Today is the feast of St. Juan Diego. For four days in 1531,
the story goes, he saw Mary on a hilltop in Mexico City. The vision he saw was
imprinted on his cactus-fiber cloak. For years, Catholics have recalled this
event on December 12, the day the image showed up on the cloak. And since 2002,
we have celebrated the feast of Juan Diego on December 9, the day of the first
vision – when Mary sent a Mexican peasant to talk to the bishop.
A few years ago, Hillary Clinton saw that beautiful image on
the rough cloak, and asked who painted it. That was a great question! When I
think of her, I pray with all my heart that she gets a clear and satisfying
answer to that question!
I saw the image in 1972. That was the beginning of my
pro-life work: I organized a small pilgrimage from Boston to Guadalupe, praying
for unborn children and their mothers. Roe v. Wade was already decided, although
it was not announced; I had no idea what was about to happen.
There was a period of time when historians wondered whether
Juan Diego ever existed, or whether he was just a pious legend. He’s canonized now;
the historical debate subsided. But there’s a startling detail in the image
itself. It’s about as clear as a cloud that looks like a camel, or an early
ultrasound image: maybe you see something, maybe you don’t. But in the image
(on rough cactus), in the pupil of Mary’s eye, some people think they see a
reflection of a narrow face with two eyes, a nose, and a beard – Mary looking
at Juan Diego.
Be clear: if Juan Diego wanted to immigrate, he would bounce
right off the border. He was not wealthy, and was not a physician or
specialized engineer. He would not be welcome here. We do not have a line, long
or short, that he could get into if he wanted to wait patiently. St. Juan Diego
would never ever be eligible for immigration into the United States.
Be clear: Juan Diego knew he was second-class (or much
lower) in European-controlled Mexico. He had no European ancestors, and he was
treated with disdain – not by everyone, but by many proud Spaniards. The more things
change, the more they stay the same.
Be clear: the miracle in Mexico (assuming, as I do, that
there was a miracle) involved a deliberate and unmistakable choice by Mary to
take her place with the poor and dispossessed. That’s not Communist
revisionism. In the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, she does not look
European; she looks like a native of Mexico – and that was deliberate. She is
covered in non-European symbols. The missionary to the Irish was Patrick; the missionary
to the Germans was Boniface; the missionary to Japan was Francis Xavier; etc,
etc. But the missionary to the Mexicans was Mary.
If Catholics are willing to accept it, the Virgin of
Guadalupe is a unifying figure. She is the Patroness of all America – not the
north, nor the south, but all.
If Catholics are willing to accept it, the Virgin of
Guadalupe is a unifying figure. She is considered by many pro-lifers to be the
patroness of the unborn. And she is the voice and protector for mestizos, the
people of mixed heritage in America.
If Catholics are willing to accept it, the Virgin of
Guadalupe is a unifying figure. Migrant farmworkers (frequently undocumented
immigrants) and pro-lifers look to her for inspiration and support.