession and honor her by praying the Hail Mary in Spanish.

Dios te salve, Maria.

Llena eres de gracia:

El Señor es contigo.

Bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres.

Y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús.

Santa María, Madre de Dios,

ruega por nosotros pecadores,

ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte.

Amén.