Our Lady of Guadalupe

The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Juan Diego in four visions in the year of 1531. During her fourth appearance, she asked Juan Diego to collect roses from the hill and bring them to the bishop. Miraculously, there were roses blooming on the hill, despite it being winter. Moreover, the roses were native to Castile, a region in Spain that was the homeland of the bishop. In his audience with the bishop on that day, Juan Diego opened his tilma (cloak), letting dozens of roses fall to the floor and revealing the image of Mary imprinted on the inside of the cloak—the image that is now venerated around the world. In 1737 Our Lady of Guadalupe was proclaimed patroness of Mexico City, and in 1746 her patronage was accepted by all the territories of New Spain, which included part of present-day California.  In 1754 Pope Benedict XIV approved her patronage and granted her a proper feast and mass for December 12.  In the late 1700’s, as Junipero Serra began his travels north into Alta-California, he brought his devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe to the people of California.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!