(1531) In December 1531, a “Lady from Heaven” appeared four times on a hill northwest of Mexico City to Saint Juan Diego and once to his uncle, Juan Bernardino. The Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary, asked Juan to insist that Archbishop Juan de Zumarraga have a church built at the site of their meeting. The Archbishop demanded a miraculous sign to assure her identity as the Mother of Jesus. Mary instructed Juan Diego to collect Castile roses into his tilma that he found on Tepeyac Hill, which are not native to Mexico. When he dropped the tilma to show the flowers to the archbishop, the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was revealed on the tilma.
There are many miraculous aspects to the image of Guadalupe. In recovery, miracles are anticipated. The skeptic embraces a worldview that will always explain away the miraculous. How do you become or remain open-minded to the miraculous in recovery?
“I want, very much, to have a little house built here for me, in which I will show Him, I will exalt Him and make Him manifest. I will give Him to the people in all my personal love, in my compassion, in my help, in my protection because I am truly your merciful Mother” (Our Lady of Guadalupe).
Reflection by Brad Farmer