I AM YOUR MOTHER

            In December 1531, on Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City, Juan Diego, a converted Aztec Indian was going to Mass on the feast of the Immaculate Conception.  Suddenly, he heard strains of beautiful heavenly music.  Then, he saw Our Lady who said simply: "JUAN, JUAN DIEGO, MY SON WHOM I LOVE DEARLY,COME CLOSER! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?"  Juan said that he was going to Mass.  Immediately, Our Lady identified herself with these words: "KNOW, MY BELOVED SON, THAT I AM THE EVER VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF THE TRUE GOD WHO IS THE AUTHOR OF LIFE, THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS AND THE LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, WHO IS EVERYWHERE.  IT IS MY WISH THAT A TEMPLE BE BUILT HERE TO ME, ON THIS VERY SITE.  HERE, AS YOUR LOVING MOTHER AND THE MOTHER OF ALL MEN, I WILL SHOW FORTH MY LOVING KINDNESS AND COMPASSION FOR YOUR PEOPLE AND FOR ALL WHO SEEK ME AND LOVE ME AND CALL UPON ME IN THEIR LABORS AND AFFLICTIONS. HERE I WILL HEAR THEIR CRIES AND PETITIONS."  Our Lady instructed Juan to bring this message to the Bishop of Mexico City.

            Juan went off to see the bishop but, the bishop would not believe him.  Juan returned to tell Our Lady of his failure.  He told her he was a poor Indian and that she would be better off if she got someone else.  "After all," he said, "I am just a nobody."   Well, my friends, there aren't any `nobodies' with our Lady.  She reminded Juan that she could have gotten any angel or one of her devotees on earth to do her bidding.  She said: "I HAVE CHOSEN YOU!  SO I ASK YOU, MY SON TO RETURN TOMORROW TO SEE THE BISHOP. TELL HIM TO BUILD THE TEMPLE THAT I ASK AND TELL HIM THAT SHE WHO SENDS YOU IS THE VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF THE TRUE GOD."

            This time, when Juan saw the bishop, he was told to ask for a sign.  Juan relayed this message to Our Lady.  She asked him to return the next day and she would provide the sign.  That night, however, Juan's Uncle fell sick; he could not keep his appointment. He had to stay with his Uncle.  Juan was beside himself and was afraid to return.  The following day he took an alternate route.  He thought that he could avoid meeting Our Lady.  But there she was waiting for him.  Poor Juan fell on his knees and pleaded with her to get someone else, someone more capable.  Our Lady would have none of that.  Listen to her marvelous words: "LISTEN, MY SON, TO WHAT I TELL YOU NOW.  DO NOT LET ANYTHING WORRY OR AFFLICT YOU; DO NOT FEAR ILLNESS NOR ANY TROUBLESOME HAPPENING OR PAIN.  AM I NOT HERE, I, WHO AM YOUR MOTHER?  ARE YOU NOT UNDER MY SHADOW AND MY PROTECTION?  AM I NOT YOUR LIFE AND HEALTH?  ARE YOU NOT IN MY EMBRACE AND IN MY P?  WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED?"

            Then she directed him to where he would find roses in full bloom.  This would be the sign!  Remember that it was the middle of December.  Juan picked the roses and brought them to Our Lady who rearranged them and placed them in his cloak!  Juan went off to the Bishop!  When he appeared before his excellency, it was a triumphant Juan that let his cloak drop and the roses fell to the ground.  But more than roses were there.  When the bishop saw Juan's cloak, he fell to his knees and said, "Es La Immaculata," it is the Immaculate One.  Juan looked down and there, painted on his cloak, was a life sized portrait of the Mary.  It was a portrait painted in Heaven which has miraculously survived the years to this day in the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  

            Why this apparition?  Why Guadalupe, Lourdes, and Fatima?  Our Lady comes to earth to bring us to REPENTANCE.  She wants us to turn away from sin and to live as true disciples of the Lord.  When she appeared to Juan Diego, the Aztecs were engaged in the diabolic practice of human sacrifice.  500 children a week were sacrificed in worship to false gods.  When Our Lady appeared, the Aztecs converted.  In the nine years following the visions there were nine million baptisms---think of it, nine million!   To this day there is a tremendous outpouring of grace at Guadalupe, Lourdes and Fatima as thousands repent and go to Confession.

            Our Lady calls us to conversion, especially during this Advent Season.  She calls us to receive the Sacrament of Penance.  She wants us to prepare for the coming of the her Son by turning from sin.  She wants us to spend eternity with her & Our Lord.   

            If we truly turn from sin, each of us can take her words to Blessed Juan Diego as addressed to us individually, for she is Our Heavenly Mother.  She says to you: "LISTEN, MY CHILD, TO WHAT I TELL YOU NOW.  DO NOT LET ANYTHING WORRY OR AFFLICT YOU; DO NOT FEAR ILLNESS NOR ANY TROUBLESOME HAPPENING OR PAIN.  AM I NOT HERE, I WHO AM YOUR MOTHER?  ARE YOU NOT UNDER MY SHADOW AND PROTECTION?  AM I NOT YOUR LIFE AND HEALTH?  ARE YOU NOT IN MY EMBRACE AND IN MY PRAYERS?  WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED?"  AMEN!