How does one go about converting a nation of
unbelievers? By sending Mary! That is what happened on December 9, 1531
when Mary appeared to St. Juan Diego, an Aztec convert. She asked that he go to the bishop and
request that a chapel be built in her honor.
When the bishop requested a sign, the Virgin arranged some roses in his
cloak to show the bishop. When the cloak
was opened a miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared.
The image shows Mary as a mestiza, a woman who is both Aztec and Spanish, with her eyes
downcast, which is opposed to the way Aztec gods and goddesses looked out at
the person. She covers the sun so that
only the rays appeared behind her. She
is standing on a crescent moon. Her
hands are in prayer and she is covered in a turquoise mantel, which was
reserved to the Aztec gods and goddesses.
Furthermore, her mantel has stars on it and her dress has native flower
designs. Around her waist is a maternity
band indicating that she is pregnant. So
to an Aztec she would be a woman who is greater than their gods, but pointing
to the child inside her as even greater.
The Spaniards were already familiar with a shrine named after Our Lady
of Guadalupe in Spain, so they would have recognized her as well.
Mary leads us to Jesus just as she led St. Juan Diego and
the Aztec people to him. Our Lady of
Guadalupe showed the Spaniards that the native peoples that they had just
conquered were children of God and worthy of respect and evangelization. We need to show respect to all our brothers
and sisters, no matter what they believe and lead them to Jesus just as Our
Lady of Guadalupe did and evangelize them with our words and our love.
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