December 12 celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of Mexico, the Americas, and the Pro-Life movement in the Catholic Church.

There is lots of significant symbolism found in the image on the tilma of San Juan Diego that led to Mexico’s conversion to Christianity from a deadly, pagan, Atzec culture in which human sacrifices were conducted in honor of the gods.

For example, the bow around the waist of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a symbol of virginity, but also appears near a four-petaled flower, a symbol of plentitude for the indeginous central Americans.

A cross-shaped flower acts as a symbol of new life, as cross-sticks were used to produce fire. In addition, the virgin’s torso is slightly swollen, confirming her pregnancy.

Yet, with her face looking downward, as opposed to up to heaven, she acknowledges that she (the virgin mother) is not a deity, but worships God.

Our Lady of Guadalupe has been recognized as the Patroness to the Unborn because of her affection for San Juan Diego, as well as appearing as a pregnant virgin.

When she appeared to him, she is said to have called him “son” and spoke of herself as his “mother” and “Mother of the One, True, living God.”

But in recent years, the tilma provided another supernatural message from heaven.

According to a forum on apparitions of Our Lady in Medjugorie, “The same day abortion was legalized in Mexico, after a mass offered for unborn children, a very intense light appeared suddenly on the Tilma. At the level of the womb, the light appeared like a shiny halo, in the shape of an embryo.

“Experts have testified that it is not a reflection or something added, rather it comes from the Tilma and is in the exact location of a woman’s womb. Witnesses were able to take photographs and even to film the phenomenon that went on for a full hour.”

The event occured on April 24 of 2007. The tilma remains at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Mexico.

While the Patroness of Life will always be a token of the Americas, her image continues to grow as a token of the pro-life movement.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

 

cover photo from Larry Lamsa, flickr