THE ADVENT FOCUS ON THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY CONTINUES THROUGH ST. JUAN DIEGO...........

It was to, as Our Lady of Guadalupe, to Juan Diego, a humble, lowly, Aztec Indian, on December 9, 1531, that the Blessed Mother appeared to, in three apparitions.  She asked young Juan to request that the local bishop build a church on the site of her appearance.  Juan delayed until after her second apparition to make the request of the Bishop, who declined to do so.  At her third apparition to Juan Diego, Our Lady of Gudalupe told him to place roses in his tilma, (cape) and take them to the Bishop. in the presence of the Bishop the roses transformed into her own image, and was he was convinced of the merits of the appeal, and built a chapel on the site.  Pilgrims have flocked to what is now the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, through these centuries since, thanks to the humble fidelity of Juan Diego, and his courage in doing as Our Lady requested him to do.  A shining example to all Believers in Jesus Christ, that whoever we are, young, old, poor, or rich, lowly, or humble, that we possess the ability to do God's Will and fulfill our mission, by agreeing to respond to the Divine initiatives put before us.  Being Advent People may we welcome the Lord's Coming and answer the Call that Jesus, the Blessed Mother, or the Holy Spirit, is inviting us to respond to today...........Fr.  Troy