Dec 12 – Memorial for Our Lady of Guadalupe
Guadalupe is, strictly speaking, the name of a picture, but the name was extended to the church containing the picture and to the town which grew up around the church. It makes the shrine, it occasions the devotion, it illustrates Our Lady. It is taken as representing the Immaculate Conception, being the lone figure of a woman with the sun, moon, and star accompaniments of the great apocalyptic sign with a supporting angel under the crescent. The word is Spanish Arabic, but in Mexico, it may represent certain Aztec sounds.
Its tradition is long-standing and constant, and in sources both oral and written, Indian and Spanish, the account is unwavering. The Blessed Virgin appeared on Saturday, 9 December 1531 to a 55-year-old neophyte named Juan Diego, who was hurrying down Tepeyac Hill to hear Mass in Mexico City. She sent him to Bishop Zumarraga to have a temple built where she stood. She was at the same place that evening and Sunday evening to get the bishop’s answer.
The bishop did not immediately believe the messenger, had him cross-examined and watched, and he finally told him to ask the lady who said she was the mother of the true God for a sign. The neophyte agreed readily to ask for the sign desired, and the bishop released him.
Juan was occupied all Monday with Bernardino, an uncle who was dying of fever. Indian medicine had failed and Bernardino seemed at death’s door. At daybreak on Tuesday 12 December 1531, Juan ran to nearby St. James’ convent to ask for a priest. To avoid the apparition and the untimely message to the bishop, he slipped round where the well chapel now stands. But the Blessed Virgin crossed down to meet him and said, “What road is this thou takest son?”
A tender dialogue ensued. She reassured Juan about his uncle, to whom she also briefly appeared and instantly cured. Calling herself “Holy Mary of Guadalupe”, she told Juan to return to the bishop. He asked for the sign he required. Mary told him to go to the rocks and gather roses. Juan knew it was neither the time nor the place for roses, but he went and found them. Gathering many into the lap of his tilma (a long cloak or wrapper used by Mexican Indians), he came back. The Holy Mother rearranged the roses, and told him to keep them untouched and unseen until he reached the bishop.
When Juan met with Zumarraga, Juan offered the sign to the bishop. As he unfolded his cloak, the roses, fresh and wet with dew, fell out. Juan was startled to see the bishop and his attendants kneeling before him. The life-size figure of the Virgin Mary, just as Juan had described her, was glowing on the tilma. The picture was venerated, guarded in the bishop’s chapel, and soon after, carried in procession to the preliminary shrine.
Painters have not understood the laying on of the colours. They have deposed that the ‘canvas’ was not only unfit but unprepared, and they have marvelled at the apparent oil, water, distemper, etc. colouring in the same figure. They are left in equal admiration for the flower-like tints and the abundant gold. They and other artists find the proportions perfect for a maiden of fifteen. The figure and the attitude are of one advancing. There is flight and rest in the eager, supporting angel. The chief colours are deep gold in the rays and stars, blue green in the mantle, and rose in the flowered tunic.
The clergy, secular and regular, have been remarkably faithful to the devotion towards Our Lady of Guadalupe, the bishops fostering it, even to the extent of making a protestation of faith in the miracle a matter of occasional obligation. Pope Benedict XIV decreed that Our Lady of Guadalupe should be the national patron, and made 12 December a holiday of obligation with an octave, and ordered a special Mass and Office.
- Patron Saint Index
Isa 48:17-19
Mt 11:16-19
“The Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and they say,‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.”
A common phrase that a lot of us hear growing up is, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”. I’m sure it’s been drummed into me at home, in school and also, very often in catechism classes as I was growing up.
However, as it turns out, I am probably one of the most judgemental people around. Oftentimes, I draw very hasty conclusions on how a person’s personality or character is, by simply observing their shoes, their choice of colours that they wear, and even how they roll their consonants when they speak.
Am I justified to do that? No. Have I tried to change? Yes. Am I less ‘judgy’ now? Well, yes…and no.
I still form very quick impressions whenever I encounter someone new. But as I get older, I have mellowed, still judging others but not as quick to stick to first impressions. Throughout our Church history, there have been many like me, quick to judge, even quicker to dismiss their message.
Having recently been on a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi, we were told of how in 1209, Pope Innocent III, one of the most powerful popes in medieval history, turned away a man in rags when he sought the Pope’s approval to start a new religious order. Pope Innocent must have only seen Francis of Assisi, and his band of ragtag followers, in their worn habits and neglected what Francis sought to achieve. However, the Lord spoke to Pope Innocent in a dream, where he saw Francis holding up the walls of St John Lateran Basilica. And then, he realised that this man who gave up everything to be more like Jesus was the man to help renew and rebuild the Church.
Today, as we commemorate the Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe, I am sure the bishop that Juan Diego went to see, conveying the message from our Lady to build a shrine; would have drawn the same conclusion. The bishop could have thought, “How can our Lady appear to a poor peasant? Why didn’t our Lady appear to me, the bishop, if she wanted a shrine to be built?”
As we know, God works through all of us, even those among us who believe they are unworthy. So, because of one poor peasant’s efforts, Our Lady assisted in the conversion of nine million Aztecs and became the patron of Mexico and the Americas.
If I were to put myself into the shoes of Pope Innocent or Juan Diego’s bishop, would I be any different? Would I have been able to look past their external appearances and listen to the messages that they may be attempting to convey? Honestly, I am not sure I could. I am sceptical most times, and ‘judgy’ the rest, so I am not confident, to say the least. But I want to be better.
And The Lord, in His wisdom, has paved the way for me to be better. I work in a charity now and come in direct contact with the poor, the homeless and those seeking assistance. I have learnt that no matter how they dress or speak, or what culture or religion they may profess to, they are my brothers and sisters in Christ. It doesn’t matter how much they have or have not, how they dress or speak, we are all part of the same family. And I really do look forward to the weekly events where we can meet, have a chat and just minister to each other.
So, brothers and sisters, whenever we feel the urge to judge someone, let us take a deep breath and make the conscious decision to not judge and instead, be more interested in knowing what makes that person tick; rather than fixating on the fact that he’s wearing black shoes with a brown belt.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Calvin Wee)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are all loving and all goodness comes from you. Grant us the graces to be more like Jesus, who loves both the sinner and the saint, who makes no distinction between the rich and the poor. That we may love you more fully by loving our neighbour. Amen.
Thanksgiving: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of our faith, and the saints that have helped us know you better. Thank you for St Juan Diego and St Francis who inspire us by their faith, humility and simplicity. Help us Lord, to be more like them and so bring your love to our neighbours. Amen.
OXYGEN 
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