Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Americas, appeared to an Indian, Juan Diego, in December 1531 at Tepeyac, the site of the Aztec mother-goddess Tonantzin, speaking to him in his own language, Nahuatl. She asked that the bishop build a church on the site of her appearance. The bishop scoffed at Juan’s story and demanded a sign. Three days later, Juan Diego took a different path to avoid the beautiful lady. She appeared again and asked him to pick some of the roses growing on the hill, despite the winter season, and take them to the bishop as her sign. As Juan was giving them to the bishop, the roses fell out of his cloak. The bishop gasped and went down on his knees. On the cloak was the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The cloak with the image hangs today in the Basilica of Mexico where pilgrims visit it, preserved without scientific explanation despite 500 years of aging.

Mary’s appearance in Mexico has always held a very special place in the hearts of Mexicans, Mexican-Americans and other Latin Americans. She appeared as a "mestiza," taking on the coloring of the mixed Spanish and Indian heritage, during a time when the Indians were suffering political domination and exploitation by Spanish conquistadors. Her visit and appearance to Juan Diego is filled with symbols of meaning for us today. He was a poor Indian, someone that people did not value because of his economic, ethnic and educational status. Yet, it was his faith and devotion to his religious duties that earned Juan Diego her personal favor and request to carry out her wishes. Her compelling message is that God loves the poor, humble and oppressed and desires their freedom from the powerful. She appeared wearing a rose-colored gown with a maternity band, a "cinta," indicating she was pregnant with life. She calls us today, as she called Juan Diego, to receive her personal favor and heed her request to give life to others. Her message is especially personal to me in my commitment as a member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ (ASC), an international community with 1,850 sisters in 26 countries, called to ministries in health care, education, long-term care and social justice here and abroad.

The anticipation and excitement of her feast, Dec. 12, began on Dec. 9, the Feast of St. Juan Diego, celebrating the first of Mary’s appearances. In predominantly Hispanic communities, her name begins to be mentioned in the media as area churches prepare for her feast day. As her feast day falls on a Sunday this year, many churches will celebrate it on the morning of December 13. In Mexico City celebrations are held at the Basilica, where Mexico’s leading entertainers and spiritual leaders begin the hours before midnight in honoring her with song, folk dance, and praise. Many in the United States, including myself, look forward to staying up late to watch the televised celebrations.

Churches are decorated with roses and banners in the colors of Mexico-red, white and green. In some Catholic churches "Guadalupanas," societies of women who promote devotion to her, may organize the preparations. These can include novenas prayed for nine days in advance, and on Dec. 12, her feast day begins with early morning serenades of mariachi music and processions of pilgrims carrying roses led by her image on a banner. Mass is celebrated followed by a delicious breakfast of tamales, menudo, pan dulce, and hot chocolate. Every celebration is unique to the size and resources of the parish, but no expense is spared in opening hearts to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

In heeding Our Lady’s call we may feel like Juan Diego did, unworthy and wishing to take a different path. Her words to Juan reassure us that faith and trust will help us choose the right path. What are your gifts? How and where can they be used in Christian service? What are your lifestyle requirements? How will you make a difference? My Congregation, the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, may be able to help you answer these questions. We offer as one of our ministries, LifeChoices®, a spiritual and vocational guidance program to help both young women and men thoughtfully explore big picture questions about career, lifestyle and spirituality and how they all fit together in service to God’s people.

We all have a vocation. God calls us in different ways. Some of us are invited to serve others through ordained ministry or a religious community. For others, our vocation is as a single or married person. Joy can be found in knowing God’s will for us. I invite you to try LifeChoices® to help choose the right path. For more information about the LifeChoices®, contact me at 1 (877) 280-7732 or mendozaj@adorers.org.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is with us and can help us in our discernment. Her "yes" to being the mother of Jesus, the Mother of God, gives us life. "Let not your heart be disturbed. Am I not here, who is your Mother? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything."