On December 12, Catholics worldwide celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In 1531, Mary appeared to a native Nahua man, Juan Diego, at Guadalupe. According to Fr. Rudy Vela, SM, “at the moment when Juan Diego encountered the Mother of God, there [were] no words exchanged. The heavenly music, singing of birds, and the cosmic symbols that surrounded her beautiful mestizo image engaged Juan Diego in a divine way that was respectful of his Nahua culture. Our Lady of Guadalupe’s indigenous beauty; the manner in which she was poised - standing before the sun and crescent moon, draped with a mantle of sky and stars, and carried by an angel - and her posture depicting her compassion, respect, and God’s love extended communication beyond mere words.” (From Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, NACMS E-Pubs)
Mary had Juan Diego deliver a message to the Catholics of Mexico to construct a shrine near the apparition site. When the local church leaders asked for a sign as proof of the apparition, Mary instructed Juan Diego to pick several flowers in his cloak - called a tilma - and take them to the leaders. When Juan Diego did as Mary instructed and showed the local church leaders the flowers, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was imprinted on his tilma. Today, Juan Diego’s tilma is displayed at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Additionally, Juan Diego, whose feast day is December 9, serves as an exemplary model of the Catholic laity.
If you would like to learn more about Our Lady of Guadalupe from a Marianist perspective, check out these free articles on our website.
- Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe by Fr. Rudy Vela, SM
- Guadalupe: A Personal Account by Bro. Stephen Glodek, SM
- Saint Juan Diego, Icon of Mary’s Evangelizing Mission: Model for the Laity by Bro. John Samaha, SM
Published in the December 2023 edition of the NACMS Newsletter.