The true message of Guadalupe

# The True Message of Our Lady of Guadalupe (1531): Juan Diego Cuautlatoatzin, the Conversion of the Aztecs, and the Context of the Spanish Conquest (1519-1521)## The Indigenous Cultural ContextIn the early 16th century, the Aztec empire was a conglomerate of 23 million citizens from various ethnic groups, many of whom despised the Aztecs for their perceived bloodthirstiness. Instead, they bore the responsibility for the survival of the universe, which was centered around the Sun, their primary deity, fueled by the hearts and blood of prisoners. It is important to note that prior to the Aztec empire, there was a religious wisdom that originated from the Toltecs and was developed by the Texcocans. This belief system held one God (Tloque Nahuaque), also known as the Unknown God, the true God. He was so high that he could not be reached, did not love human sacrifices but rather flowers and songs, which were considered signs of divine truth.Juan Diego Cuautlatoatzin, a native of Texcoco, was part of this culture and, in his encounter with Our Lady of Guadalupe, experienced immense joy as he realized that “the only and true God loves him through His Mother.”In just two years, from 1519 to 1521, against all human expectations, the Spanish conquered the Aztec empire. Hernán Cortés, a seasoned warrior with remarkable leadership charisma, penetrated the heart of the empire, forming alliances with subjugated peoples and capitalizing on a prophecy about the arrival of a god matching the Europeans’ characteristics, Quetzalcoatl. Additionally, diseases brought by the Spanish, such as smallpox, claimed half of the indigenous population. The drama experienced by the Indians with the conquest was not merely the fall of their military, social, economic, political, and imperial structures but also, and most significantly, the collapse of their religious framework, which gave meaning to their existence.## The Church’s SituationThe situation for the Church was dire. With the destruction of indigenous religious structures, there was a vacuum that needed to be filled. The Spanish missionaries faced a monumental task: not only to convert the Aztecs but also to rebuild their society on Christian principles. This involved not just spreading the Gospel but also establishing new forms of governance, social order, and economic systems that aligned with Catholic teachings.At the same time, countless Spaniards experienced a crisis of conscience, reproaching themselves as Christians for conquering territories that did not belong to them, for pillaging others’ goods, and even for enslaving their previous owners. This problem was strongly emphasized not only by missionaries but also by Spanish-minded individuals. There were even lengthy discussions about it at the University of Salamanca in Spain. Discussions regarding the legitimacy of invasion and the plundering of foreign property were very bitter. Even doubts were raised about the rationality of the Indians. Some argued that if the Indians did not prove they were human, their goods could be pillaged. Furthermore, their worship of idols made them guilty of idolatry.The first Franciscans arrived in Mexico in 1523: two priests died in the first months, and a friar remained to welcome, in 1524, twelve Franciscan missionaries, called the “Twelve Apostles,” to whom official responsibility for evangelizing the new land was entrusted through the bull Omnimoda. In 1527, Pope Clement VII appointed as bishop of Mexico a very humble, simple, intelligent, and orthodox friar: Friar Juan de Zumárraga.Before 1531, there were approximately 35 missionaries, some Dominicans and very few diocesan. They began to structure the Church officially, a missionary Church by vocation. The Franciscans, holy and wise men of their time, sought to evangelize according to contemporary theology, driven by the desire to snatch the souls of the Indians from the clutches of the demon who manifested himself through the gods. Conversions occurred, of course, but in small numbers.We must also consider the internal problems of the Spaniards. In 1528, the terrible Nuno de Guzmán, or the “infernal demon of greed,” as described by the first bishop of Mexico, Friar Juan de Zumárraga, was president of the First Audience. That is, the main civil government was committing many crimes, kidnappings, rapes, and robberies, creating a true climate of terror and provoking the indignation of the missionaries who defended the Indians.This chaos reached its climax with some brutal acts decided by Nuno de Guzmán: he decreed the death penalty for any Indian who approached the bishop. He imprisoned, tortured, and killed Spanish defenders of the Indians, obviously causing outrage. He struck the Franciscans who intervened to save these victims’ lives and finally, backed by members of the First Audience, attempted to kill with spears Bishop Friar Juan de Zumárraga. “It is a true miracle that the bishop managed to save his life.”The bishop reacted by excommunicating the members of the First Audience and issuing an interdict over Mexico City. With great indignation, he ordered the sacred altars stripped of their altar pieces, the Holy Sacrament consumed, and commanded the priests to leave the city immediately. Aware that there was no human solution, Friar Juan de Zumárraga wrote to the King of Spain in 1529:*”It seems just right to inform Your Most Serene Majesty that the things happening here are so grave that if God does not intervene with the remedy of His hand, this land is on the brink of total collapse.”*In addition, the mestizos (mixed-race people) also did not enjoy a good reputation, considered by the natives as products of violations, and by the Spanish as products of war. The first missionaries recounted the terrible situation of these despised and abandoned beings who sought remains in market trash to survive. Undoubtedly, God heard the prayer-cry that Friar Juan de Zumárraga uttered with such anguish and intervened through Saint Mary of Guadalupe to come to the aid of her children in need. This extraordinary act opened a very important phase in the history of salvation for the Latin American continent, as St. John Paul II affirmed in *Ecclesia in America* n. 70:*”The mestizo face of Our Lady of Guadalupe from the beginning constituted a symbol of the inculturation of evangelization, of which She was the star and guide. With Her powerful intercession, evangelization can penetrate into the hearts of men and women of America, and permeate their cultures by transforming them from within.”***The Apparitions**Before dawn on Saturday, December 9, 1531, **a widower, Juan Diego (1474-1548)**, originally named Cuautlacoactzin meaning *he who speaks like an eagle*, a converted Christian for six or seven years, an orphan from Tlayacac in Cuautitlan, reached the foot of Tepeyac Hill to the northwest of Mexico City.The morning dawned, and he heard birds singing on the hill as if it were a beautiful celestial melody. He looked towards the top of the hill, from where this precious heavenly song seemed to come, when suddenly the song stopped and silence reigned. He then heard a voice coming from the hill, saying: *Juanito, Juan Dieguito*. He ventured closer to the location from which he had been called. When he reached the summit, he saw a Lady standing, inviting him to approach.Upon doing so, he marveled at her superhuman greatness. Her clothing shone like the sun. The rock on which she stood glowed with light as if surrounded by a ring of precious stones, and the earth shone like a rainbow.

The mesquite trees, nopal cacti, and other weeds that grew in this place looked like emeralds, their foliage like turquoise, their branches and thorns like gold. He bowed down before her and listened to her word, gentle and tender as one who captivates and deeply enchants.

“Juanito, the humblest of my children, where are you going?”

“My Lady, I must go to Mexico City, to follow the divine things that are taught and given to us by our priests and our delegates and by Our Lord.”

“Know and understand well, you, the youngest of my children, that I am the ever-Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of True God for whom we exist, the Creator of all things, Lord of heaven and earth.

I would like a church to be built quickly in this place, so that I may show you and give you my love, my compassion, my help, and my protection, since I am your merciful Mother, to you, to all the inhabitants of this land, and to all those who love me, invoke me, and trust in me.

I hear your complaints and relieve your miseries, your needs, and your pains. To fulfill what my mercy demands, go to the Episcopal Palace in Mexico City and tell them that I manifest a great desire: that here, on this plain, a church be built in my honor.

You will tell in detail everything you saw and admired and what you heard. Know that I shall be extremely grateful to you and reward you, for I will make you happy and worthy of reward for the effort and endeavor you put into this mission. Behold, you have heard my instructions, my humble child, go and do all you can.”.

At that point, he bowed down before her and said:

“My Lady, I will obey your instructions. Now I must leave you, your humble servant.”

Juan goes directly to the bishop’s palace in Mexico City. He requests an audience with Bishop of the diocese, Dom Juan de Zumárraga, a Franciscan. After a long wait, the prelate agrees to see him. Juan Diego recounts his recent experience.

“You are leaving, my son, and I shall be pleased to hear you. I will reconsider everything from the beginning and reflect on the vows and desires for which you have come.”, said the prelate.

Disappointed, Juan Diego leaves the palace and returns to Tepeyac Hill. The Lady awaits him. He kneels before her and tells her:

**Quote:**> “«Lady, I have been where you sent me, to obey your instructions. It was with much difficulty that I entered the bishop’s office. I saw him and told him your message. He received me kindly and listened attentively, but his response revealed he did not believe me. I beg you earnestly, Lady, to entrust the delivery of your message to a distinguished person, well-known and held in respect, so that they may be believed. For I am nothing; I am but a rope. Please forgive this great inconvenience and do not be angry with me, Lady»”**Lady’s Response:**> ««Listen, you must understand that I have many servants and messengers to whom I can entrust delivering my message and fulfilling my desire, but it is to you that I am addressing myself and asking you to help so that through your mediation my request be fulfilled. I implore you fervently, the youngest of my children, and command you with firmness to go tomorrow and meet with the bishop. You will go in my name and inform him fully of my request, according to which I ask him to begin construction on a church. And also tell him that it is I, the ever-Virgin and Holy Mary, who sent you»»**Juan Diego’s Response:**> ««I do not wish to displease you. I will gladly and willingly obey your instructions. Tomorrow afternoon, at sunset, I will return to deliver the response to your message to the bishop»»**The Following Day:**Juan Diego returned to the episcopal palace around 10 in the morning. The bishop made him wait. He received Juan Diego rigorously questioning him about the apparitions. Then, he closed the conversation by asking for a *sign* from Lady of Tepeyac.Exclaiming, Juan Diego said:> ««Monseigneur, Monseigneur, what sign do you ask for? In fact, I will ask the Lady from Heaven who sent me»»Bishop de Zumárraga asked his assistants to keep an eye on Juan Diego. They followed him but lost sight of him as he crossed a stream on a bridge near Tepeyac. Their report to the bishop was negative: Juan Diego was a liar.**That Night:**Lady appeared to Juan Diego once again in the same place. She told him:> **”Very well, my little one, you will return tomorrow to bring the bishop the sign he asked of you. Then he will believe you. And know this, my little one, that I will reward you for your diligence and efforts towards Me. I’ll see you here tomorrow.”**On Monday, December 11, 1531, Juan Diego does not return to see the bishop: his uncle, Juan Bernardino, is seriously ill and asks him to go find a priest to confess before he dies.The following morning, as dawn breaks, Juan sets out for church in Tlatelolco. On reaching the crossroads leading up to Tepeyac hill, he thinks to himself: **”If I continue down this path, Our Lady will surely see me, and she might hold me back so that I can deliver to the prelate the sign as agreed.”** He decides to take a detour around the hill. Suddenly, he sees Our Lady descending from the top of the hill towards him. **”What is it, my child? Where are you going?”** she asks him. Juan explains his uncle’s critical condition.She replies:> **”Listen to Me and understand well. Nothing should frighten or trouble your heart. Your soul is not disturbed. Do not fear this illness or any other sickness or suffering. Am I not here, your Mother? Are you not under My protection? Do not grieve over your uncle’s illness; he will not die. Do not worry: he is healed now. Go to the top of the hill. Where you saw Me and where I gave you instructions, you will see a variety of flowers. Cut them, gather them, collect them, and then come and present them before Me.”**Upon reaching the summit, Juan Diego notices that roses have bloomed in that season. He picks them and gathers them into his tilma (mantle), then descends towards Our Lady.> **”This variety of roses is a test and a sign that you will bring to the bishop. You shall tell him in My name that he will see My pledge here and that he must act accordingly. You are My ambassador, the most trustworthy. I strictly order you not to open your cloak except in the presence of the bishop, and to show him what you are wearing.”**Juan hurriedly went to the bishop, who made him wait. Skeptical, many asked him to reveal what was hidden beneath his cloak. As they drew near, they were amazed to see full-blooming roses in mid-December. One of them reported this fact to the bishop. The prelate ordered Juan Diego to enter. Juan recounted to him what the apparition had requested and how he had gathered the roses on top of the hill.He says to him: “Here, receive them.” The Indian then opens his cloak. The roses fall to the ground, revealing a depiction of the Virgin on the fabric of the tilma. The bishop and Juan Diego fall to their knees. After praying, the prelate places the cloak in his private chapel. The next day, Mons. de Zumárraga asks Juan Diego to show him the place where the apparition wishes for a church to be built. Upon returning home, Juan Diego finds his uncle healed.He relates that he also saw the Virgin who informed him about his nephew’s mission to the bishop and requested to be called “Our Lady of Guadalupe.” A miraculous spring gushed forth at the site of the apparition.To delve deeper into the Marian dimension of the Guadalupe apparitions, consult Pope Paul VI’s Apostolic Exhortation *Marialis Cultus* on the authentic Marian cult and the *Dictionary of Mariology* for information on Marian apparitions.For further study: explore Mariology, Mariana Theology, Marian Apparitions, and a Post-Graduate program in Mariology.

View the complete list of recognized Marian apparitions by the Church.