Guadalupe

Christopher Columbus arrived in the new world in 1492. At that time, the Aztecs of Mexico were ruled by the sinister Montezuma and millions of people were sacrificed on the pyramids to pagan gods. In 1509, Montezuma’s sister, Princess Papantzin, had a vision. A glowing angel with a black cross on his forehead led the princess to the ocean shore. She saw ships, unlike any she has ever seen before, with black crosses emblazoned on their sails. The angel told her that her nation would be conquered and brought to the knowledge of the true God. Montezuma, respectful of prophecies, brooded upon hearing his sister’s dream.

Once the Spanish invasion began, conflicts were numerous and bloody, but Montezuma’s defeat was swift. Spain moved quickly to bring the Aztec people into the Christian faith. Missionaries were dispatched, and churches, schools and hospitals were opened. A distinguished scholar, Prior Juan Zumarraga, was appointed the first Bishop of the new world. Princess Papantzin, Montezuma’s sister, was one of the first Mexicans to be baptized Catholic, but there were very few conversions—the people were too set in their pagan ways. Bishop Zumarraga prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary and asked her for a sign—Castilian roses…even though Castilian roses did not grow in Mexico.

In 1531, a 57-year-old peasant name Juan Diego was on his way to Mass. As he approached Tepeyac Hill, the site of a former pagan temple and of human sacrifice, Juan heard music like that of a celestial choir coming from a glowing white cloud and emitting a rainbow. He heard a voice call him by name, and he ran to the top of the hill where he beheld a beautiful glowing Lady. She told him she was the Virgin Mary, Mother of the True God. She instructed him to go to the house of the Bishop of Mexico City and to tell him that she wished for a temple to be built on that site.

Juan Diego rushed to Bishop Zumarraga’s house and told him all that he had seen and heard, but the Bishop did not believe him. Juan Diego started home, but Mary was waiting for him at Tepeyac. The Blessed Virgin urged Juan Diego to return to the Bishop and repeat her request.

The next day, Juan Diego returned to the Bishop’s house. This time, the Bishop interrogated him at length, and Juan Diego repeatedly recounted his story, consistently and without contradiction. The Bishop began to believe, but he told Juan that he would need a sign.

Juan Diego returned to Tepeyac Hill, followed by the Bishop’s spies, but as he reached the top of the hill, he disappeared from sight. The Bishop’s men left in frustration. Juan recounted the Bishop’s statement, and the radiant Virgin promised to deliver a sign the next day.

On the morning of Tuesday, December 12, 1531, Juan Diego faced a dilemma: his uncle was dying, and he needed to find a priest who could give last rites; but he had promised the Virgin that he would return to the Bishop’s. Juan decided to take an alternate route in order to avoid Tepeyac and find a priest, but the Mother of God intercepted him. Poor Juan explained, and the Blessed Mother comforted her son. She told him that his uncle was cured!

Juan Diego then rushed to Tepeyac Hill, and there he found the sign promised by the Virgin Mary—Castilian roses blooming in the frozen December soil! He gathered the flowers in his cape as instructed, and the Virgin herself arranged them!

Juan Diego returned to the Bishop. At first, he was detained, but then he was allowed an audience. He opened his cape to allow the flowers to fall out, and everyone present fell to their knees in awe. On Juan Diego’s cape, they beheld a miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin Mary! Within the next few years, over nine million Aztecs converted to Catholicism!

Juan Diego’s cloak has remained intact for almost 475 years! Scientists say the simple peasant tilma woven from cactus fibers should have disintegrated within about ten years.