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The Third Miracle
Our Lady of Guadalupe
(The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe
just as still appears today, even
after almost 500 years. The image appears
on St. Juan Diego's tilma. Many of the
more miraculous aspects of the image were unknown
until the more modern scientific methods of the
twentieth century were available for the
examination of the image on Juan
Diego's tilma. The image has been examined by many scientists
using the most modern scientific methods. The scientists tell us
it is definitely not a painting. There are no brush strokes, and it
hasn't been dyed into the fabric. Scientists tell us the image
is more like a photograph, than anything else. It would have
impossible for a simple native indian in the sixteenth century
to have produced such an image on his tilma. Twentieth century
science has revealed that the image on the tilma
is even more miraculous than those humble men
in the 16th century first thought it was.)
Of all of the miracles that have occurred in the Americas, none is more important, or has more wide spread impact in the Americas than the Miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The miracle occurred in 1531, almost 500 years ago. As background for the following miracle, Hernado De Cortez had completed the conquest of Tenochtitlán, now Mexico City, just 10 years earlier. At that time, there had not been many Christian converts among the native indian population in Mexico. Most of the local indian population still continued to worship the old Aztec gods. Cuauhtlatoatzin was a member of the Nathuatl tribe. He was one of the first Christian converts among his tribe. He took the Christian name of Juan Diego and his full name then became Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin. This is his story.)
The Miracle:
Juan Diego, a simple and God-fearing man, was one of the few converts among his people in the first 10 years. For 6 years he had devoutly practiced the Faith, walking 6 miles every morning to Mass. On Saturday, December 9, 1531, he began his usual pre-dawn journey.
As he reached the hill known as Tepeyac, he heard a very wonderful music descending from the top of the hill. It sounded like the sweetest melody of singing birds. Suddenly the singing stopped and a gentle woman's voice was heard from above the mount saying, "Juanito, Juan Dieguito." When he reached the summit, he saw a Lady standing there who told him to come near. He marveled greatly at her superhuman grandeur. Her garments were shining like the sun and the cliff where she rested her feet was pierced with glitter.
The Lady thus spoke to him in his native Nathuatl language:
"Know and understand well, you the most humble of my sons, that I am the ever Virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the True God for Whom we live, of the Creator of all things, Lord of heaven and earth. I wish that a temple be erected here quickly, so I may therein exhibit and give all my love, compassion, help and protection, because I am your merciful mother... Go to the bishop of Mexico and say to him that I manifest my great desire, that here a temple be built to me."
Juan went directly to the bishop and gave him the message. Fray Zumarraga, however, did not seem to believe him and dismissed him after listening to his story. When Juan Diego returned to Tepeyac hill, the Lady appeared again and told him to "go again tomorrow and see the bishop ... and again tell him that I, in person, the ever virgin Holy Mary, Mother of God, sent you."
Bishop Fray Zumarraga
Juan visited the bishop's house again the next day and repeated the story. This time the bishop listened more attentively and then asked Juan to bring some sign as a proof of the story. Our Lady told Juan that she would give him a sign for the bishop on the following morning. He failed to return the next day, however, because his uncle Juan Bernardino was gravely ill and by night time asked Juan to summon a priest the next day, to perform the Last Rites.
On Tuesday, Juan climbed Tepeyac from a different angle to prevent the Lady from seeing him and deterring his journey to get the priest. She approached him from that side of the hill, however, and, on hearing his mission, replied,
"Do not fear this nor any other sickness or anguish. Am I, your Mother, not here? Are you not under my protection? Do not be afflicted by the illness of your uncle; he is now cured."
Juan Bernardino, Juan Diego's gravely ill uncle, related later that at that very hour a beautiful Lady appeared to him, calling herself "she who crushes the serpent" (see Gen. 3:15). Juan Bernardino felt a profound peace come over his soul and through his limbs a healing wave seemed to roll, filling him with strength and cooling his burning fever. He was cured.
After reassuring Juan Diego, Our Lady told him to gather the flowers at the top of the hill and give them to the bishop for a sign. But how could this be? Flowers in December, the month in which all vegetation is destroyed by the cold? What is now modern day Mexico City sits on a high plateau in the mountains. Its elevation is around 7,000 feet. In the winter time, temperatures often drop into the lower '40s, and all flowers have long since stopped blooming. When Juan Diego climbed to the top of the hill, he saw strange beautiful flowers of a type he had never seen before. They were Spanish roses, which were, at that time, unknown in the Americas. He placed the flowers in his tilma, a coarsely woven cloak of cactus fibers. After he had placed the roses in his tilma, Our Lady of Guadalupe rearranged the flowers in his tilma. Juan then set out for the bishop's house.
When Juan Diego reached the bishop's house and was finally admitted, he unfolded the tilma, revealing the gorgeous, sweet scented roses. Suddenly there appeared on the face of the tilma a precious Image of the Ever-Virgin Holy Mary, Mother of God. The bishop and all others present fell to their knees upon seeing the miraculous image...
St. Juan Diego opening his tilma for Bishop Fray Zumaarrga.
The Image of Our Lady that appeared on the tilma, which can still be seen in Mexico City today, is truly miraculous and has been the wonder of scientists for many years. After exhaustive investigation with many modern sophisticated analytical instruments, the scientists have concluded that the work is beyond the power of men to produce.
Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Miraculous Image on the Tilma:
Modern scientists were unable to find any trace of paint residue or dye of any sort on the Image. There are no brush strokes. And the image definitely wasn't dyed into the fabric. They were unable to identify what produced the colors on Juan Diego's tilma. The scientists said that it was well beyond the means of 16th century artisans to have produced an image such at this on a cloak.
The Image still retains its original colors, even though it was unprotected by any covering during the first 100 years of veneration. The bluish-green color of Our Lady's mantle is unique. It seems to be made of an unearthly shade that as yet no artist has been able exactly to match. Moreover, a painter would be incredibly foolish to choose an Indian's tilma to work on and even more to paint right over the center seam of the cloak. And had the Virgin not turned ever so slightly to the right, the stitch would have divided her face. Just as astonishing is the fact that only the seam still holds the tilma together. The law of gravity does not allow a single flimsy cotton thread to bind two heavier materials of cloth for more than a few years, much less four hundred and seventy-eight years! Such tilmas made of rough spun cactus fiber typically last only about 10 years, after which they normally fall to pieces. This particular tilma has defied modern science to explain why it has been preserved for centuries.
In addition, the coarse weave of the tilma was utilized by the Artist in such a precise manner as to give depth to the face of the Image.
Infrared radiation photography confirmed, besides the lack of paint and brush strokes, no corrections, no underlying sketch, no sizing used to render the surface smooth, no varnish covering the image to protect its surface. According to specialists of the Kodak Corporation in Mexico, the Image bears more resemblance to a color photograph than anything else. Study of photographic enlargements of Our Lady's face have revealed the image of a bearded man, clearly identifiable in the eyes. This image reflected in her eyes is probably the image of St. Juan Diego who was standing in front of her at the time of the image. Rigorous investigations by scientists found not only the image of the bearded man but all the optical imaging qualities of a normal human eye, such as light reflection, image positioning and distortion on the cornea.
The Virgin's mantle is covered with stars which are a stunningly accurately map of the constellations as was seen in the Mexican sky at that time.
Even more remarkably, this "star map" on the mantle is in reverse: providing a view of the constellations from beyond them, as would be seen looking through them towards the earth. The constellations are consistent with what astronomers believe was in the sky above Mexico City the day the Image was formed, December 12, 1531.
The Result:
When Bishop Zumarraga saw the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, he commanded that a church be built on Tepeyac hill as Our Lady requested. Thousands of Aztec Indians were present at the translation of the Image to the new chapel. They chanted, "The Virgin is one of us. Our pure Mother, Our Sovereign Lady, is one of us!" In a transport of enthusiasm, one group of young warriors took their bows and, in celebration, sent a large volley of arrows flying into the air. Unfortunately, when one of the arrows came down, it killed one of the spectators.
The poor native was picked up by his sorrowing friends and carried into the chapel, where they placed him at the feet of Our Lady of Guadalupe. While everyone together prayed for a miracle, suddenly the dead man opened his eyes and rose up fully recovered!
The Bishop placed Juan Diego in charge of the new chapel and the recipient of the apparitions spent the remainder of his life explaining the message and the meaning of the visions to the pilgrims who came there. There already existed good means of communication in that vast country and news of the wonderful events were soon common knowledge everywhere. As news of the miracle spread, hundreds of thousands of native Mexicans converted from their old Aztec gods and became Christians. The number of new Christian converts was astounding. One local priest described it as nothing short of a tidal wave of new conversions among the native populace.
From 1531 until the present day, a continuous stream of pilgrims have flowed through the doors of the church on Tepeyac hill. It is estimated now that as many as twenty million pilgrims come to see the miraculous tilma every year.
The New Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe:
The modern day Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City
The present Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City was constructed on the site of an earlier 16th-century church that was finished in 1709. When this old basilica became dangerous due to the sinking of its foundations, a modern structure called the New Basilica was built next to it; the original image of the Virgin of Guadalupe is now housed in this New Basilica.
Built between 1974 and 1976, the new Basilica has a circular floorplan so that the image of the Virgin can be seen from any point within the building. The circular structure is 100 meters (330 feet) in diameter, and can accomodate up to 50,000 people. The choir is located between the altar and the churchgoers to indicate that it, too, is part of the group of the faithful. To the sides are the chapels of the Santisimo and of Saint Joseph. It has 9 chapels on the upper floor. Under the main floor are the Basilica's crypts, with 15,000 niches and 10 chapels.
Its seven front doors are an allusion to the seven gates of Celestial Jerusalem referred to by Christ.
The Basilica as well as the other chapels in the sanctuary are the center of fervent religious activity, around the clock:
- At least 30 Masses are celebrated every day of the year.
- At the new Basilica's main altar there are Masses every hour on the hour, from 6AM to 8PM, every day of the year.
There are 8 masses also in its San Jose Chapel (8 a day, 5 Sat and Sunday) and in the crypt.
- There are also Masses in the Capilla del Cerrito, Capilla del Pocito, Parroquia de Capuchinas and Parroquia de los Indios buildings.
- Hundreds of baptisms are celebrated every week. There are holy matrimonies, first communions and confirmations celebrated almost every day at the Basilica.
Conclusion:
An incredible list of miracles, cures and interventions are attributed to our Lady of Guadalupe. Yearly, between 18 - 20 million pilgrims visit the Basilica, making it Christianity's most visited sanctuary.
Altogether 25 popes have officially honored Our Lady of Guadalupe. His Holiness John Paul II visited her Sanctuary four times: on his first apostolic trip outside Rome as Pope in 1979, and again in 1990, 1999 and 2002.
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on December 12th. In 1999, Pope John Paul II, in his homily from the Solemn Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, during his third visit to the sanctuary, declared the date of December the 12th as a Liturgical Holy Day for the whole continent.
To visit the web site of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Click here
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