Am I not your Mother?

Some of the words of Our Lady to St. Juan Diego:

Know for certain, littlest of my sons, that I am the perfect and perpetual Virgin Mary, Mother of the True God through Whom everything lives, the Lord of all things near and far, the Master of heaven and earth.

I wish and intensely desire that in this place my sanctuary be erected. Here I will demonstrate and exhibit and give all my love, my compassion, my help and my protection to the people. I am your merciful Mother. The merciful Mother of all of you who live united in this land, and of all mankind, of all those who love me. Here I will hear their weeping, their sorrow, and will remedy, and alleviate all their multiple sufferings, necessities and misfortunes.

Listen, put it into your heart, my youngest and dearest son, that the thing that frightens you, the thing that afflicts you, is nothing: do not let it disturb you…Am I not here, I who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am 1 not the source of your joy? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Do you need something more? Let nothing else worry you or disturb you.

In 1531, the Mother of God appeared to a native Mexican named Juan Diego. She would ask him to  have the bishop build a church there at the apparition site. When the bishop asked for a sign, roses were given but more than that, the image of the Mother was on the cactus fiber tilma  of St. Juan Diego and fibers that should not last more than 20 years are still in perfect condition almost 500 years later. And within a decade of the apparition, almost all of Mexico was Roman Catholic.

Remember, 0 most gracious Virgin of Guadalupe, that in your celestial apparition on the Mount of Tepeyac, you did promise to show your compassion and pity towards all who, loving and trusting you, seek your help and call upon you in their necessities and afflictions.

You promise also to hearken to our supplications, to dry our tears and to give us consolation and relief. Inspired with this confidence we come before your august presence, certain that you will deign to fulfill your merciful promises. We are full of hope that, standing beneath your protection nothing will trouble or afflict us. You have desired to remain with us through your admirable image, you who are our Mother, our health and our life.

O Mary, Mother of God, hear our petitions and in your mercy answer us. Amen.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, my mother, into your hands joined in prayer, take my prayers, petitions and hopes and present them to Jesus for me. Remembering the love and care your hands rendered to Him, He will not refuse what they hold now, even though they are from me.  Amen.