Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) – Today, December 12, is a great celebration throughout Latin America and Mexico in particular, for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Fides received a note from the Pontifical Mission Societies of Mexico, who reported on their recently updated web page graphics and content, which also features a one-hour video entitled "Abriendo Horizontes (Widening Horizons), Santa Maria de Guadalupe.” This video presents the story of the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the history of devotion to the Virgen Morenita, and the history of the Church and Mexico in that period.
On December 12, 1531, the Indian Juan Diego went to Tlatelolco, and as he climbed the hill of Tepeyac he heard a soft voice calling to him, then he saw the Madonna in a dress bright as the sun, which left his image printed in the mantle of Juan Diego, image with the color of the peasants' skin and with a mother's heart. Our Lady manifested her desire to be revered by all in a chapel on Mount Tepeyac and consoled him with very significant words: "What are you afraid of? Am I not your mother?"
Two days ago, Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, Archbishop Primate of Mexico, in his homily for the feast of St. Juan Diego, said: "We need each living member of our beloved Catholic Church to put all our efforts, through the intercession of the humble 'Morenita' of Tepeyac and her humble messenger San Juan Diego, in whom she placed her confidence. In this way we can fight against evil, injustice, corruption, lies, deception, and we can living justice, peace and love." (CE) (Agenzia Fides 12/12/2009)
