Over the weekend I was able to attend a celebration in Des Plaines, IL for Our Lady of Guadalupe. 100,000 plus people were in attendance! Worshipers celebrated the 480th anniversary of the Virgin's appearance to an indigenous peasant named Juan Diego near Mexico City. Now celebrated as a saint, Juan Diego saw the apparitions of Mary in 1531 and carried her message of hope and to build a church at that particular site to the local Catholic Bishop.
Before he completely accepted his task, St. Juan Diego responded to Mary with doubt. He pleaded with her saying; "I beg you, entrust your mission to one of the more important persons who is well known, respected, and esteemed so that they may believe him..." Juan Diego's story is like many of our discernment story. We ask God; "Are you sure it's me you are looking for?" "Isn't there somebody else more qualified out there?" "How am I going to be able to do what you ask?" Just like Mary's response to Juan Diego, God tells us "I am sending you."
Celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mission Land USA
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