Our Lady of Guadalupe

     Before I begin, I have a correction to make.  Yesterday I mentioned two people who spearheaded our Christmas Dinner Totes effort - Lori Anselmino and Joanne Mastalerz.  Joanne emailed me to say that she was not on the leadership of that project.  I apologize to her, but acknowledge the other great things she does around the parish.

     December 9th, 1531 is remembered today.  The other day I spoke of Saint Juan Diego on his feast.  He is the indigenous convert that Mary appeared to on that day on a hill outside of Mexico City.  Her appearance sparked a massive evangelization of the native peoples of the Americas.

     Mary appeared as a young girl who was not Spanish in background but rather dark skinned with features of young women of Juan Diego's ancestry.  She was dressed in simple clothes, rather than a fine Spanish gown and mantle.  Her one leg is noticeably bent forward, as she comes toward the people.  She wears a sash that is a sign of pregnancy, and she has a slight bulge in her midsection indicating that she is with child.  She comes with simplicity and gentle love as one that we can relate to and one that we can be inspired by.

     To a culture that extolled death and human sacrifice she demonstrated the beauty of life.  To a culture that saw Christ in the Spanish conquerors, she brought an image that they could identify with, one that would be their own.  To a people who were displaced and oppressed, she brought hope.

     She IS the patroness of the Americas and of Mexico.  She has been embraced by the Pro-Life movement for obvious reasons.  She is loved by millions.  Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!