Grace Thompson
The month of December is home to some of the most celebrated Holy Days in the Catholic calendar. One such day is December 12th, which is celebrated as the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In 1531, a Lady from Heaven appeared to Saint Juan Diego and identified herself as the Mother of the True God. She instructed him to have a church built on the site of her appearance and left an image of herself miraculously imprinted on his tilma, a poor-quality cactus cloth. The tilma should have deteriorated within 20 years but remains intact over 470 years later. In 1999, Pope John Paul II declared December 12th a Liturgical Holy Day for the whole continent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 12th of December |
| Also Known As | Our Lady of Guadalupe |
| Significance | The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Juan Diego in 1531 |
| Location | Tepeyac, a hill northwest of Mexico City |
| Pope Benedict XIV | Declared Our Lady of Guadalupe as the national patron of Mexico |
| Pope John Paul II | Visited her Sanctuary four times and declared 12th December as a Liturgical Holy Day for the whole continent |
Explore related products
![Daily Meditations with the Holy Spirit: Minute Meditations for Every Day Containing a Scripture, Reading, a Reflection, and a Prayer [Imitation Leather] Winkler O.F.M., Reverend Jude (Spiritual Life)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/816pmC4Bq9L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
Our Lady of Guadalupe
The lady arranged roses in Juan Diego's tilma (a cactus-cloth cloak) and asked him to take them to the bishop. When Juan Diego opened his tilma in the bishop's presence, the roses fell to the ground and an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was miraculously imprinted on the tilma. The bishop then knelt down. The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe defies all scientific explanations of its origin and has shown no signs of decay for over 470 years.
The lady also appeared to Juan Diego's uncle, Juan Bernardino, who was seriously ill. Juan Bernardino recounted that she instructed him to inform the Archbishop of her apparition and her cure, and that she wanted to be known as "Guadalupe". The Archbishop kept Juan Diego's tilma first in his private chapel and then on public display, where it attracted great attention. On December 26, 1531, a procession formed to transfer the miraculous image back to Tepeyac Hill, where it was installed in a small chapel. During this procession, the first miracle was allegedly performed when a native was mortally wounded in the neck by an arrow. In great distress, the natives carried him before the Virgin's image and pleaded for his life.
The apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe is viewed as a powerful reminder that Mary, and the God who sent her, accept all peoples. Her appearance to Juan Diego as one of his people is seen as a rebuke to the Spaniards for their sometimes cruel treatment of the Indians. The image and story of Our Lady of Guadalupe have helped convert millions of people to Catholicism. She is the patron of Mexico and is deeply interwoven into Mexican culture.
Catholic Churches in England: A Surprising Number
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Apparitions to Saint Juan Diego
December 12th is a Catholic holy day known as the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The day marks the celebration of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Saint Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill in 1531.
Saint Juan Diego was a 15th-century indigenous Native American from Mexico, born in 1474 in the small village of Cuautitlan, north of Mexico City. At the time of the apparitions, he lived a humble life in Cuauhtitlan or Tolpetlac. He worked as a farmer, landowner, and weaver of mats and witnessed the Spanish conquest of Mexico by Hernán Cortés in 1521.
On the morning of Saturday, December 9, 1531, Juan Diego was walking to church when he heard birds singing and someone calling his name from Tepeyac Hill. He ran up the hill and saw a Lady, resembling an Aztec princess, surrounded by light. She spoke to him in his native tongue, Nahuatl. The Lady, who appeared to be about fourteen years old, asked Juan Diego to tell the Bishop of Mexico, a Franciscan named Juan de Zumarraga, that she wanted a shrine built in her honor on the spot where she stood. She proclaimed that she would demonstrate her love, compassion, and protection for the people.
Recognizing the Lady as the Virgin Mary, Juan Diego relayed her message to the Bishop. However, the Bishop was doubtful and asked for proof of Juan Diego's claims. Juan Diego returned to Tepeyac Hill and explained to the Lady that the Bishop did not believe him. Mary told Juan Diego to come back the following day for a sign to show the Bishop.
On December 12th, while on his way to get a priest to bless his dying uncle, Juan Diego saw the Virgin Mary for the fourth time. She told him not to worry about his uncle's health and instructed him to pick the blooming roses at the top of the hill. She arranged the flowers in Juan Diego's cloak, and he brought them to the Bishop. As Juan Diego presented the out-of-season roses, they fell to the floor, revealing an imprint of the Virgin Mary on his cloak. This miraculous image became known as the Guadalupe event and is housed in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, located at the foot of Tepeyac.
The Protoevangelium of James: Catholic or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Miracles and cures
Our Lady of Guadalupe, celebrated on December 12th, is associated with a long list of miracles, cures, and interventions. The story goes that in 1531, a "Lady from Heaven" appeared to Saint Juan Diego, a poor indigenous man from Tepeyac, a hill northwest of Mexico City. She identified herself as the Mother of the True God and instructed him to ask the bishop to build a church on the site. She also left an image of herself miraculously imprinted on his tilma, a type of cactus cloth that typically deteriorates quickly. Remarkably, the tilma has shown no signs of decay for over 470 years, and its origin remains a mystery to science.
The image on the tilma is believed to possess unique and inexplicable properties. Microscopic examination revealed the absence of brush strokes, and the image seems to change in size and colour due to unknown surface characteristics. Additionally, several images are reflected in the Virgin's eyes, including those of Juan Diego, Bishop Juan de Zummaraga, and Juan Gonzales, with distortions identical to those produced by the human eye, a feat considered impossible on a flat surface. The stars on Our Lady's mantle correspond to the constellation in the sky on December 12, 1531.
The miracles associated with Our Lady of Guadalupe are not limited to the tilma. Juan Diego's uncle was instantly cured after an appearance by the Holy Mother. Roses, which were out of season, were found by Juan Diego on her instruction, and these roses were presented to the bishop as a sign.
The site of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City has become the most popular Marian shrine in the world, attracting an estimated 10 million visitors annually. It is the most visited Catholic church globally, second only to Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Twenty-four popes have officially honoured Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Pope Benedict XIV declared her the national patron of Mexico, making December 12th a holiday of obligation.
Exploring the Vast Array of Catholic Prayers
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Pope John Paul II's homily
December is home to some of the most celebrated Holy Days in the Catholic Calendar. The first 24 days of December fall during the liturgical season known as Advent, with the remaining days marking the beginning of the Christmas season. The liturgical colours during Advent are purple, symbolizing penance, mortification, and the sorrow of a contrite heart, while the colours of Christmas are white and gold, symbolizing joy, purity, and innocence.
December 12th is celebrated as the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In 1999, Pope John Paul II, during his homily at the Solemn Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, declared December 12th as a Liturgical Holy Day for the entire continent. This was Pope John Paul II's third visit to the sanctuary, with his first being in 1979 during his first apostolic trip outside Rome as Pope, and subsequent visits in 1990 and 2002.
Pope John Paul II's homilies often revolved around the power of Christ and the salvation He brings. In his first homily, he preached about the mission of Christ and the Church, emphasizing the role of the Pope as a servant of Christ and humanity. He implored the people to open their hearts and lives to Christ, allowing Him to bring hope and eternal life. Pope John Paul II also highlighted the importance of prayer and unity within the Catholic Church, appealing for support and goodwill in his mission of service.
In another homily on Midnight Mass on December 25, 1998, Pope John Paul II reflected on the birth of Jesus and its significance. He quoted Luke 2:10-11, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy... For to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord." He emphasized the humble beginnings of Jesus, born into a family poor by material standards but rich in joy, and how He was welcomed and recognized first by the shepherds. Pope John Paul II also pointed to the mystery of the Incarnation, suggesting that it broadens to embrace all of human history, from creation until the Second Coming.
The teachings and homilies of Pope John Paul II continue to be a source of inspiration and guidance for Catholics worldwide. His words remind us of the saving power of Christ and the joy that comes with embracing Him as our Saviour.
Baptism and the Holy Spirit: A Catholic Perspective
You may want to see also
Explore related products
A holy day of obligation
December is a month filled with expectation and celebration in the Catholic Church. The first 24 days of the month fall during the liturgical season of Advent, which is a time of preparation for Christmas. The liturgical colour during Advent is purple, symbolising penance, mortification, and the sorrow of a contrite heart. The remaining days of December mark the beginning of the Christmas season, with the liturgical colour changing to white or gold, symbolising joy, purity, and innocence.
On 12 December 1531, a "Lady from Heaven" appeared to Saint Juan Diego, a poor Indian from Tepeyac, a hill northwest of Mexico City. She identified herself as the Mother of the True God and instructed him to have a church built on the site. Saint Juan Diego reported that the Lady left an image of herself miraculously imprinted on his tilma, a poor-quality cactus cloth that should have deteriorated within 20 years but shows no sign of decay after over 470 years. This image defies all scientific explanations of its origin.
The Lady from Heaven is known as Our Lady of Guadalupe, and she is the subject of an incredible list of miracles, cures, and interventions. Each year, an estimated 10 million people visit her Basilica in Mexico City, making it the most popular Marian shrine in the world and the most visited Catholic church in the world after Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Twenty-four popes have officially honoured Our Lady of Guadalupe, and in 1999, Pope John Paul II declared 12 December a Liturgical Holy Day for the entire continent.
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated annually on 12 December. This date is a holiday of obligation with an octave, and Pope Benedict XIV decreed that Our Lady of Guadalupe should be the national patron of Mexico. The clergy have been remarkably faithful to the devotion towards Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Pope Leo XIII and Pope Pius X have also issued special honours and indulgences related to her veneration.
Anxiety and Sin: Catholic Perspective
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, December 12th is a Catholic Holy Day known as the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is the name given to a "Lady from Heaven" who appeared to Saint Juan Diego in 1531. She identified herself as the Mother of the True God and instructed him to build a church on the site where she appeared.
Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on a hill northwest of Mexico City, in a place called Tepeyac.
Following her appearance, Our Lady of Guadalupe left an image of herself miraculously imprinted on Saint Juan Diego's tilma, a poor-quality cactus cloth. The tilma has not deteriorated in over 470 years and remains a popular site of pilgrimage.
The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. The first 24 days of the month fall during the liturgical season of Advent, with the remaining days marking the beginning of the Christmas season.
