December 12th: Our Lady of Guadalupe

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patron Saint of Mexico and Patroness of the Americas.

The day commemorates her apparition to Saint Juan Diego in the hills of Tepeyac in 1531. She asked him to go to the bishop and tell him that the Ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, sent him to ask for a church to be built atop Tepeyac hill.

“She wanted to be seen as a 'mestiza,' a 'mixed' race, not only with Juan Diego or with the people. She became a 'mestiza' to show she's the mother of everyone. She became a 'mestiza' with humanity. Why? Because she made God a 'mestizo.' That is the great mystery. Mother Mary makes God a 'mestizo', true God and true man, her Son.”

(Pope Francis)

More details:

English - https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/12/12/b--mary-virgin-of--guadalupe.html

Spanish - https://www.vaticannews.va/es/santos/12/12/b--maria-virgen-de-guadalupe.html

French - https://www.vaticannews.va/fr/vatican/news/2018-12/notre-dame-guadalupe-vierge-marie-vatican-fete-pape.html

Italian - https://www.vaticannews.va/it/santo-del-giorno/12/12/beata-maria-vergine-di-guadalupe.html