Blessings today to all our Brothers and Sisters from Mexico, who will be celebrating the Marial feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. They celebrate the apparitions in 1531 of Mary to a young Mexican boy, Juan Diego. 

When the young Juan Diego explained his encounter of Mary to his local Bishop, he was not believed and told by the Bishop to ask her, if she appeared again, for a miraculous sign to prove to him her identity. 

When Mary again appeared to Juan Diego, she instructed the young boy to go to the top of Tepeyac Hill and pick the roses that would be there and present them to the Bishop. Juan Diego did as Mary instructed, even though roses do not bloom in that part of the world during the month of December. The roses that Juan Diego found were not native to Mexico. Mary met the boy there and carefully arranged the flowers in his cloak. When Juan Diego opened his cloak before the Bishop on December 12, the flowers fell to the floor, and on the fabric was the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Juan Diego’s cloak or “tilma” has become Mexico’s most popular religious and cultural symbol. It is on display in the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe which is built on the top of Tepeyac Hill, just outside of Mexico City. It is a most popular pilgrimage site and this feast day is celebrated widely in all Mexican communities.

The young Juan Diego was canonized in 2002 and became the first Catholic indigenous saint from the Americas. As we celebrate this Marial feast day, let us also remember that God is not afraid to utilize young people in deepening the faith of His people as He did with young Juan Diego. In fact, throughout history God has empowered young people to be powerful witnesses of faith. From David defeating Goliath, to a young Jewish girl named, Mary who responded “Yes”, to other children, like Juan Diego, who also witnessed Marial Apparitions at Fatima and Medjugorje. I have been graced to have known many young people who at times have been the face of God in my own life. We journey through advent in quiet anticipation of the coming birth of a child. May this season allow us to always hold sacred the lives of all children, who constantly reflect God’s image and love.