Our Lady of Guadalupe: Peacebuilder and Unifier

Home , Juan Diego, Our Lady of Guadalupe

Who is Our Lady of Now more than 500 years Guadalupe? later, people continue to pray to Our Lady of Guadalupe for her In the year 1531, on three oc- intercession to protect and guide casions during the month of them. St. Juan Diego’s tilma is December, Mary appeared to St. visited by numerous people every Juan Diego as Our Lady of Gua- day at the Basilica of Our Lady dalupe. Appearing on the Tepey- of Guadalupe in Mexico City. ac Hill in Mexico City as a beau- Mary, as the mother of God, also tiful young indigenous woman, makes her mother to all God’s Our Lady of Guadalupe spoke to people. When she appeared to Juan Diego in his native Nahuatl Juan Diego, she assured him: “Let tongue asking him to deliver a your face and heart not be trou- message to Bishop Fray Juan de bled, don’t be afraid … Am I not Zumárraga. Mary told Juan Diego here who am your mother? Are that she wanted a church built you not under my shadow and on the spot where she appeared bosom?” Our Lady of Guadalupe so that people would have a has become an eminent image place where she could show them throughout Latin America and her Son and where they could even North America and is often experience her compassion and seen as an advocate for migrants help. At first, the Bishop did not and vulnerable populations across believe Juan Diego and demand- the Americas. The Catholic ed a sign. Juan Diego went back faithful often turn to her to ask to Tepeyac Hill and implored for safekeeping as they embark the Virgin Mary to provide such on their long migration journey. as sign. Mary instructed him to Pope Pius X declared her gather the roses from the hill- as the “Patron of all Latin side, which is in itself surprising, since blooming roses America”, Pope Pius XII called her the “Empress of are rare in December. Juan Diego filled his cloak, or the Americas”. “tilma,” with the roses, and returned with them to the Archbishop. Upon opening his tilma , the fresh roses When is the Feast Day of fell to the ground, miraculously revealing an imprint of Our Lady’s image. A church was built on the site, Our Lady of Guadalupe? and Juan Diego lived out his days nearby, helping Pope John Paul II, in 1999, declared that the Church others, praying, and doing penance. throughout America would celebrate December 12th Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared in Mexico at a as the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. pivotal time when the Spanish and indigenous groups, particularly the Aztecs, were in continual conflict. From her physical representation as a mestizo woman What can you do on December 12th? speaking Nahuatl, Our Lady of Guadalupe became • PRAY: Attend Mass to Celebrate Our Lady of an instrument of peace and unification. The image of Guadalupe. On her feast day, remember to pray Our Lady includes colors, patterns, and symbols that for migrants, refuges and immigrants. See our hold special significance for the indigenous communi- list of existing Our Lady of Guadalupe Masses ty, conveying a message of compassion and love. Throughout the Country. • REFLECT: Learn More About Our Lady of program. DACA youth and the larger Dream- Guadalupe and share her message of Christ’s er community need legislative protection from love for migrants and vulnerable people with Congress to ensure that they are not deported your community. from the only home they have ever known and • ADVOCATE: Taking from Our Lady of separated from their families. Send a message Guadalupe’s message of unification and her spe- to your members of Congress urging passage of cial role to young people, voice your support for the DREAM Act quickly so as not to uproot young people in our communities who are facing the lives of so many young people who’ve made an uncertain future because of the recent end the enormous contributions to our communities and Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) our economy.

A Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe

English Spanish Most merciful mother, you came to tell Madre misericordiosa, tú viniste a con- us of your compassion through St. Juan tarnos de tu compasión a través de San Diego, whom you called the littlest and Juan Diego, a quien tu llamaste el más dearest of your sons. Give your strength pequeño y el más querido de tus hijos. and protection to all who live in poverty Dales tu fuerza y tu protección a todos today, especially the young, elderly, and aquellos que hoy viven en la pobreza, vulnerable. Plead for them to the Father, especialmente, a los jóvenes, a los ancia- that they might experience the Divine nos y a los vulnerables Implora por ellos Love tangibly in their daily lives, and that ante el Padre para que puedan sentir all who work for justice on behalf of the el Amor Divino en forma tangible en su poor might grow in fortitude and humility. vida diaria y que todo aquel que tra- In these ways, manifest your charity and baja por la justica a favor de los pobres concern in our lives, that the weeping of pueda crecer en fortaleza y humildad. humanity may be heard, and all our suf- De estas maneras manifiesta tu caridad y fering, pain, and misfortune may be filled tu preocupación en nuestra vida, que el with divine comfort and healing. May we llanto de la humanidad sea escuchado always know the peace of being in the y que todos nuestros sufrimientos, do- cradle of your arms, and bring us safely lores e infortunios sean colmados con la home to your son, Jesus. sanación y el consuelo divino. Que siem- pre conozcamos la paz de estar acuna- Amen. dos en tus brazos y que nos lleves sanos y salvos a casa de Jesús, tu Hijo.

Amén