Introduction
At her first apparition, on December 9th, 1531, Our Lady of Guadalupe favors and chooses as her heroic messenger Saint Juan Diego, a humble Christian who was on his way “to follow the things of God that are to us given, that are taught to us by our priests, those who are the images of the Lord, Our Lord” (Nican Mopohua, no. 24). That is, he was seeking to deepen his knowledge of the faith through instruction from the priest whom he acknowledges as an image of Christ alive for us in the Church. He gives expression to the truth that the priest, by virtue of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, acts in the person of Christ, Head and Shepherd of the flock in every time and place. He shows us that only the truth, ultimately the Truth Who is Our Lord Jesus Christ alive for us in His holy Church, permits us to grow in holiness of life and thus to find joy and peace during the days of our earthly pilgrimage and their fullness at the destiny of our pilgrimage, the Kingdom of Heaven.
When Our Lady begins to speak with Saint Juan Diego, she immediately declares the truth of her being, of her relationship with God as Mother of God the Son Incarnate, and of her relationship with Juan Diego, as with all Christians. She declares:
“Know, know for sure my dearest and youngest son, that I am truly the ever perfect Holy Virgin Mary, who has the honor to be the Mother of the one true God for whom we all live, the Creator of people, the Lord of all around us and of what is close to us, the Lord of Heaven, the Lord of Earth.” (Nican Mopohua, no. 26)
What is primary for Our Lady in her relationship with Saint Juan Diego and in his collaboration as her messenger is the truth that she is the Virgin Mother of God the Son Incarnate Who is the King of Heaven and Earth and Who alone is our salvation.
Our Lady of Guadalupe equips us for today’s grave crisis with the inseparable unity of truth and love. We cannot truly love another person while also disregarding or betraying the truth which should inform every relationship. The fundamental approach to the crisis of the family, of society, and of the Church is the knowledge of truth and the practice of it with love. Our Lady, when she requested the construction of a “sacred little house,” informs us that the truth and love of her Divine Son, Jesus Christ, are found in His Mystical Body, the Church.
“I want very much that they build my sacred little house here, in which I will show Him, I will exalt Him upon making Him manifest, I will give Him to all people in all my personal love, Him that is my compassionate gaze, Him that is my help, Him that is my salvation.
Because truly I am honored to be your compassionate mother, yours and that of all the people that live together in this land, and also of all the other various lineages of men; those who love me, those who cry to me, those who seek me, those who trust in me. Because there [at my sacred house] truly will I hear their cry, their sadness, in order to remedy, to cure all their various troubles, their miseries, their pains.” (Nican Mopohua, no. 26-32)
Our Lady does not propose some idea or some political action to address the various crises facing man. No, she proposes a person—the person of her Divine Son. She proposes the most intimate union of heart with Him as the only way to obtain mercy and ultimately eternal life. She tells Juan Diego that Christ is in fact her “compassionate gaze,” even as He is her “help,” her “salvation.”
In this way, too, she shows us that He, Jesus Christ, is the help that we are to offer to the world and to the Church in a time of great turmoil. As much as is possible, we desire that all people will see the face of Christ and be drawn to Him Who alone can save them.
