Subj : December 12th - Our Lady of Guadalupe To : All From : rich Date : Tue Dec 11 2018 07:53:57 From: rich December 12th - Our Lady of Guadalupe Patroness of Latin America (1531) One of the most beautiful series of apparitions of the Queen of Heaven occurred on the American continent on a December day of 1531, only ten years after the Spanish conquest. A fervent Christian Indian in his fifties, Juan Diego, a widower, was on his way to Mass in Mexico City from his home eight miles distant, a practice he and his wife had followed since their conversion, in honor of Our Lady on Her day, Saturday. He had to pass near the hill of Tepeyac, and was struck there by the joyous song of birds, rising up in the most melodious of concerts; he stopped to listen. Looking up to the hilltop, he perceived a brilliant cloud, surrounded by a light brighter than a fiery sun, and a gentle voice called him by name, saying, =E2=80=9CJuan, come.=E2=80=9D His first fear was transformed into a sweet happiness by thi= s voice, and he mounted the slope. There he beheld the One he had intended to honor by hearing Her Mass. She was surrounded by a radiance so brilliant it sent out rays that seemed to transform the very rocks into scintillating jewels. =E2=80=9CWhere are you going, My child?=E2=80=9D She asked him. =E2=80=9CTo= Saint James to hear the Mass sung by the minister of the Most High in honor of the Mother of the Saviour.=E2=80=9D =E2=80=9CThat is good, My son; your devotio= n is agreeable to Me, as is also the humility of your heart. Know then that I am that Virgin Mother of God, Author of Life and Protector of the weak. I desire that a temple be built here, where I will show Myself to be your tender Mother, the Mother of your fellow citizens and of all who invoke My name with confidence. Go to the bishop and tell him faithfully all you have seen and heard.=E2=80=9D Juan continued on his way, and the bishop, Monsignor Juan de Zumarraga, a Franciscan of great piety and enlightened prudence, heard him kindly and asked questions, but sent him home without any promises. Juan was disappointed, but on his way past the hill, he once again found the Lady, who seemed to be waiting for him as though to console him. He excused himself for the failure of his mission, but She only repeated Her desire to have a temple built at this site, and told him to return again to the bishop. This he did on the following day, begging the bishop to accomplish the desires of the Virgin. Monsignor said to him: =E2=80=9CIf it is the Most Holy Virgin who sends you= , She must prove it; if She wants a church, She must give me a sign of Her will.=E2=80=9D On his way home, Juan Diego found Her again, waiting, an= d She said to him, =E2=80=9CCome back tomorrow and I will give you a certain mark of the truthfulness of your words.=E2=80=9D The next day Juan was desolate to find his uncle, with whom he lived, fallen grievously sick; the old gentleman was clearly on the brink of death. Juan had to go and find a priest in the city. As he was passing the hill, Our Lady again appeared to him, saying, =E2=80=9CDo not be anxiou= s, Diego, because of your uncle's illness. Don't you know that= I am your Mother and that you are under My protection? At this moment your uncle is cured.=E2=80=9D =E2=80=9CThen please give me the sign you told me of,=E2= =80=9D replied Juan. Mary told him to come up to the hilltop and cut the flowers he would find there, place them under his cloak, and bring them to Her. =E2=80=9CI will tell you then what to do next.=E2=80=9D Juan found the most= beautiful of roses and lilies, and chose the most fragrant ones for Mary. She made a bouquet of them and placed it in a fold of his cloak or tilma -- a large square of coarse cloth resembling burlap. =E2=80=9CTake these lilies and roses on My behalf to the bishop,=E2=80=9D She said. =E2=80=9CTh= is is the certain sign of My will. Let there be no delay in raising here a temple in My honor.=E2=80=9D With joy Juan continued on to the city and the bishop's residence, where he had to wait nearly all day in the antechamber. Other visitors noted the fragrance of his flowers, and went so far as to open his mantle to see what he was carefully holding in it, but found only flowers pictured on the cloth. When finally he was admitted to the presence of the prelate, he opened his cloak and the fresh flowers fell on the floor. That was not the only sign; on his cloak there was imprinted a beautiful image of the Virgin. It remains today still visible in the Cathedral of Mexico City, conserved under glass and in its original state, having undergone no degeneration in 470 years. Juan found his uncle entirely cured that evening; he heard him relate that Our Lady had cured him, and had said to him also: =E2=80=9CMay a sanctuary be raised for Me under the name of Our Lady of Guadalupe.=E2=80= =9D The bishop lost no time in having a small church built at the hill of Tepeyac, and Juan Diego himself dwelt near there to answer the inquiries of the pilgrims who came in great numbers. In effect, nearly all of the land became Catholic in a few years' time, having learne= d to love the gentle Lady who like God their Father showed Herself to be the ever-watchful friend of the poor. In 1737 the pestilence ceased immediately in Mexico city after the inhabitants made a vow to proclaim Our Lady of Guadalupe the principal Patroness of New Spain. In 1910 She was proclaimed by Saint Pius X =E2=80=9CCelestial Patroness of = all Latin America.=E2=80=9D Recent studies of the image of Our Lady on the tilm= a have discovered in one of Her eyes the portrait of Juan Diego, the son She chose to favor by this triduum of heavenly apparitions and conversations. Source: Message Marial, by the Brothers of the Christian Schools (FEC Press: Montreal, 1947). Quote: He who loveth God with all his heart feareth not death, nor punishment, nor judgment, nor hell, because perfect love giveth sure access to God. But he who still delighteth in sin, no marvel if he is afraid of death and judgment. --Thomas =C3 Kempis Bible Quote: For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil. (1 Pet 3:12)=C2 = RSVCE <><><><> A prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas: Our Lady of Guadalupe, mystical rose, intercede for the Church, protect the holy Father, help all who invoke thee in their necessities. Since thou art the ever Virgin Mary and Mother of the true God, obtain for us from thy most holy Son the grace of a firm faith and a sure hope amid the bitterness of life, as well as an ardent love and the precious gift of final perseverance. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .