By: Tony R. Rodriguez
In 1524, Franciscan missionaries left Spain and sailed to the new world, determined to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They arrived in the port city of Veracruz in May, and began evangelizing to the natives called the Mexica, or more commonly known as the Aztecs. Over time, historians will dub these missionaries the 12 apostles of Mexico.
Among the first indigenous people of Mexico to hear the ministry of the Franciscans were newlyweds Cuauhtlatoatzin and his wife María. Both were raised in devout pagan traditions, worshipping mythological deities like Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec supreme god of sun and war. They knew nothing of the stories told by the Franciscans: nothing of biblical cosmology, nor the Hebrew prophets of old, or the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ—the Son of God who conquered death and became the Redeemer of souls.
Within the same year of the Franciscan arrival, Cuauhtlatoatzin and María left their polytheistic traditions and converted to Christianity. Soon afterwards, the newlyweds became known by their baptismal names: Juan Diego and María Lucía.
Together, they grew in their new faith, often traveling by foot across dozens of miles to meet with missionaries and further their catechism.
Sadly, María Lucía died in 1529, just five years after her conversion.
On Dec. 9. 1531, Juan Diego was walking a path across Tepeyac Hill, in modern-day Mexico City. He was en route to morning Mass when he heard alluring bird songs—melodies unlike anything he had ever heard. He decided to trek further to the top of Tepeyac Hill. There, Juan Diego encountered a strange pregnant woman who appeared to be “clothed with the sun.”
Juan Diego was in the presence of the Blessed Mother of God, the Mother of Mercy, the Mediatrix of All Graces.
Mary instructed Juan Diego to meet with Bishop Juan de Zumárraga, and ask that a chapel be built on Tepeyac Hill to glorify her Son, the very Child within her womb. Obedient to her instruction, Juan Diego met with the bishop, informing him of Mary’s request.
The meeting was unsuccessful.
On Juan Diego’s walk back home, Mary appeared a second time and instructed him to return to the bishop the following day. During this second meeting, Bishop Zumárraga asked for a sign to help him believe. Juan Diego delivered the bishop’s request to Mary, who appeared to him a third time on his way home. Mary promised Juan Diego she will provide a sign.
On Dec. 12, Juan Diego experienced a fourth and final Marian apparition. Though the land was frigid and barren, Mary instructed him to gather flowers atop Tepeyac. Juan Diego climbed the hill to where Mary first appeared to him. He was astonished to discover beautiful and exotic roses in full-bloom, despite the harsh conditions of winter. He filled his tilma with gorgeous flowers, including Castilian roses not native to Mexico. Juan Diego then presented the flowers to Mary, who arranged them in his tilma to present to the bishop.
Before Bishop Zumárraga and his colleagues, Juan Diego kneeled and unwrapped his tilma to uncover a cascade of beautiful and fragrant flowers. Unbeknownst to Juan Diego, the falling flowers also simultaneously revealed a powerful image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on his tilma. Immediately, everyone else in the room fell to their knees in spiritual awe.
Juan Diego lived the rest of his life in a hermitage on Tepeyac Hill, near the chapel Our Lady of Guadalupe requested to have built and consecrated to her Son, our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.
Tony R. Rodriguez is a member of Moreau Catholic High School’s Theology Department.
Click here to find information about this year’s Peregrinación Guadalupana, happening Saturday, December 6 beginning at 9:00 a.m. at St. Luis Beltran (1420 100th Ave., Oakland).