The Immaculate Virgin and Saint Juan Diego: Cooperators in Salvation

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

From Guadalupe, Mexico City, Mexico.

Our Lady of Guadalupe (The Immaculate Conception) from Saint Juan Diego's Tilma

There has only been a few times in my life that  I have been breathless. Initially, perhaps,  in the first moments after my birth to Ann Patricia and Augustus nearly a half century ago but this is mere speculation. I recall another time, about 23 years later after a unintended penance.  We marine officer candidates were on the Obstacle Course during Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia; the Marine Corps testing us to the max by having us run that behemoth of a trial not once but twice in succession (being timed, no less). Lastly, standing over the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland around my 37th year of existence, where I could only utter many times over, "My God, my God, my God" without realizing that I was uttering anything at all.

I have been told that I have an excellent memory but I cannot remember my birth and have been known to be serially absent-minded.  The breathlessness of the USMC circuit training was caused by a lack of oxygen and the anxiety of potentially passing out.  You see the fear of Marine Drill Instructors is very real.  Passing out would be met with two things: first aid to revive and secondly a good tongue-lashing by one or the other D.I.  These things were never mutually exclusive, first failure, then punishment.

Marines in the midst of the "O-course"

Finally, the third instance of breathlessness which occurred in Ireland was breathtaking, yes.  However, that must have been the spectacular realization of God's created wonder in motion and not physical exertion.  The sight of the Atlantic crashing into the the sheer cliff-side of the Western coast of the Emerald Isle is a wonder of creation. Awe at His wonder in this last case being very real before my very eyes as I witnessed the indescribable scenery of nature in motion, almost transcendent.

The Cliffs of Moher, County Mayo, Irish Republic

Today was different. As I stepped into the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and made my way around the rotunda to find the "side altar" where we the 12 priests on pilgrimage would celebrate Mass I knew Our Lady was near.

She is over my right shoulder, centered above the white section of the national flag of Mexico.

The aesthetics of the building could be argued, but not her functionality. As I made my way around upstairs I could only gasp, standing in full view of the Sacred Image behind the basilica's sanctuary. I was breathing rapidly even though I was nearly standing still. I could not remove my gaze from her Image, yet I felt if I was moving in some bizarre way. Now a quarter century removed from the peak physical training required of Marine infantryman, I may not look as fit, but I am not unfit; breathless just the same.

I am convinced today, knowing of the history (within reason) of the apparition and its implications for the baptized (now Mexicans) who descend from the Spanish missionaries and the Aztecs, that she came to save all of us. Her appearance to Saint Juan Diego, nearly 5 centuries hence was nothing less than Divine Intervention through our Lady's Fiat to save the Western Hemisphere. Then from the ravenous and insatiably genocidal but highly civilized indigenous peoples who could not have known Christ. Yet their actions showed us of their belief system in anti-Christs, their pagan gods of false power and control. Somehow, mysteriously, they chose not to slaughter the sojourners from Spain, but instead received them.

 Click Here for a video of our tour guide's beautiful description

We need you now, Holy Mother, to help us continue to gain against the culture of death in the USA and in the world. Help us to protect our children and our souls from the false sacrifice of pride and selfishness and the human sacrifice of abortion. Teach us to believe in your Son and to receive Him in our hearts.

Viva Christo Rey!

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Unborn, Patroness of the Americas,

O' Sweet Immaculata,

pray for us who have recourse to thee.

From Underneath Her

N.B. Before and after: On the left, my hotel desk in the morning and on the right, the postcard of the sacred image that night.  She was given a rose (I suspect housekeeping)!