The Miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe

In the Roman Catholic Church, December 12th is the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe — one of the most beloved feast days in the church. It commemorates an apparition of Mary, the Virgin Mother of God.

On December 9, 1531, a Mexican man named Juan Diego was walking to Mass in the countryside in what is now the suburbs of Mexico City. He passed Tepeyac Hill and saw a bright light on the top. Songs of heaven were playing and a feminine voice asked him to come forward.

The woman spoke to him in his native tongue and told him of her desire that a shrine be built in that spot in her honor.

“I am your merciful Mother,” the Virgin said, according to the story, “to you and to all mankind who love me and trust in me and invoke my help. Therefore, go to the dwelling of the Bishop in Mexico City and say that the Virgin Mary sent you to make known to him her great desire.”

Dutifully following orders, Juan Diego went to the bishop and told him of the miraculous apparition, but the bishop did not believe the simple man from the countryside. So the man returned to Mary and told her of his failure. She requested he return and try again. The next time Juan Diego met with the bishop, he told him to return to the Virgin Mary and ask for a sign of proof that she was, in fact, the Mother of God.

Juan Diego returned to the hill and reported as instructed. The woman asked Juan Diego to return the next morning and said she would grant him a sign.

However, Juan Diego’s uncle was sick the next morning and he could not make it to the hill. The next morning, on December 12, Juan Diego walked to the hill, but instead the woman met him on the road below. He attempted to explain why he was couldn’t make it the day before.

Mary responded, “It is well, littlest and dearest of my sons, but now listen to me. Do not let anything afflict you and be not afraid of illness or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Are you not in the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need? Do not fear for your uncle, for he is not going to die. Be assured… He is already well.”

Many of the faithful do not know that the Virgin Mary appeared before Juan Diego’s sick uncle that morning and healed him.

She then instructed Juan Diego to climb the hill to the spot she had appeared to him previously. She told him to pick the flowers there and collect them in his tilma, or his outer garb, like a cloak of sorts.

He was confused because no flowers usually grew at the top of that hill. But he did as she asked — and found fresh flowers at the top. Back down the hill he went. He gave them to her and she arranged them in his cloak.

Juan Diego was overjoyed: At that time of year, fresh flowers such as these surely would be a good enough sign. He appeared before the bishop and dropped the flowers. The bishop gasped, but not for the flowers. On Juan Diego’s tilma,  there was printed a beautiful image of Mary.

The tilma (pictured above) is venerated by the faithful to this day. It survives and is displayed in The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Mexico.

This Basilica is the most visited Catholic site in the world, and the third most visited holy site in the world.

The tilma itself has many supernatural qualities as well. First, the fabric of the tilma is extremely coarse and it would have been impossible to paint on in such a detailed manner. It also shows Mary when she was very pregnant with Jesus — interestingly, this apparition occurred just weeks before Christmas. Also, the tilma is known to be indestructible. Over the years it has undergone not only normal wear and tear, but on two occasions in which it should have been destroyed, it somehow miraculously survived in perfect condition.

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated by Catholics worldwide with festivals and celebrations, especially in South America.