OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

[Photo: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Tabor House, Pansol]

FIRST APPARITION

At dawn on December 9, 1531, Juan Diego, an Indian convert, was going to Tlatelolco to attend catechism class and hear the Mass. As he was passing Tepeyac Hill, he saw a brilliant light on the summit and heard the strains of celestial music. Filled with wonder, he stopped. Then he heard a feminine voice asking him to ascend. When he reached the top he saw the Blessed Virgin Mary standing in the midst of a glorious light, in heavenly splendor. The beauty of her youthful countenance and her look of loving kindness filled Juan Diego with unspeakable happiness as he listened to the words which she spoke to him in his native language. She told him she was the perfect and eternal Virgin Mary, Mother of the true God, and made known to him her desire that a shrine be built there where she could demonstrate her love, her compassion and her protection. "For I am your merciful Mother", she said, "to you and to all mankind who love me and trust in me and invoke my help. Therefore, go to the dwelling of the Bishop in Mexico City and say that the Virgin Mary sent you to make known to him her great desire." (Queen of the Americas Guild)

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE IS SECONDARY PATRONESS OF THE PHILIPPINES

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO ON JULY 16, 1935, Pope Pius XI declared Our Lady of Guadalupe patroness of the Philippines. Pope Pius XII, however, issued a Papal Bull on Sept. 12, 1942 declaring that the Immaculate Conception is the principal and universal patroness of the Philippines. At the main altar of the Basilica Minore of the Immaculate Conception in Intramuros is enshrined the Inmaculada Concepcion. This makes the Guadalupe secondary patroness. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

THE IMAGE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE WAS PREGNANT

The Guadalupe Apparition is the only apparition where Our Lady left an actual picture of herself. All other apparitions were drawn from the description given to them from the visionary.

The image wore a black sash which was a symbol of pregnancy. Also the central part of her dress was bulbging. This would indicate she was pregnant with the Child Jesus at the time of the apparition. Mary would possibly be around the age of fourteen. (EWTN)

For this reason Our Lady of  Guadalupe has been chosen as patroness of the pro-life movement.