Advent through Christmas -- 2007
Wednesday, December 12, Second Week in Advent
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
On December 9, 1511 (10 years after the Spanish conquests), Mary appeared to a native Aztec name Juan Diego along a country trail near present day Mexico City. The striking thing was that Mary’s features and clothing were Aztec, and she spoke to him in that language. Mary instructed Juan to tell the bishop to build a church on that site to replace a pagan shrine.
Juan’s efforts to convince the bishop failed. Finally, in her third appearance to Juan, Mary told him to take nearby roses (unusual at that time of year) as a sign. Juan put some in his cloak. When he came to the bishop and unfolded the cloak, imprinted on it was the painting of Mary that has since become famous.
Juan Diego’s cloak now hangs in the huge church of Our Lady of Guadalupe built on that site. After nearly 500 years, the picture on the cloak shows no sign of deterioration and artists have been unable to duplicate the combination of materials used in the paint.
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The feast of St. Juan Diego is celebrated on December 9.
Advent through Christmas -- 2007
Wednesday, December 12, Second Week in Advent
And coming to her, Gabriel said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But Mary was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Luke 1:26-38
There are lots of different ways to pray. One way is to try to put yourself inside the person who is part of your prayer. We try to picture many of the things that aren’t described in the Gospel passage.
Mary Lived up in Nazareth, a three days walk north of Jerusalem. Nazareth back then was a small town up on a hill. Maybe 120 people lived there. They didn’t have any big buildings; they didn’t have any rich industry.
There came a day when Mary (like good Jewish people would do) went with her mother and father on a big trip to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. There, Mary saw great big buildings and the temple. People were dressed so well. And the food and clothes and stores and riches!
That’s when Mary realized she was from a small town. She wasn’t one of the important people in the world. That’s when she realized she had an accent, Mary learned that.
On the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we remember when Mary appeared to Juan Diego. She spoke with his accent, she spoke in his language. She dressed in his native clothing, and she looked like Juan Diego and his people.
Not only does Mary care about me as one of her own, but Jesus grew up that way. He knows what it’s like sometimes to feel small.
He understands.
Spend some quiet time with the Lord.
