In the month of August, we celebrate many feast days of Our Lady, from all around the world. Beginning August 2 with the Franciscan Feast of Our Lady of the Angels, originating from Umbria, Italy, and continuing with the feast of St. Mary Major on August 5, also known as Our Lady of the Snows. On August 15, the Universal Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption, and on August 22 we celebrate the Queenship of Mary. The month ends with the Feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa, celebrated August 25 and originated in Poland.
Here in the U.S. our special patroness is Our Lady under the title of her Immaculate Conception. In addition, we now have our own special Solemnity of Our Lady to commemorate when she came to America in 1531. She appeared to St. Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill, bringing her Son, Jesus to us. The title she wanted to be known by was Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The newly published book, The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Empress of America, is a very moving account of the true story of the most remarkable event in the history of the Americas. The author was first inspired to write this account after seeing the Nican Mopohua collection of the great Mexican artist Jorge Sánchez-Hernández.
The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Empress of America tells St. Juan Diego’s story with the aid of 18 beautiful full-color photographs of the paintings of the “El Maestro,” Jorge Sánchez-Hernández. His Nican Mopohua collection is perhaps the most exquisite and moving depiction of the apparitions ever painted. Children and adults will delight in seeing these images bring to life this timeless story. Rarely seen outside of Mexico, this sacred art is a wonderful addition to your home library.
Included after the Nican Mopohua collection of paintings, which were commissioned for the 450th anniversary of the apparitions, is a photograph of the face of Our Lady of Guadalupe taken directly from the tilma.
On January 22, 1999, in his visit to Mexico City, Pope John Paul II consecrated all of the Americas to Our Lady of Guadalupe, declaring December 12 to be observed as a Solemnity in her honor throughout the Americas. The author began writing this book a week later.
Unlike many of her appearances in other places, such as Fatima and Lourdes, Our Lady of Guadalupe comes with no general message in words for the world, but rather with a mission of action for two men. To the one, “Go and ask, and keep on asking,” and to the other “Build.” Her message, intended for the Aztec people and the Spanish settlers alike, was not just spoken with words, but eloquently with an image of herself — an image whose symbols the people then living knew how to interpret.
In an exquisitely rendered self-portrait and a tilma full of roses, Our Lady changes one man’s heart, liberates a people from the suffering of human sacrifice, and gives hope for the end of oppression. With her mysterious painting, Our Lady brought about on a grand scale, the spiritual conversion of Mexico, which Christian missionaries up to that time had been unable to accomplish.
Her spoken message: “Come to me, tell me all your woes and problems. I am your Merciful Mother, Mother of all the Nations, and Mother of the One, True God, and I want to alleviate your sufferings.”
Our Lady of Guadalupe comes to the New World in her Maternity. In Her appearances to Juan Diego She is pregnant with Jesus, bringing her Divine Son in His tiny form within her; a most tender and vulnerable condition. She comes as Mother to remind us she is ever with us, always ready to help, to guide, to comfort us with nurturing love. No obstacle stands in her way. We need only turn to her in our anxiety
Pope John Paul II received the first copy published of The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe Empress of America, in Spanish, in October, 2003, commemorating his 25th Anniversary as Supreme Pontiff.
To order this amazing book for yourself or as a gift, please click here.
