For the past several years, I have held a special devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is amazing now to look back at my childhood and see how our friendship took root even long before I realized who she was or what importance she would come to hold in my life.
I remember seeing her image, a huge six-foot portrait hanging on the wall of the Catholic church where I attended grade school, and feeling drawn to the beautiful woman standing atop a moon, cloaked in a mantle of stars. I didn’t come to know her story, though, until I began interning for a pro-life ministry during my early college years. Standing outside of our local abortion clinic to pray for and offer counsel to women entering, I would often see that same image of Our Lady stuck into the grass next to the public right of way. I learned her image was popular in the pro-life movement because she is considered the patroness of the unborn, among other things. Curious, I began to research.
A commonality that seems to be woven across most Marian apparitions is her appearance to people the world would least expect to be granted the honor of her presence or the responsibility of her requests. The story of Our Lady of Guadalupe is no different - when she appeared in December of 1531 on Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City, it was to Juan Diego, a simple, widowed man walking on his way to daily Mass. When she requested a shrine be built in her honor at the site of her apparition, Juan Diego went obediently (but not without his doubts) to the Bishop of the city to make her request known. The bishop was hesitant to believe Juan Diego. In response, Our Lady instructed Juan Diego to gather roses, which were in full bloom despite it being winter, into his tilma and bring them back to the Bishop. When he opened his tilma to present the roses, a miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was found there. This image holds so many incredible details and so much meaningful symbolism. In particular, her portrayal as a native Aztec woman during a time of conflict between the Spanish and Indigenous people reveals her willingness to meet each of us where we are in order to be our mother.
Several years after first reading about her, while in the throes of unexplained secondary infertility, I was moved to tears when my NaPro surgeon’s office staff called to see if I would be available for an exploratory laparoscopy on December 12th, the the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Peace and hope took root within me, knowing she was looking after me so attentively, and I clung to the words she spoke to St. Juan Diego when she reassured him: “…Listen and understand, my littlest son, let nothing frighten and afflict you or trouble your heart… Am I not here, I, who am your mother? Are you not under my shadow? Am I not your health? Are you not held in my mantle? Is there anything else you need? Let nothing else worry or disturb you.”
Sisters, I’m confident that these same beautiful words are meant for each of us, whatever our circumstances. We are invited to be little daughters, to live lives so full of trust in our Father’s love that we can be free to walk the path ahead fearlessly and undisturbed, even knowing it may hold suffering and heartache. And we are not expected to do it alone. We have a mother ready at every moment to meet us where we are and gather us up into the safety of being near her. Regardless of what we feel is lacking in our lives, Our Lady can teach us to recognize that in and through Her son, we have everything we need. Will you pray with me today?
Dearest Mother,
You appeared to St. Juan Diego in a form that had great meaning to him and spoke in a language he could recognize. You sought him out and reassured him with your motherly love. I seek your friendship today, and ask that you would meet me, too, in this moment and speak to my heart so that I can better understand the Will of God for my life. Hide me in your shadow, draw me close to you and wrap me in your mantle. Through your most holy intercession, may I receive consolation for my heartaches and the grace needed to surrender my worries and anxieties to the Most Sacred Heart of your Son.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pray for us. Amen.