Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patroness
of the Americas and of the Right to Life Movement. When appeared to Juan Diego, Mexico, was one
of the most depraved cultures in human history.
Nowhere had human sacrifice been so institutionalized than it had been
by the Aztec natives of what is now present day Mexico. The number of human sacrifices by the Aztec
culture is virtually incalculable.
Yet, Mary came bearing the message of
her Son and a message of life. Mary to Juan Diego said: “My
dearest son, I am the eternal Virgin Mary, Mother of the true God, Author of
Life, Creator of all and Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth...and it is my
desire that a church be built here in this place for me, where, as your most
merciful Mother and that of all your people, I may show my loving clemency and
the compassion that I bear to the Indians, and to those who love and seek
me...”
A Church was built. The Basilica of Gaudalupe in Mexico City is
the most popular pilgrimage site in North America occupying the site where, On
December 9, 1531 Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego. It is second in the world only to St.
Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
What was then an almost entirely pagan
culture has almost entirely converted to Christ. According to a contemporary chronicler, nine million
Indians became Catholic in a very short time.
It is only in recent decades that the faith in Mexico has begun to
revert, as the culture of death, which is so prevalent in our culture, attempts
to regain its lost territory.
Our Lady of Guadalupe shows herself to be a lover of humanity and
a lover of life. She is depicted with a
ribbon around her waist, indicating that she is with child. She is also depicted standing on a moon. The Aztecs, along with worshipping the sun,
worshipped the moon. History shows that
cultures which worshipped the moon are very depraved. And So Mary, standing on the moon, as if
crushing it, points to the victory of Jesus Christ over the powers of
death. And that we do well to invoke her
in our prayers for the conversion of our culture which is well on its way to a
total collapse into sin and depravity.
We turn to our Blessed Mother under
the title of Our Lady of Gaudalupe is a powerful intercessor for the conversion
of the culture of death. May the prayers
of the Blessed Virgin of Guadalupe convert us, purify us, and lead us to the
truth of her Son’s Gospel for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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