628. December 12, Our Lady of Guadalupe
Meditations no. 555 (unofficial computer-aided translation)
In Guadalupe the Blessed Virgin shows herself as a loving Mother who anticipates her childrenās needs.
Who is this that comes forth like the dawn, as beautiful as the moon, as resplendent as the sun?
On December 9th, 1531, our Lady appeared to a Mexican Indian named Juan Diego. According to the historical documents of the time, she spoke to him as follows: Know for certain, dearest of my sons, that I am the perpetual Virgin Mary, Mother of the
True God, through whom everything lives, the Lord of all things, who is Master of heaven and earth. I ardently desire a temple to be built here for meā¦ I will show and offer all my love, my compassion, my help and my protection to the people. I am your merciful Mother, the Mother of all who live united in this land, and of all mankind, of all those who love me, of those who cry to me, of those who have confidence in me. Here I will hear their weeping and their sorrows, and will remedy and alleviate their sufferings, necessities and misfortunes.
After further apparitions, the Blessed Virgin gave Juan Diego a sign, so that the Church authorities would believe his message. Our Lady handed him roses growing at the height of winter, which the Indian placed in his cloak. Upon unfolding the garment before the Bishop of Mexico, holy Maryās image was left miraculously imprinted on it. Today it is venerated in the Basilica of Guadalupe.
Under this invocation, our Lady shows herself as filled with mercy towards her little children. All the images of our Lady enkindle our heart, but this one has special meaning for us. Our Father undertook his first journey to America in 1970 to venerate holy Mary in her image of Guadalupe. Over nine consecutive days, he spent many hours in prayer at her feet in the Villa of Guadalupe, entrusting to our Lady the intentions that filled his heart.
He told us around that time: My beloved daughters and sons, you will have asked yourselves why I have been travelling lately front one Marian shrine to another in many countries, in a continual pilgrimage, which also gives me an opportunity to thank our Lord for being able to meet thousands of his daughters and sons in Opus Dei.
What is the Father asking for? Well, at the feet of our holy Mother Mary, the all-powerful supplicant, the Father is asking for peace in the world, for the sanctity of the Church, of the Work and of each of his daughters and sons.
Pray, closely united with my prayer, and especially with the intentions of my Mass. That way you will share in the blessed unity of the whole Work, and you will get the strength to persevere at our wonderful work of sowing peace and joy, with ever greater love and sacrifice, throughout the length and breadth of creation.
Our Fatherās pilgrimage to the Villa of Guadalupe to pray for the Church and the Work.
Today we want to pray using words our founder addressed to the Blessed Virgin in her Basilica of Guadalupe. They will move us not to slacken in our petition for the Church, for the Work, and for all souls, which were our founderās intentions.
It makes me very happy to see with my own eyes, physically, and with my understanding and heart, this Mother of God and our Mother, who is always attentive to her children. Our Lady lived-and lives-to bring peace, happiness and strength to others. We came here to ask with a lot of trust, to ask and to feel ourselves very much Godās children, since she is the Mother of God.
Have you seen how people are eager to pay homage to a famous person, to a queen? Everyone is excited when that person passes by; and if she happens to look at them, they are filled with a joy they wouldnāt exchange for anything in the world; and they recount the meeting, time and again. People pay homage to famous persons on earth, my Mother, but you are the Queen of heaven and earth!
We come here with so much love, but at times we are at a loss for words. And you are-I insist-our Mother, our Queen, who can do all things. I advise you, in these moments especially, to go back to your childhood and try to recall the first time you prayed to the Blessed Virgin. I recall it so clearly myself. Pray now with the same confidence as then, making use, if necessary, of those simple and pious prayers that you learned from your motherās lips.
Years ago in Spain, and I imagine now as well, people used to say: ārezarle a la Virgen,ā āpray to the Blessed Virgin.ā And when the month of May came, everyone brought her flowers. I also did so, as they do in this wonderful Mexican nation. Now, since I have nothing else, I only bring you thorns, Lady, the ones I bear in my heart. But Iām certain that through your intercession they will become roses.
How many of my children today, all over the world, will bring you flowers! And they will be united to the petition I present to you now with so much sorrow. Donāt fail to heed our petition soon: how urgent it is! And here in this Mexico blessed by you, where there are such splendid roses all year long, we find in this material detail another reason to speak with you and beg you to bring forth in our hearts throughout the entire year little roses: those of everyday, ordinary life, but filled with the incense of sacrifice and love. Iāve intentionally said ālittleā roses, since thatās whatās best for me. All my life my only concern has been ordinary, everyday things, and frequently I havenāt been able to finish even these. But Iām certain that it is in this commonplace activity that you and your Son await me.
Recalling this early childhood deed, carried out with a desire to render you homage, it is easier for me, my Mother, to boldly and confidently take hold of your hand. Now I do the same as then. Although in this upper balcony of your church I am physically higher than you-you understand what Iām trying to say, since I know full well that Iām made of poor tin; whatever has no value floats, it rises easily to the top; but what has real value, gold, lies hidden, and serves as a support and foundation. Forgive me, my Mother. By speaking in this way I only want to beg you to see me, to look upon me. Here I am, because you can do everything, because you love!
Confidence in our Motherās intercession.
Our Father prayed before our Lady of Guadalupe: Protect us from everything that can prevent us from being your children, everything that attempts to destroy our way or adulterate our vocationā¦ The devil can do nothing against you. How can I fail to be filled with confidence by this certainty? Hail Mary, Daughter of God the Father. Hail Mary, Mother of God the Son. Hail Mary, Spouse of God the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, Temple of the Most Blessed Trinity, greater than you, no one but God! Show that you are our Mother! Shine forth!
We reach the Son only through you; and through the Son, we come to the Father and the Holy Spirit. And we feel the need to immerse ourselves in the love of the three divine Persons, who do not abandon their creatures. Iāve come to Mexico filled with trust to tell you once again, both with words and with my heart, that we are very sure of you, and of all that you have given us, that Iām very sure of my daughters and sons, and of the secure way that your Son has marked out for us.
We have no other ambition than to serve your Son and, through Him and with your help, all souls. I tell you now with my heart inflamed: monstra te esse Matrem! And donāt answer me: monstra te esse filium! Though Iām well aware of my littleness, I donāt know what else I can do. If I can do anything else, tell me, tell me! And I will do so with your help, because on my own I canāt do it.
Iām deeply moved by the acclamations now being sung to you in this church: shining beacon!, throne of glory! We have recourse to your intercession here, because you are a throne and beacon to find your Son, who you want to give to us. I love you as much as I know how. Iāve made so many mistakes in my life, but I love you with all the strength of my soul. Tell us what we have to do, and with your grace we will do it.
You see we are doing what we can. We come here to love the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We come here to love you. Be strength for our lives, light for our darkness, health for the spiritual infirmities that we fight against. We rest in you, we trust in you.
If a small child asks his mother for something, surely any mother is moved. A small son is asking you for something, a son who people foreign to the Work can mistreat and step on, and some do so knowingly! There is no mother, I insist, who would be unmoved if her son were to open his heart as I have with so much hope. Listen to us; I know that you will do so!
Pray for us sinners! We have not come this far to pray as hypocrites. We know the stuff we are made of. Pray for us sinners, for that is what we are. But we also know that you are Refugium peccatorum!, Auxilium Christianorum! Therefore all Christians pray to you with complete trust, as do we, since only you are the strength uniting us to your Son, and you will never abandon us.
We have the assurance that our heavenly Mother always hears us, as she listened to our founderās ardent prayer in 1970. But we need to correspond to her maternal vigilance. We have to truly give ourselves, each day with more love. Near the end of his pilgrimage to our Lady of Guadalupe, our Father said: We need to give our Lord our whole heart. Jesus isnāt satisfied with half-hearted dedication. See if in your heart there is any corner that is not Godās, and cast out whatever gets in the way. Look how jealous our Lord is. He wants everything, everything! We are entirely his, arenāt we? And whoever doesnāt see himself as such, may he clean and burn out whatever he has to, until his heart becomes a resplendent ruby, through the Immaculate Heart of our holy Mother Mary of Guadalupe.