Print Issue: August 1, 2002

Priesthood And Laity Share In Canonization

Dear Friends in Christ,

On December 9, in the year 1531, one of the greatest events ever to happen on our continent and upon the earth took place. On that day, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ, appeared to the Mexican Indian, the Blessed Juan Diego.

He was a poor working man, and had only recently converted to a belief in Christ. There was no particular reason why our Lady should have chosen him, except that his heart was full of goodness and humility. He had no agenda, he had no motive-the only things he had working for him were his honesty, his sincerity, and now, after December 9, the fact that our Lady had chosen him for an important mission.

The poor man knew that he would not be believed, so Mary gave him a sign. "Go to the top of the hill," she said, "and you will find blooming there, a beautiful rose bush. Cut the blossoms, and bring them to me." Juan Diego did as he was told, amazed to find the beautiful roses blooming in the winter. Our Lady, with her own hands, arranged the roses in the tilma, or cloak of Juan Diego, folded them within, and gave them to him as a sign, telling him to show no one until he brought them before the bishop.

Blessed Juan found the bishop, and dropped the cloak to the floor before him, unfolding the sight and the aroma of the beautiful roses within. And then an even greater miracle was discovered-the image of our Lady, dressed as an Indian princess, imprinted on the fabric of the cloak.

Since that day, the care and protection and love of Our Lady of Guadalupe, has become a fixed part of the culture of all the Americas, and of all people who are blessed to dwell in these lands. And so, it is not a surprise, that finally, after these centuries of devotion, the messenger chosen by our Lady should himself be recognized for the holiness of his own soul, as well as the holiness of the role chosen for him by Mary, the Mother of God. It is then, the joy of the Universal Church, to celebrate today, with our Holy Father John Paul II, as he raises our Lady's messenger to the rank of sainthood. And we raise to our lips, as a song of praise to God, who gives us holy men and women, the name by which he will now be called, and known to the faithful, Saint Juan Diego.

Let us finish by remembering what Mary said to the saint she chose, on that miraculous winter day, so long ago in time, yet so near to our hearts in faith:

Let not your heart be disturbed . . . am I not here, and am I not your Mother? Are you not under my protection . . . and happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend John F. Donoghue
Archbishop of Atlanta