www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Our Lady of Guadalupe

Thank you brother Memo...I have a deep devotion for Our Lady of Guadalupe.

james, currently wandering about in the high desert within the Arizona Territory...

Hi,

Let's move on to the next "episode" to save only the big climax for tomorrow.

When Juan Diego arrived at the Bishop�s palace, it was still dark, and the Bishop�s servants did not allow him it.

So he waited, and since he waited for a long time, the servants began to observe him, and they noticed he was carrying something in his tilma. Initially, Juan Diego resisted their attempts to make him show them what he had, but finally, he was forced to show the flowers.

The servants were amazed of their variety, beauty and freshness, so they tried to seize some for themselves, not once, but three times, but they couldn�t, because the flowers appeared to be painted or embroidered on the tilma.

Because of this, they became afraid, and went to the Bishop to tell him what had happened.

Zumarraga was intrigued because of this, but he knew he�d requested proof, and now Juan Diego was back and strange things were happening, so he immediately called Juan Diego in.

The narrative goes to tell Juan Diego�s own account, and it makes explicit mention that Juan Diego�s demeanor was submissive and entirely respectful. He limits his account to the facts pertaining his encounter with Our Lady, and makes no mention whatsoever of his uncle�s illness (which the narrative then makes clear was still troubling him), nor the hardships he had to endure with the Bishop�s servants.

Juan Diego�s mission was to speak for Our Lady to request the shrine to be built, and he fulfills his mission showing not only willingness and generosity, but politeness and good manners as well.

Here is his account:

It is quite important that we do have Juan Diego�s own account, because it is not only the writer speaking to the native culture, but also the tale told, entirely from the native perspective.

Here we can clearly see some elements discussed before, such as the significance of flowers, and the importance given to the fact the message, and the sign was intended for the Bishop, and for him alone, to the point to having the servants supernaturally prevented from grabbing what was not theirs to grab. The message was clear: the Bishop, even if he was a foreigner and kin to the conquistadores, was a legitimate messenger from God, and if the people of the New World were going to enter into a new, and more perfect relationship with God, they had to accept the Bishop, and the Church he represented.

More on this, later.

I guess we all know what happened next, but we will discuss it tomorrow.

Thanks!

Shalom,
Memo

Dear Friends,

I'm just wondering if Orthodox Christians venerate Our Lady of Guadalupe and if they would consider her image an icon . . .?

An Orthodox website once had my akathist to Our Lady of Guadalupe on it - but it was removed when they realized it was a Catholic akathist .

And I got a stern talking-to in an e-mail . . .

Alex

I believe that the Icon image has been scrutinized many times...and was found to be not made by human hands...I do get lost at times with the images within the holy Mother's eyes...amazing.

james, still out yonder...wandering this beautiful desert...

Hi,

So Juan Diego opened his tilma and here is the narrative of what happened next:

By the way, that expression in Nos. 183 and 184 is still true today, we still have the joy to keep the beloved image there at the Tepeyac. This is remarkable, because the material of the tilma should have decayed several centuries ago. These garments were not supposed to outlive their owners, let alone last for over 450 years.

More importantly, we need to understand the significance of images in the Aztec culture.

Aztec writing was ideographic. The Aztecs used images as the main means of communication and an image of the Mother of God was, for them, a perfect catechesis.

Now, the image came to be through a supernatural intervention from God. It was not just any other image, it was an image painted by the hand of God.

On top of that, the image appeared on a tilma. The tilma was the symbolic representation of its owner. Aztec marriage rite consisted in tying together the man�s tilma to the woman�s huipil.

A miraculous image on a tilma was a most eloquent and strong sign of the intimacy and reality of God�s presence among us. To the Aztecs, this was the equivalent of what had been for the Hebrews �The Word was made flesh, and placed His tent among us�.

There is, however, another level of significance of this image.

It is oftentimes overlooked that, despite the pomp and grandeur of the Aztec Emperor, his authority was limited to civil and military affairs.

Even the Emperor (Tlatoani) deferred to the religious authority of the priests or �Tlamatinime�.

The two highest offices among the priests was of the Teomama (plural Teomamaque), which literally means �God bearer�, and who did just that, they carried the idols around for religious ceremonies, which included consultation to the idol, a thing only them could perform.

Even higher than the Teomamaque was the Amoxhua (plural Amoxhuaque), which means �guardian of the codex�, and these where in charge of writing, reading and interpreting Aztec Scripture (Ideograms, remember?), the �Magisterium� of the Aztec religious system.

God intended the image of Our Lady to be the new codex of Aztec Scripture, and by sending the image specifically to Bishop Zumarraga, He was designating the Bishop as the new Amoxhua, legitimately replacing the ones from old, in a similar way Christian priesthood replaced the Levitic priesthood.

�Do what he says�, is the message Our Lady was giving our people with respect of the Bishop, �he legitimately speaks for my Son�.

But also, by sending the image through Juan Diego, he became the new Teomama, subordinated in authority to the Bishop, but not in dignity and value as a human person.

This was a very clear statement that God wanted the natives to be treated as equals to the conquistadores, and the message was given in such a way that it was eloquent to both sides of the equation.

We will continue later.

Comments?

Shalom,
Memo

Not sure about all Orthodox, but down here the OCA parish has a BIG image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, but haven't had the chance to ask the Bishop about it.

Hermano Memo, muchas gracias por guardar la historia de Nuestra Se�ora y compartirla.

God bless

Didn't someone write a Byzantine office to the Virgin of Guadalupe? I remember seeing it once in a Ruthenian Church.

Hi again,

Thank you all for your kind words. I am very glad to be able to share these things with you.

Shall we conclude the narrative?

Juan Diego�s uncle was supposed to be very sick, remember?

Juan Diego gave first priority to his mission. He trusted Our Lady with his uncle�s health.

However, after showing the site to Bishop Zumarraga, he decided it was time to move on and to check on his uncle.

He asked the Bishop for his leave, and the Bishop sent him home, but not alone, rather, with an escort.

The narrative mentions the escort only as a special honor, but it is very reasonable to think the Bishop was still being cautious and investigating the details of the event with due care, so it is rather safe to presume these escorts were tasked with the verification of Juan Diego�s story with regards to his uncle and his health.

They were in for another surprise, because they did not only found Juan Bernardino in perfect health, but also, when Juan Diego finally told his uncle about the apparitions, his mission, and the assurance he received from Our Lady about his uncle�s health, Juan Bernardino replied:

Again, we need to understand Aztec culture.

Few cultures in the world have been more respectful of elders than the Aztecs. Even being merely disrespectful to an elder was considered a capital crime and yes, it carried the death penalty.

By appearing to Juan Diego�s elderly uncle and by giving him the precise title with which she wanted to be know, Our Lady was sending the clear message that God did not consider ALL the old ways of the Aztecs to be wrong, that there were many good things in their culture and their way of life, and that these good things were to be honored, preserved and perfected with the Gospel.

Now, it is fairly safe to assume �Guadalupe� was not the original form, which was probably �Coatlaxopeuh�, literally �who crushes the snake�, of quite obvious meaning. However, it is providential that this was the final form of the name.

It is clear that �Guadalupe� is not Nahuatl, as the language didn�t have consonant phonics for G or D. But it was not originally Spanish either.

Although there was already a Marian image called �Guadalupe� in Spain, the name comes from the Arabic �Wadi Al-Lub�, which means more or less �river of black pebbles�.

The Marian image was called that because of the name of a village, where the image was found, after being �lost� for several centuries.

The image was originally given to the Spanish church in the late 6th century, however, it was �hidden� shortly after the Moorish invasion early in the 8th century.

The image was found again in 1326, when the war to reclaim Spain from the Moors was making good progress, so the image became very popular, and associated with Spanish national identity, just as this new �Guadalupe� would become for the Mexican people.

So here we have a Jewish girl, with a Muslim name, Mother of the Christian God, known and beloved in Spain, who will become the very soul of the new-born Mexican nation.

Quite fitting for the one who wanted �to be a compassionate mother to all of you, yours and of all the people who live together in this land, and of all the other people of different ancestries, those who love me, those who cry to me, those who seek me, those who honor me by putting their trust in my intercession�.

The narrative concludes as follows:

The story doesn�t end with a particularly high note. The Bishop carried out Our Lady�s request, and people were interested in visiting the image.

However, veiled between these two lines and in the history of what happened next, lies a most significant fact.

Surely among those who came to see the image and who recognized the divine origin of the image were the Amoxhuaque of old.

They understood God was giving them a message, and they accepted the message, even if the message was that it was time for their religion to give way to the Gospel.

The Amoxhuaque brought back the message to their people and shortly after the �Guadalupe event�, the natives began to request Baptism by the millions.

And to this day, with the impressive scientific progress we�ve accomplished, a satisfactory, natural explanation of the image and the preservation of the tilma is still pending.

But even more significant and wonderful than that is the faith of the people, and the unity the Lady of the Tepeyac inspires in her children.

May her powerful, and loving intercession guard our faith. May our father among the saints, St. Juan Diego Cuauhutlatoatzin pray for us all. Amen.

I saw somewhere in the internet about image Our Lady of Guadalupe symbolism. For instance, her robe texture, stars on her mantle, feather on her robe, etc.
I searched but can't find the site anymore.

Hi,

There is just so much that can be said about the image itself!

Here are just a few bits and pieces:

The image is of a young woman with obvious �mestizo� complexion. �Mestizo� is a Spanish word, which I do not know how to translate very well. It literally means �mixed-race�, and it is the word to describe the children of a Spaniard (usually the father) and a Native (usually the mother).

Originally it had the negative connotation �mixed-race� sometime has in English, but not any more. In Mexico, the vast majority of the population is �mestizo�, not only ethnically, but culturally as well, and we are very proud of it. Not in the least because that makes us like the image of the Queen of Heaven.

The height of the image is 143 centimeters, or a little under 5 feet, consistent with the height of a mestizo girl between the ages of 18 and 20, in that time.

Her face reflects a serene tenderness, freshness and strength. Her almond-shaped eyes are partially closed, and are not looking directly to the front, but through the corner of the eye. This was regarded as the polite way to look to someone you cared about a lot, the way the bride looks at her groom, the way a mother looks at her children. It was the way God looked upon the world to create life and order.

Her hair falls free under her mantle. This was typical of pregnant women, a special honor semi-reserved for them.

Her pregnancy is quite obvious because her abdomen is taller than it is wider.

The image itself shows adherence to an almost universal beauty standard called �Golden Proportion�, which is a height/width ratio consistent with masterpieces from cultures as diverse as the Mesopotamians, the Greeks and the Romans.

In the center of these �architectural� elements, we find her womb, and specifically, the four-petal flower (Flowers! Flowers! Remember?), the Aztecs called �Nahui Ollin�, which represented the fullness, the center of the universe (both conceived as space and time), and the presence of God.

Her hands are over her chest, put together in a posture we could (wrongly) interpret as one of prayer. No, this is not the Aztec posture for prayer, it is the Aztec posture of �I have a gift for you, because I love you, and I have it hidden here, right behind my hands�.

She is clothed with sunshine and standing on the moon, which evokes the Book of Revelations, but it has an additional meaning for the Aztecs. Tonatiuh, the Sun, was one of the major deities of the Aztec religion, he was regarded as an expression of Teotl, the One True God, the One Our Lady is claiming to be the mother of. The Moon, on the other hand, Mezti, was a very close diety, very familiar, because she, with her astronomical cycle, represented the cycle of fertility in the women, and therefore, of the archetype of women, mother-earth. The Nahua roots for �Mexico� are �Metz-xic-co�, which means �on the center of the moon�.

So, the girl clothed with the Sun, pregnant of the new Sun of Justice, is standing on the center of the moon (that is, �right here�), to bring us the New Life.

Her belt, barely visible over her womb has a trapezoid shape, which represents the change of the era, and it belongs to the child in her womb, Jesus Christ, Alpha and Omega, Lord of the Old World, and the New one.

She has her left knee slightly flexed. One could think, as if walking towards the viewer. But the Aztecs probably saw something different: She has initiated the sacred dance, and she is expecting the viewer to follow suit. She comes to bring Christ to the New World, however, the next step, that of accepting Christ and live by His Law, that is a step we have to take.

Her mantle is an accurate star map. It depicts the heavens above the Anahuac valley and the positions of the stars are entirely consistent with the ones observed from the Tepeyac during the early morning of December 12th, 1531.

But backwards. That is, the mantle shows the stars as if seen �from above� the firmament, that is, from eternity. She is who she is, not by means or merits of her own, but by the same grace her Son offers to her first, and to all of us.

Her entire image points not to herself, but to Him, who (in her own words) is �my merciful gaze, my help, my salvation�, He who is Nelli Teotl (The Very True God), Ipalnemohuani (The Giver of Life), Teyocoyani (The Creator of People), Tloque Nahuaque (The Owner of what is near and what is far) and Ilhuicahua Tlaltipaque (The Lord of Heaven and Earth).

To Him Glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Shalom,
Memo

Happy Feastday of Our Lady of Guadalupe!!

"Rejoice O Lady from Heaven, Virgin Mother clothed with the Sun!" (Akathist to Our Lady of Guadalupe)

Alex

Hi Alex,

Finally, here it is. The beautiful Akathist you composed to Our Lady of Guadalupe, in the tongue spoken by those who sojourn this life next to her holy shrine at the Tepeyac.

May God bless you abundantly, and reward your devotion to His Mother with all kinds of spiritual blessings.

AKATISTO
A NUESTRA SE�ORA DE GUADALUPE

Kontakio 1

A Ti, nuestra constante y gran Intercesora delante del Trono de Dios Todopoderoso, nosotros, Tus hijos, te ofrecemos este himno de alabanza, glorificando Tu maravillosa Imagen, revelada a Tu humilde siervo, Juan Diego en el cerro del Tepeyac, y cantamos Tu perdurable y celestial protecci�n a todos los que guardamos tu fiesta. Con los brazos en alto, con j�bilo exclamamos:

�Al�grate, Se�ora del Cielo, Virgen Madre vestida del Sol!

Ikos 1

Los pueblos de Mesoam�rica vieron la Luz Divina cuando contemplaron Tu sagrada y milagrosa imagen, inscrita por el Dedo de Dios en la tilma de Juan Diego. Reconocieron en ella su salvaci�n y la liberaci�n de las tinieblas de la esclavitud a la antigua serpiente. Entre l�grimas de gratitud, con amor exclamaron:

�Al�grate, Inmaculada Mensajera de lo Alto!
�Al�grate, Gran Signo que apareci� en el Cielo y en medio de nosotros!
�Al�grate, Mujer resplandeciente con la Gloria de Tu Hijo, Nuestro Se�or!

�Al�grate, Se�ora que aplastas a la serpiente antigua bajo tus pies!
�Al�grate, T� que venciste al mal!
�Al�grate, Reina de Cielos y Tierra!

�Al�grate, infalible Intercesora de los que est�n perdidos en las tinieblas!
�Al�grate, Estrella del Mar que nos lleva a puerto seguro!
�Al�grate, Defensora de los ni�os!

�Al�grate, Protectora de aquellos a quienes pertenece el Reino del Cielo!
�Al�grate, T� que tienes la Luna a tus pies!
�Al�grate, con tus manos unidas en oraci�n a Dios por nosotros!

�Al�grate, Se�ora del Cielo, Virgen Madre vestida del Sol!

Kontakio 2

Su siervo, Juan Diego, te vio por primera vez en el cerrito. T� le ordenaste que diera testimonio de Tu deseo que se construyera ah� un templo, para traer la salvaci�n a su pueblo. Lleno de gozo por Tu maternal consideraci�n por todos nosotros, Tu siervo corri� a la ciudad, exclamando �Aleluya!


Ikos 2

Tu siervo verdaderamente ha imitado a Juan, Disc�pulo Amado, pues Te tom� por madre en el hogar de su coraz�n, tal como lo dispuso Nuestro Se�or Crucificado. Pidi�ndote la gracia que nosotros hagamos lo mismo, cantamos:

�Al�grate, Templo del Esp�ritu Santo!
�Al�grate, Roca inviolada!
�Al�grate, Frondoso Monte Tem�n!

�Al�grate, T� llamas a todos al Monte!
�Al�grate, como El�as, T� vienes a destruir a los �dolos!
�Al�grate, Tu imagen es nuestro puente al Cielo sobre aguas turbulentas!

�Al�grate, Madre de Cristo!
�Al�grate, Madre de Su Iglesia!
�Al�grate, pues nos hicimos Tus hijos al pie de la Cruz de Tu Hijo!

�Al�grate, Madre del Cimiento!
�Al�grate, Roca inviolada!
�Al�grate, Colina que conduces al Reino de los Cielos!

�Al�grate, Se�ora del Cielo, Virgen Madre vestida del Sol!

Kontakio 3

Las autoridades, en un principio, resistieron las apasionadas s�plicas de Tu siervo que fuera escuchada Tu orden. Pensaron que alucinaba. �Por qu�, se preguntaban, habr�as de aparecerte T� al pobre Juan Diego, y no a uno de su propio pueblo? Confundidos por estos mundanos pensamientos, no pudieron un�rsele para cantar: �Aleluya!

Ikos 3

Dios ha ocultado Sus secretos de los sabios y poderosos del mundo, escogiendo en cambio, revelarlos a Sus humildes siervos y a los ni�os. T� te apareciste en la Tierra a los rechazados, como Madre del que fue Signo, para no ser recibido por los Suyos. Maravillados por la grandeza de la Providencia Divina, cantamos:

�Al�grate, Madre que meditas los secretos de Dios en Tu coraz�n de madre!
�Al�grate, Virgen que recibiste al Verbo de Dios en Tu Vientre sin conocer var�n!
�Al�grate, Arca de la Nueva Alianza!

�Al�grate, Auxilio del afligido!
�Al�grate, Protectora del desamparado!
�Al�grate, Pronta Ayuda de los que sufren!

�Al�grate, Madre del Don Divino!
�Al�grate, Se�ora Compasiva!
�Al�grate, Gozo por sobre todo gozo!

�Al�grate, atravesada por la Espada del dolor!
�Al�grate, causa de nuestra libertad en Cristo!
�Al�grate, Se�ora a quien todas las naciones llaman Bienaventurada!

�Al�grate, Se�ora del Cielo, Virgen Madre vestida del Sol!


Kontakio 4

Una y otra vez regresando a Ti, Tu siervo, Juan, no sab�a qu� decir o qu� hacer para cumplir Tu deseo. T�, entonces, le ordenaste traer rosas frescas y hermosas de la cima del cerro para el obispo, como se�al milagrosa de Tu aparici�n en la Tierra. Levantando las perfumadas flores en su Tilma, Juan exclam�: �Aleluya!

Ikos 4

Verdaderamente eres maravillosa en Tu milagroso poder, Se�ora Madre de Dios, pues por medio de Ti, vida nueva nace de la tierra est�ril. Por tu constante y santa intercesi�n, nos conduces, a quienes tenemos el alma moribunda por nuestros pecados, a los campos f�rtiles de la fe y las buenas obras, haci�ndonos vivir de nuevo para Dios, y cantar:

�Al�grate, Rosa de Siria!
�Al�grate, Lirio del Valle!
�Al�grate, Flor del Carmelo!

�Al�grate, Perfumada Jonquilla del Deleite Celestial!
�Al�grate, nuevo B�culo de Aar�n, cuajada de la Flor Divina!
�Al�grate, Manto cargado del roc�o de la Gracia Divina!

�Al�grate, Mirto de Constancia!
�Al�grate, Fragancia de Incorrupci�n!
�Al�grate, nuevo Mois�s que haces brotar agua de la roca en el desierto!

�Al�grate, Santa Nube que nutres la Tierra con la lluvia de la Gracia Divina!
�Al�grate, Sembradora de la Semilla del Verbo Encarnado en nuestras almas!
�Al�grate, Jardinera que la cultivas en nuestras vidas hasta rendir fruto!

�Al�grate, Se�ora del Cielo, Virgen Madre vestida del Sol!

Kontakio 5

Tu humilde siervo fue con alegr�a y gran expectaci�n al palacio del obispo con las rosas que T� le diste como evidencia de Tu aparici�n. Creyendo que las flores eran la se�al definitiva para que todos creyeran en Tu venida a la Tierra, Juan extendi� su tilma. Al ver el milagro todav�a mayor de Tu imagen hecha no por manos humanas, todos exclamaron: �Aleluya!

Ikos 5

El obispo y todos los dem�s se arrodillaron con fervor delante de Tu Icono milagroso, inclinando la cabeza ante la revelaci�n que Dios hizo de Su salvaci�n de Am�rica por medio de Su Sant�sima Madre. Maravillados y llenos de asombro por el gran amor que tienes por aquellos por quienes Tu Hijo muri� en la Preciosa y Vivificadora Cruz, todos cantaron:

�Al�grate, Icono que revelas a Tu Hijo y Se�or, Jesucristo!
�Al�grate, Imagen que reflejas Su Gloria Celestial!
�Al�grate, Se�al del Cielo que nos traes Vida en Abundancia!

�Al�grate, Manto protector!
�Al�grate, T� que nos cubres con una cascada de Gracia!
�Al�grate, T� que te nos apareces sin que sepamos el d�a o la hora!

�Al�grate, T� que de pronto nos llamas al Reino de Dios!
�Al�grate, T� que imprimes la imagen de Tu Hijo en quienes Te honran!
�Al�grate, T�nica de salvaci�n!

�Al�grate, Armadura de Cristo!
�Al�grate, Testigo de la Encarnaci�n Divina!
�Al�grate, Santa Prenda sin costura!

�Al�grate, Se�ora del Cielo, Virgen Madre vestida del Sol!


Kontakio 6

Reconociendo finalmente Tu aparici�n en la Tierra por medio de Tu santa imagen, los que la contemplaron con asombro, vieron que significaba la visi�n de Juan, el Disc�pulo Amado, en el Apocalipsis. Entendieron, por fin, que T� viniste a llamar a la salvaci�n y a liberar a muchos de las tinieblas del error pagano. Alabando a Dios por estos y muchos otros favores manifiestos, cantaron �Aleluya!


Ikos 6

Dios Te consagro a Su servicio desde Tu concepci�n en el vientre de Tu santa madre, Ana. Te honramos como verdadero Templo de la Santa Trinidad y como la Fuente por la cual, Tu Hijo, Nuestro Se�or Jes�s, derrama su Misericordia en el mundo y con gozo exclamamos:

�Al�grate, Santa Hija de Dios Padre!
�Al�grate, Preciosa Madre de Dios Hijo!
�Al�grate, Templo Sagrado del Esp�ritu Santo!

�Al�grate, Causa de la alegr�a de Tus padres, Joaqu�n y Ana!
�Al�grate, concebida en santidad en el vientre de Tu madre!
�Al�grate, Vaso preparado por Dios para recibir Su Palabra!

�Al�grate, Jarro Sagrado del Man� Vivo!
�Al�grate, Sant�sima e Inmaculada Madre de Dios!
�Al�grate, L�mpara que traes la Luz que ilumina a todos!

�Al�grate, T� en quien Dios se complace habitar!
�Al�grate, pues El Se�or est� verdaderamente contigo!
�Al�grate, bendita entre todas las mujeres!

�Al�grate, Se�ora del Cielo, Virgen Madre vestida del Sol!


Kontakio 7

Constantes predicaciones y misiones no alejaron al pueblo de sacrificar a sus hijos a los demonios, pagando tributo a la serpiente antigua. En Tu imagen de Guadalupe, Te revelaste como �La que aplasta a la serpiente�, quitando de la Tierra la maldici�n incurrida por derramar la sangre de ni�os inocentes. Los antiguos esclavos de la serpiente, ahora nos convertimos por millares en siervos de Tu Hijo, por Ti, inspirados en Tu imagen, y ahora cantamos: �Aleluya!

Ikos 7

T� eres la gran Se�al que apareci� en el Cielo, Madre de Dios de Guadalupe, la que aplastas a la serpiente bajo Tus pies, rescat�ndonos de su enemistad. S�lvanos por tu intercesi�n de todo mal, ahora que Te cantamos:

�Al�grate, Terror de los demonios!
�Al�grate, Vencedora del maligno!
�Al�grate, Destructora de sus aliados!


�Al�grate, T� que eliminaste su soberbia!
�Al�grate, T� que nos conviertes a la Luz que viene del Oriente!
�Al�grate, T� que iluminas nuestra oscuridad!

�Al�grate, revestida del resplandor de Tu Hijo!
�Al�grate, coronada con las estrellas de Tus virtudes!
�Al�grate, T� que tienes a la Luna a tus pies!

�Al�grate, Tabern�culo Sagrado!
�Al�grate, Flor que no se marchita!
�Al�grate, Manantial que das vida!

�Al�grate, Se�ora del Cielo, Virgen Madre vestida del Sol!

Kontakio 8

Tu sagrada imagen de Guadalupe manifiesta muchas se�ales milagrosas, todav�a el d�a de hoy, Santa Madre de Dios. Hasta Tus ojos reflejan tu amor por las familias que se arrodillan para rezar y suplicar Tu benevolente amparo. Meditando en c�mo nos conservas a todos en Tu coraz�n de madre, rogando por nuestras necesidades y confiando en tu ayuda, te cantamos: �Aleluya!

Ikos 8

La tilma de Juan Diego, Tu santo siervo, es como el Manto de tu Protecci�n Divina, que extendiste sobre tus hijos en Constantinopla y muchos otros lugares, protegi�ndolos de los enemigos de sus vidas y de su salvaci�n. Lo honramos como la muestra predilecta de tus cuidados amorosos y tu solicitud por nosotros y cantamos con alegr�a:

�Al�grate, Escudo que repeles los ataques del mal!
�Al�grate, T� que nos revistes del Se�or Jesucristo, liber�ndonos de la carne!
�Al�grate, Manto de salvaci�n!

�Al�grate, Protecci�n contra potestades y principados!
�Al�grate, T� que dispersas al ej�rcito invisible cuyo nombre es �Legi�n�!
�Al�grate, Derrota del Infierno!

�Al�grate, Alegr�a de quienes corren a refugiarse en Tu Manto!
�Al�grate, Salvaci�n de quienes mueren bajo �l!
�Al�grate, Aliada invencible en nuestras luchas espirituales!

�Al�grate, Estandarte de Amor que hondeas sobre la Mansi�n del Banquete Divino!
�Al�grate, Se�al de Gracia!
�Al�grate, Baluarte de Fortaleza Divina!

�Al�grate, Se�ora del Cielo, Virgen Madre vestida del Sol!


Kontakio 9

Empezando por Juan Bernardino, el t�o de Tu siervo, Juan Diego, Tu imagen maravillosa de Guadalupe ha sido una inagotable fuente de sanaci�n. Nadir que busca tu ayuda o que invoca Tu auxilio queda con las manos vac�as, Madre de Guadalupe, los miembros se restablecen, la vista se recupera, y la enfermedad abandona los cuerpos de Tus hijos. Pero sobre todo, nuestras almas recuperan la salud espiritual por tu intercesi�n que todo lo puede, y te cantamos: �Aleluya!

Ikos 9

Tus hijos vienen con l�grimas a Tu Santuario de Guadalupe, Madre de Dios, y regresan a casa con la alegr�a de haber sido alimentados con el Pan Divino de la Sagrada Comuni�n y con una mayor uni�n con Dios medio Tuyo y de Tu milagrosa imagen. Inspirados por estas maravillas de la Gracia Divina, con fuerte voz exclamamos:

�Al�grate, Ap�stol, que llevas al mundo a Cristo!
�Al�grate, Escalera que nos conduces al Reino de la Santa Trinidad!
�Al�grate, C�liz en el que encontramos al Pan de Vida!

�Al�grate, Brasero del Fuego Divino!
�Al�grate, Altar que llevas al Creador del Universo!
�Al�grate, Prenda que nos revistes de Gracia!

�Al�grate, T� que conviertes las almas!
�Al�grate, Causa de nuestra conversi�n!
�Al�grate, T� que a todos impartes la gracia santificante!

�Al�grate, Inspiradora de la oraci�n!
�Al�grate, Tabla en la que Dios inscribe Su ley en nuestros corazones!
�Al�grate, Salud del cuerpo y del alma!

�Al�grate, Se�ora del Cielo, Virgen Madre vestida del Sol!


Kontakio 10

Protectora de los ni�os que desde antiguo eran sacrificados a la serpiente. T� secaste los r�os de sangre y l�grimas sobre la Tierra cuando arrojaste a la serpiente al infierno del que vino. Te pedimos, Sant�sima Madre de Guadalupe, protege a los ni�os en nuestro tiempo de un destino similar, por el pecado del aborto que los asesina en el vientre de su madre, T�, que eres Madre para todos tus hijos y a Ti te cantamos: �Aleluya!


Ikos 10

Tu imagen de Guadalupe, Sant�sima Madre, revela que T� eres el cumplimiento de la antigua profec�a de la Virgen que concebir�a a un Ni�o. Sabiendo que todo ni�o lleva en s� mismo la imagen de Dios, T� eres la fiel defensora de aquellos cuyos �ngeles est�n siempre delante del Rostro de Dios Padre, y nosotros te cantamos:

�Al�grate, Protectora de los peque�os indefensos!
�Al�grate, Defensora de los ni�os en el vientre de sus madres!
�Al�grate, pues de ellos es el Reino de Dios!

�Al�grate, pues no te afrentas de traer a los peque�os hasta Tu Hijo!
�Al�grate, pues miles de ni�os fueron martirizados por Herodes para salvar a Tu Hijo!
�Al�grate, pues sus almas te rodean como una preciosa Corona!

�Al�grate, pues eres el auxilio de las madres en todo lugar!
�Al�grate, pues eres su sustento y esperanza!
�Al�grate, pues T� las alimentas, a ellas y a sus hijos, con la Leche de Tu Gracia!

�Al�grate, pues un Hijo se nos ha dado!
�Al�grate, pues su Nombre es Emmanuel!
�Al�grate, pues Dios est� con nosotros en un Ni�o peque�o!

�Al�grate, Se�ora del Cielo, Virgen Madre vestida del Sol!


Kontakio 11

Los pueblos de M�xico y de Am�rica se sorprenden del amor y ternura de Dios al mandarnos la imagen de Su Sant�sima Madre, que no fue hecha por manos humanas, para que nos acompa�ara en nuestros sufrimientos y necesidades. La Iglesia, en el Nombre de Cristo Crucificado, tambi�n nos instruye para que llevemos a nuestra Madre a nuestro hogar, en esa santa imagen, para ser nuestra Gu�a y Protectora y, como siervos fieles, con amor obedecemos y cantamos: �Aleluya!

Ikos 11

Tu imagen es fuente de bendiciones para todos, Madre de Guadalupe. T� llenas de gozo a todos los que se acercan con fe y temor de Dios, concedi�ndonos lo que sea para nuestro beneficio, mientras proclamamos con gozo:

�Al�grate, Fuente Inagotable de Milagros!
�Al�grate, Maternal Intercesora que el Hijo nunca rechaza!
�Al�grate, T� nos mandas hacer todo lo que Tu Hijo nos dice en el Evangelio!


�Al�grate, T� llenas las vasijas vac�as de nuestras almas con el Vino de la Alegr�a!
�Al�grate, llev�ndonos a la Cruz de la que pende el Divino Racimo!
�Al�grate, Campo Virgen en el que germin� el Trigo Celestial!

�Al�grate, Protectora de M�xico!
�Al�grate, Defensora de los pueblos Ind�genas!
�Al�grate, Patrona de Am�rica!

�Al�grate, Esperanza Nuestra!
�Al�grate, A�oranza Nuestra!
�Al�grate, Gu�a Eterna!

�Al�grate, Se�ora del Cielo, Virgen Madre vestida del Sol!

Kontakio 12

�Por millares acuden peregrinando a Tu santo Santuario de Guadalupe, Sant�sima Madre De Dios! Todos somos peregrinos, viajando a nuestro hogar, que es el Cielo y el Reino del Padre, del Hijo y del Esp�ritu Santo. Gu�anos Tu, con tu poderosa intercesi�n delante del Trono de Tu Hijo, Nuestro Se�or Jesucristo, a quienes cantamos: �Aleluya!

Ikos 12

Sant�sima Madre, Tu eres la Madre de la Luz y la Fuente de la Iluminaci�n por la Gracia y la Misericordia de Tu Hijo, Nuestro Se�or, Dios y Salvador, Jesucristo. Al contemplar continuamente tu milagrosa imagen de Guadalupe, nos perdemos en el amor y el asombro de cu�nto, en verdad, nos ha amado Dios, al darnos a tan grande y exaltada Madre, Su propia Madre. Con humildad cantamos:

�Al�grate, Madre de Cristo!
�Al�grate, Madre de Dios Encarnado!
�Al�grate, Madre de la Verdadera Luz que nos ilumina a todos!

�Al�grate, Poderosa intercesora!
�Al�grate, Alegr�a de las Alegr�as!
�Al�grate, T� que siempre nos escuchas!

�Al�grate, T� que vigilas las Puertas!
�Al�grate, T� que eres nuestra Protectora Celestial!
�Al�grate, Se�ora del Monte Si�n!

�Al�grate, Faro en la Monta�a!
�Al�grate, Rayo de Luz emanado del Sol!
�Al�grate, Madre Amad�sima!

�Al�grate, Se�ora del Cielo, Virgen Madre vestida del Sol!

Kontakio 13

Sant�sima Madre de Dios, que revelaste tu milagrosa imagen a Tu humilde siervo, San Juan Diego, en el Tepeyac, para traer la Luz de Tu Hijo a los pueblos de Mesoam�rica esclavizados por la serpiente antigua. Prot�genos y gu�anos durante toda nuestra vida, derramando en nosotros la Divina Gracia de Tu Hijo por medio de Tu intercesi�n, hasta que lleguemos al lugar de donde T� viniste a nosotros, el Reino Celestial de Tu Hijo, Nuestro Se�or Jesucristo, pues cantamos: �Aleluya! (3 veces).

(Se repiten el Ikos 1 y el Kontakio 1).

Oraci�n a la Madre de Dios de Guadalupe

Madre de Dios de Guadalupe, acepta este humilde himno de alabanza de nosotros, Tus siervos en honor de Tu milagrosa imagen que no fue hecha por manos humanas. C�brenos con el Manto de Tu Protecci�n y gu�anos con las suplicas de tu infalible intercesi�n. L�branos del poder de la serpiente antigua, y destruye su dominio sobre las naciones y personas de nuestro tiempo. Cond�cenos a Tu Hijo, cual Escalera Divina, Zarza que arde sin consumirse y Arca de la Nueva Alianza. Sant�sima Madre de Dios, intercede por nosotros y s�lvanos por Tus s�plicas. Am�n

Brother Memo,

Thank you for all the info, it is much appreciated...at least by me.

james, grandpa to seven, all with Hispanic heritage !

As I left the doctors office this evening I looked up at the moon and thought what a lovely halo around it. My daughter looked and saw it, but the other people who walked out at the same time didn't (they aren't Catholic either), she thought it was awesome. Something that if you see it is usually in the fall. I kept being drawn back to the halo if I took my eyes off for too long and wondering how these wonderful colors were there...yellow, green, red, and brillliant white in the middle. Then I shouted out, it is the colors surrounding Our Lady of Guadelupe. The colors like in this picture http://community.theolympian.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album156&id=lady2

Then the moon bagan to dance like the sun does. Sometimes I was able to see a trail of like eight peices of the moon with the full moon. My daughter and I watched with amazement, sometimes they were in a line, sometimes like we use to do with the design maker things that we used pencils with and spun the wheel about, and sometimes like a cross.

I also the thought the formation of the clouds were very unusual tonight. They seemed to be very bright, and like rows of square puffs, very different, very organized in shape and form.

A very interesting sky to behold on 12/12/1005.
Glory to God!
Pani Rose

Hello all,

As the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is coming up, I thought that this may be of interest to our members, especially the ones who joined us within the last year, so I am posting on this thread to bring it to the top again.

Enjoy, and feel free to continue posting on the topic.

Shalom,
Memo