The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe

We are in Mesoamerica, the New World, in 1521. The capital city of the Aztec empire falls to the Spanish armies. Less than twenty years later, nine millions of the inhabitants, who, for centuries, professed a polytheistic and human sacrificing religion, are converted to Christianity. What happened in those times that led to such an incredible and historically unprecedented conversion? The oldest reliable source of the apparitions of the Mother of God to Saint Juan Diego was written in Náhuatl (the Aztec language) by the Indian scholar Antonio Valeriano around 1560, and known as Nican Mopohua (Here is told) or Huei Tlamahuitzoltica. Unfortunately, the original of this work has never been found. A copy was first published in Náhuatl by Luis Lasso de la Vega in 1649. The story that you will read in the upcoming days is the English translation of the Nican Mopohua.  

Opening Prayer

Mary, Mother of Jesus,
Hear the prayer of the Church in America 
A people rich in promise,
A people much in need of God's mercy.
As you first brought faith to these lands,
Be with us as we built communion and solidarity. 

Novena Prayer

Dearest Lady of Guadalupe, fruitful Mother of holiness, teach me your ways of gentleness and strength. Hear my humble prayer offered with heartfelt confidence to beg this favor... (mention your request here).

Our Father...
Hail Mary... x3
Glory Be...

Meditation

It is hardly a coincidence that in 1945, the year that World War II ended, Pope Pius XII looked at the suffering, fragmented world and declared Our Lady of Guadalupe patroness of the Americas. He knew that both continents North and South, in many ways, share a common heritage - and future. In the words Our Lady spoke to Juan Diego: “I am your merciful mother, to you, and to all the inhabitants on this land and all the rest who love me, invoke and confide in me;  here shall I make well and heal each and every kind of disappointment, of exhausting pangs, of bitter pain.”

Closing Prayer

Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe: click the Pray button below.

Pictures:

1) Representation of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Artist unknown.

2) Pope Francis praying before Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico, 2016.