30 Then the angel
said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Mary had no fear of the world or man, yet, when the
angel appeared she was immersed in holy fear.
Let us follow Mary’s example and bravely face the day saying YES to God.
Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Listen to Mary’s words of encouragement as
she appeared to Saint Juan Diego.
"Hear
me and understand well, my son the least, that nothing should frighten or
grieve you. Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear that sickness, nor any
other sickness or anguish. Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under
my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What
else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything."
One wonders if Mary thought of these same
affirmations during the angel’s visit of God the Father. Are you not happily within my fold! Are you not under my protection!
Mary appeared to St. Juan Diego just 12 years after
the defeat of the Aztec empire by Hernan Cortes. Documents from that period indicate that the
Aztec leadership was hatching a plot to reestablish themselves and renew the
taking of human hearts as a sacrifice to their gods. Our Lady stopped that with her appearance to
Juan Diego. In the space of 10 years
after her appearance over 9 million Aztecs converted to the faith.[1]
[1]
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the civilization of love. Carl Anderson & Msgr. Eduardo
Chavez. http://www.secretsoftheimage.org/en/index.html
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