Guadalupana, Strong Protector

December 12th is the Feast of Mary under the title "Our Lady of Guadalupe", the patron of the Americas who appeared to St. Juan Diego in the 16th century. As a sign to the unbelieving Spanish Bishop of Mexico to whom Juan was sent, the Aztec peasant's tilma, or robe, was imprinted miraculously with the image of Mary as a young peasant girl, but with many of the details mentioned in Chapter 12 of Revelation. Tests of the tilma have failed either to explain the origin of the image, or to account for its continued existence on a fibrous material which under normal conditions decomposes within 5o-60 years.

The icongraphy of the image is unmistakeably Aztecan. The Virgin is a young native girl rather than a Caucasian European. She wears the traditional brown belt only worn by those who have previously given birth. She herself looks pregnant again, as if about to bear anew her children, the Aztec peoples who converted following Her appearance. She is surrounded by the rays of the sun, the traditonal Aztec Sun god, and treads underfoot the moon, another Aztec diety. Her blue robe is decorated with stars, the third presence in the Aztecan pantheon.

Yet, this young girl is not a goddess herself. Her head is bowed in prayer, humbly asking God to bless Her people. What a strong image of both mercy and justice, of solidarity and intercession. She prays for all of us in the Americas, asking again the divine assistance with the single phrase "Fiat!" Let it be done... according to Your Word, oh God. Her yes to God which leads to the new creation echoes God's Word at the first creation, "Let it be done." So, the Guadalupana, like all the rest of us who are redeemed by Christ, has become a created co-creator.

She and we are called to create a New World which mirrors both God's justice and His love and mercy. How far we have to go before her prayers are answered.

God of power and mercy,

You blessed the Americas at Tepeyac

with the presence of the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe.

May Her prayers help all men and women

to accept each other as brothers and sisters.

Through Your justice present in our hearts

may Your peace reign in this world.

Reason, Faith and the Battle for the Human Soul

Here is a cogent and well argued analysis of Benedict XVI's recent actions with regard to Europe and Islam:


"Western Civ 101: Pope Benedict's Seminar on Fundamentals" by Daniel Henninger


http://opinionjournal.com/columnists/dhenninger/?id=110009323

Since the Concordat with Mussolini our Holy Father in Rome has had no land to defend or legions to command. But the battle for human souls and human dignity continues. We fight for God, leaving behind triumphalism, but with strong weapons of reason and faith, a la Ephesians 6:12-13:

Our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities,
with
the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the
evil
spirits in the heavens. Thererfore, put on the armor of God, that
you may
be able to resist on the evil day, and, having done everything, to
stand.

Thank you, God, for bringing us a Pastor who adheres so closely and speaks so clearly to your Word of Human Justice and Divine Mercy.