Sermonette: Dec. 12, 2022

What event occurred in the Americas that was a key reason for the conversion to Christianity of over 8 million native people in just seven years? What piece of art that shows no signs of human origin is still on display today almost 500 years after its creation? What religious feast day is considered the most important after Christmas and Easter to Hispanic people in the Americas? The answer to all three questions have a connection to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

During the 16th century, a native person named Juan Diego, who had converted to Christianity, living near what is now familiarly known as Mexico City, saw a vision of a beautiful lady. The lady affectionately called him Juanito and identified herself as the Virgin Mary, the mother of the only true God. She would appear to him a number of times. She consoled him when a sick relative appeared to be dying, asked him to request that the Bishop build a church to honor Jesus her son, and asked him later to pick roses during the middle of winter as a sign that ultimately would persuade the Bishop that the vision and messages were real.

Juan Diego was faithful in honoring all of the requests this special lady requested of him. This included at first being quietly rejected by the Bishop when he said the Virgin Mary appeared to him and was requesting that a church be built to honor her son on the hill she first appeared to Juan Diego. Juanito pleaded with her to have someone more important than him be given this responsibility. Why would the Bishop ever heed the request of a simple and humble man like Juan Diego? And yet, the special lady insisted that he was the right person for the job and to not lose faith. Since it was the middle of winter, the special lady told him that if he picked beautiful roses and presented them to the Bishop it surely would get his attention and he’d be taken more seriously regarding building the church. Juan Diego heeded this request and he proceeded to bring these non-seasonal miraculous roses to the Bishop.

What occurred afterward no one could have predicted and would change the complexion of Christianity in the Americas forever.

Juan Diego picked the miraculous roses and carried them in his tilma (a sort of cloak worn by native people made from cactus fibers which usually disintegrates in about 20-60 years) and laid them in front of the Bishop. When Juan Diego opened his tilma and the roses fell out the Bishop knelt in front of Juan Diego. What caused the Bishop to kneel was that in the tilma was the imprint of the Virgin Mary. The image was the one we now refer to as Our Lady of Guadalupe.

There are numerous special characteristics to this image that have been responsible for bringing many people to conversion ever since the 16th century. Among these are the reflection of Juan Diego in the eyes of the image Our Lady of Guadalupe, the pattern of the stars on her dress, and the symbolism of her standing in front of the sun and on top of the moon. In addition, the fact that the tilma still exists today and can be seen when visiting Mexico City shows the miraculous nature of the event (it should be long disintegrated) and continues to astound and bring people to conversion.

After careful review of the image, it was noticed that the reflection of Juan Diego and others who were there on December 12, 1531 can be seen in the eyes of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The technology to replicate this fine level of detail in an image was not available during the 16th century. As it is, even today using the sophisticated tools available it is very difficult to replicate.

By using computer simulations, experts have determined that the pattern of stars that are visible on Our

Lady Guadalupe’s mantle were the same as those that would have been seen the same night that she imprinted her image on Juan Diego’s tilma. Again, the technology to replicate this type of precision would not been available during the 16th century and still is difficult to replicate even today.

The native peoples who saw this image and were converted, worshiped the sun and the moon. By Our Lady of Guadalupe standing in front of the sun and standing on the moon, it showed that this lady has a higher standing than these.

There are additional fascinating characteristics to this image too numerous to write about here that have special significance to the native peoples who first saw Juan Diego’s tilma. They include the color of her dress and mantle; her appearance of being slightly pregnant and wearing an Aztec maternity belt; her hands in prayer and pointing to God; and a map of the exact location that the apparition took place on her rose colored gown, that brought the conversion of many native peoples to Christianity. A computer search will highlight all the symbolism and unique characteristics that have no explanation other than a miraculous creation.

What could not be achieved through force by the Spanish conquistadors was achieved quietly and effortlessly through the appearance of the Virgin Mary to a simple and humble man.

Today, throughout the Americas, including the United States where there are high concentrations of Hispanic people, December 12 is a feast day with huge celebrations. It is very common for large processions to take place with images of Our Lady of Guadalupe honoring this miraculous event that occurred during the 16th century and changed the face of Christianity in the Americas forever.