Chapter 1
Juan Meets A Beautiful Lady
It was Saturday and still very dark, when Juan Diego, an Indian who was very poor, was walking to Church where he would be taught by the priests about God and the Ten Commandments.
As he walked in the area named Tepeyac, dawn began to brighten the day.
All
of a sudden, Juan hears from the top of the Hill singing, like that of birds
singing. Their song, is prettier than that of the bellbird, or that
of every other kind of lovely
songbird.
Juan Diego stands still, very still, and says to himself;
“Could it be that I be worthy? Could it be that I deserve what I am hearing? Am I dreaming? Am I sleep-walking? Where am I?
Could it be that over there in the place they used to tell us of, those ancient men, those Great Great grandfathers of ours---There in the Land where the flower’s bloom, there in the land of our corn?
Could it be the land of the heavenly ones?"
He is almost to the top of that hill. Then, suddenly the song stops and he is in total silence; then he hears a call, coming to him from the top of hill saying:
“Juanito, Juan Dieguito!”
He walks slowing making his way up to where he is being called.
His heart is at perfect peace, he is content with all that is happening. As he reaches the top of the hill he sees a woman. She motions for him to come closer to her.
When he reaches her, he marvels at her perfect
beauty. Her
garments
look like the sun, gleaming, glittering, even the boulder upon which she
stands sparkles, like emeralds on a bracelet when it shines, or like the
rainbow that glows after a rain storm.
Even the ground and the weeds are shining. The tip of every leaf is glittering.
He lays down on the ground prostrating himself before her; he listens to her words, this lady who looks noble, and of great esteem.
She says to him: “Do
listen to Me, My littlest one, Juanito! Where are you
going?”
He replies:
“My Sovereign, My Maiden, it is just over there that I am going, to Your dwelling (the church) in Mexico, to learn of things divine from the priests who teach us about God.
She says to him: “Do know this, be sure of it in your heart, that I myself, I am the Entirely and Ever Virgin Mary, Mother of the True Divinity, God Himself:
Because of Him, life goes on, creation goes on; His are all things far, His are all thing near. Things above in the heavens, things here below on the earth.
This is what I wish,
That there be a church built here for me, so that I may make a gift of all my love for my dear ones, all my regard for my needy ones, my willingness to help them and my readiness to protect them.
For truly I myself, I am your compassionate Mother, For everybody here in the land, for each and all together, for all others too, for all folk of every kind.
Those that will cherish me, who will raise their voices to me, who seek me, who place their trust in me.
For here I shall listen to their needs and their sadness, here I will make well and heal there disappointments, and pain.
But in order to realise what I have in mind, for my needy ones, will you please go to the palace of the Bishop of Mexico;
Tell him that I myself asked you to present to him how strongly I wish that he should build me a church, here, on the level ground.
Tell him all you have seen and wondered about and of whatever you have heard.
Be sure of this in your heart that I will be very grateful that you are taking the time to do this for me, I shall repay you with much merit.
And so you have heard, my littlest one, My words, my declaration, do, please, go and make every effort to carry out my wishes.”
He replies ;
My sovereign, my Maiden, I am going so that I may make known your words, your wishes, I take leave of you? I am your needy servant."
He leaves immediately and hastens to Mexico City. Upon reaching the city, he goes straight to the Palace of the Bishop.
Copyright © 1997,1998 MaryAnn, all rights reserved
