Reading the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to St. Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531. It was due to her appearance that the practice of human sacrifices ended.

The Aztecs had no written language, but they read the meaning in pictures and symbols just as we read newspapers. This image told the Aztecs volumes. The woman stands in front of the sun, and is therefore greater than their sun god Huitzlipochtli. She stands upon the moon, and is therefore greater than the moon god, Tezcatlipoca. She is held aloft by a winged person, which means she is a heavenly being, yet her hands are joined in prayer, which means there is one greater than she. The mantle's bluishgreen color is reserved to Aztec divinity, yet her eyes are lowered, which means she is not a goddess herself. The sash at her waist was worn by pregnant women in Aztec culture, thus the child she carries is divine. The white fur at the neck and sleeves and the gold border are marks of royalty for the Aztecs. The stars on her mantle and the angel "carrying" her represent a new era being carried in. Touching the edge of a cloak represents a kiss, thus the angel is "kissing" the lady. The broach at her throat has the same black cross carried by Cortés and the Spanish Friars.

Because she is pregnant, Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of pregnant mothers and their unborn children. Her appearance, as mentioned, ended the Aztec practise of human sacrifice. Through prayer and the intercession of Our Lady, we can change our culture of death into a culture of life.

2013 Advent Family Festival

 Monday & last night we celebrated an Advent Family Festival.

 It began with a Prayer Service.

 It included St. Nicholas and a skit about

 St. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Then families came to the Social Level where materials 

were available to help families celebrate Advent.

 

There were also some enthusiastic 4th graders selling

 baked goods to raise funds for families in need.

Mary's Minions

Somehow two boys turned a conversation about clothes into a lesson about our Blessed Mother Mary.

My sons Paul, 10, and David, 6, had just changed clothes, and both were wearing striped polo shirts. Paul casually mentioned that he thought his shirt was the color of angels: blue, white and yellow. He said those were the colors he typically saw in artwork of angels.

David, wearing green stripes, said he was wearing Mary's colors.

Wait a minute. What? Paul and I looked at each other, both confused. I told David that blue is traditionally associated with Mary, that she is often pictured wearing it, that sometimes mothers dress their children in blue out of devotion to our Lady, and there's even an old  song and poem about a "Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue."

 So I had to ask, "Why is green Mary's color?"

"Mary wears green, not blue," he said, pointing to a painting behind me. Sure enough, in an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mary was wearing green. 

"OK, green can be Mary's color too."

Then David said, "I could be Mary's minion."

That comment dazed me. Later I realized he probably said that because he was imitating her in wearing green. And of course minions are popular among 6-year-olds now because of the "Despicable Me" movies.

But at the moment I thought, "Wow, where did he get that from?"

I told David that actually Mary has minions. Sometimes they call themselves her children, her servants, even her slaves. And when we place ourselves at her service, we serve Jesus at the same time.

But I kept thinking about minions. What a perfect word. One dictionary has this definition: "a favorite or dependent, especially a servile or fawning one." It's good to be one of Mary's favorites, dependent on her, serving her, even fawning over her. I think her Son would like that.

I'm going to encourage David to be Mary's minion. And I want to be one, too.

Inspired by this Year of Faith we will be posting columns like this from Susan Szalewski about exploring and/or deepening our faith. Watch for it on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

Vigil for Life

Archbishop Lucas celebrated the Vigil for Life Mass at St. Mary's Parish in Bellevue this morning. While this had been long planned, it took place the same day Pope Francis has asked us to pray for Syria. Archbishop Lucas pointed out that both of these needs are compatible.
 

After Mass and Eucharistic Exposition, a walk to the Abortion Site in Bellevue was led by an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

 During this procession, Archbishop Lucas led the rosary.

Prayers continued outside the space where abortions are done.

Thank you to everyone who came to pray.

Praying with Our Lady

Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to St. Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531. It was due to her appearance that the practise of human sacrifices ended.

The Aztecs had no written language, but they read the meaning in pictures and symbols just as we read newspapers. This image told the Aztecs volumes. The woman stands in front of the sun, and is therefore greater than their sun god Huitzlipochtli. She stands upon the moon, and is therefore greater than the moon god, Tezcatlipoca. She is held aloft by a winged person, which means she is a heavenly being, yet her hands are joined in prayer, which means there is one greater than she. The mantle's bluishgreen color is reserved to Aztec divinity, yet her eyes are lowered, which means she is not a goddess herself. The sash at her waist was worn by pregnant women in Aztec culture, thus the child she carries is divine. The white fur at the neck and sleeves and the gold border are marks of royalty for the Aztecs. The stars on her mantle and the angel "carrying" her represent a new era being carried in. Touching the edge of a cloak represents a kiss, thus the angel is "kissing" the lady. The broach at her throat has the same black cross carried by Cortés and the Spanish Friars.

Because she is pregnant, Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of pregnant mothers and their unborn children. Her appearance, as mentioned, ended the Aztec practise of human sacrifice. Through prayer and the intercession of Our Lady, we can change our culture of death into a culture of life.

Please join us in Benediction,

Eucharistic Adoration and Rosary on:

Sunday, December 12th

1:30 p.m.

(following the noon Mass)

In the Parish Chapel

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Join us in prayer after Saturday's 6:30 Mass.

December 12th is the Feast of Our Lady Guadalupe, the patroness of pregnant women and unborn babies. Following the 6:30 Mass there will be an Hour of Eucharistic Adoration and prayer.

Pleading prayer for help from Our Lord's mother and adoration of our Lord's Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity are our greatest weapons in this fight for a Culture of Life.