The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Commemorated by the Catholic Church as Patroness of the Americas and the Pro-Life Movement

Our Lady of Guadalupe is known and revered as patroness of the unborn after appearing to Saint Juan Diego as a pregnant mother in Mexico on this date in 1531. 

In a statement from the United States Bishops, including Ohio Bishop Thomas, Diocese of Toledo, and chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities “With one clear voice, we reaffirm our unwavering and unqualified recognition of the fact that each and every human life is sacred, that all persons are imbued by God with an inviolable dignity, which no earthly power can deny.”

“We beseech you, Blessed Mother: May the same love you radiated in the presence of St. Juan Diego nearly 500 years ago penetrate the heart of every man, woman, and child in our nation, creating in each one of us a profound and unrelenting awareness of our shared humanity. Intercede for us with your Son, Jesus, whom you brought forth from your womb to shine as the Light of the World. Envelop us in the comfort of your mantle, bringing forth the peace, hope, and healing that is so desperately needed in our age.”

As much as Our Lady of Guadalupe impacts the spiritual life of the Church, she also is enormously significant in changing world history for the Americas.

Our Lady came to offer faith, hope and consolation to the oppressed natives of Mexico and to reconcile them with their Spanish rulers. She put an end to the bloody human sacrifice of the Aztecs and converted ten million natives in the next 10 years, as shared by Dan Burke.

After the conquest, the Spanish rule of the natives was so severe that a bloody revolt was imminent. Bishop Zummaraga prayed for Our Lady to intervene to prevent an uprising, to reconcile the Spanish and the natives and to bring peace. He asked that he would receive roses native to his homeland of Castile Spain as a sign that his prayer would be answered.

On December 9, 1531, Our Lady appeared to Blessed Juan Diego who was a recently converted Aztec. She asked him to go to the Bishop and request him to build a church for her on the barren hill of Tepeyac which is now part of Mexico City. Our Lady wanted to show her merciful love to all of her children. The prudent Bishop asked Juan to ask the Lady for a sign. Juan did so and Our Lady promised to give him the sign.

On December 12, Our Lady again appeared to Juan on Tepeyac Hill and told him to pick the Castilian roses which miraculously appeared there and bring them to the Bishop as a sign for him to believe her request. Juan gathered the roses into his tilma and brought them to the Bishop.

He opened the tilma to show them and, to everyone’s astonishment, the Image of Our Lady appeared on it. The Bishop then built the church as Our Lady had requested and ten million natives were converted and baptized to the one, true faith within the next 10 years. Human sacrifice ended in Mexico forever. Our Lady of Guadalupe, which means Crusher of the serpent’s head, brought the light of the true faith, crushed the false gods of Mexico, and established an era of peace.

Read more here about the symbols of the miraculous image which is an Aztec Pictograph that was read and understood quickly by the Aztec Indians. The image explains that Our Lady is pregnant with God himself who is greater than her, she is royal, and Christian.

May the miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe inspire us all to stay in this battle for life!