“Let not your heart be disturbed… Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything.” (Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego)
I felt physically sick this morning watching the fifth and latest disturbing investigative hidden camera video of a high ranking Planned Parenthood employee discussing the selling of “intact fetal cadavers” procured from abortions, and showing the torn apart organs and limbs of dissected children. It is horrifying. Our civilization has become lower than low. What we used to instinctively abhor as barbaric—infant sacrifice, the ancient Aztecs for example—is routinely tolerated across our country in abortion clinics.
Our society has become worse than that ancient one, if one considers the frequency and callousness with which pre-born and newborn infant killing occurs today. What can be said of a nation that pits mother against child and not only kills, but profits from the deaths of its own children?
Mothers of aborted children (who later realize what that abortion really was) will find this discussion perhaps unbearable. If this is you, please remember that God’s mercy cannot be outdone and flows freely. You are precious and GOD LOVES YOU. Please pray for me as I am praying for you today that you know God’s love and comfort, and feel the support of us who offer you love and want to help you heal. Rachel’s Vineyard is a good resource for you. Perhaps you were young and naïve when you chose abortion. Perhaps you did not feel you had any other choice. No doubt you were frightened, afraid of what people would say about your unplanned pregnancy. Maybe you told the father who rejected the child and you. God knows these things. He loves you. He forgives you. Seek Him.
The senators who voted recently against the bill that would have defunded Planned Parenthood have blood on their hands. May God have mercy on their souls.
As I sat at the kitchen table this morning with two of my daughters, discussing the turn of events in regards to this over the past couple of days, my eyes turned to the beautiful sunshine pouring out on the yard, just outside the window. Then my eyes fell upon my little garden statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Tepeyac) near our patio. It was like a little, gentle tap of the shoulder. Of course! I smiled at the realization of God gently guiding my eyes to an obvious remedy (as He always does, although I can be a bit thick and it doesn’t always come to me quickly).
Let me explain:
Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared in Mexico as the pregnant Mother of God to Blessed Juan Diego, an Aztec Indian, on December 9, 10, and 12, 1531. She left a Miraculous Image of her appearance on his cactus fiber cloak, or “tilma”, which still exists today for all to see in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Our Lady came to offer faith, hope and consolation to the oppressed natives of Mexico and to reconcile them with their Spanish rulers. She put an end to the bloody human sacrifice of the Aztecs and converted ten million natives in the next 10 years!
After the conquest, the Spanish rule of the natives was so severe that a bloody revolt was imminent. Bishop Zummaraga prayed for Our Lady to intervene to prevent an uprising, to reconcile the Spanish and the natives and to bring peace. He asked that he would receive roses native to his homeland of Castile Spain as a sign that his prayer would be answered.
On December 9, 1531, Our Lady appeared to Blessed Juan Diego who was a recently converted Aztec. She asked his to go to the Bishop and request him to build a church for her on the barren hill of Tepeyac which is now part of Mexico City. Our Lady wanted to show her merciful love to all of her children. The prudent Bishop asked Juan to ask the Lady for a sign. Juan did so and Our Lady promised to give him the sign.
On December 12, Our Lady again appeared to Juan on Tepeyac Hill and told him to pick the Castilian roses which miraculously appeared there and bring them to the Bishop as a sign for him to believe her request. Juan gathered the roses into his tilma and brought them to the Bishop.
He opened the tilma to show them and, to everyone’s astonishment, the Image of Our Lady appeared on it. The Bishop then built the church as Our Lady had requested and ten million natives were converted and baptized to the one, true faith within the next 10 years. Human sacrifice ended in Mexico forever. Our Lady of Guadalupe, which means Crusher of the serpent’s head, brought the light of the true faith, crushed the false gods of Mexico, and established an era of peace.
(from an article by Dan Lynch, reprinted by Catholic Education Resource Center.)
Here is a thought: What if we entrust this serious and heartbreaking situation to our Mother’s intercession? What if we, independently and in unison, together, ask our Lady of Tepeyac for help, and join our prayers with her to God with the intention of reparation and of ending the modern human sacrifice? Under the title of Our Lady of Tepeyac (Guadalupe), the Blessed Mother is the patroness of the Americas and the unborn. Who but her is better to bind our prayers with to end the slaughter in our nation?
I was moved and encouraged by the beautiful novena shared below. My daughters have asked me to pray it after our morning Rosary together. Would you pray it daily with us?
Note: You may follow the subsequent link for more information and inspirations about Our Lady of Tepeyac (Guadalupe).
http://www.sweetwaterhaven.com/olot_novena.html
IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, PATRONESS OF THE AMERICAS
This Novena can be said throughout the year and it is especially prayed starting December 4 and ending on her Feast Day of December 12. It can, however, be prayed at any time.
First Day
Dearest Lady of Guadalupe, fruitful Mother of holiness, teach me your ways of gentleness and strength. Hear my humble prayer offered with heartfelt confidence to beg this favor [mention your intention/request]. [End with the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be…]
Second Day
O Mary, conceived without sin, I come to your throne of grace to share the fervent devotion of your faithful Mexican children who call to you under the glorious title of Guadalupe. Obtain for me a lively faith to do your Son’s holy will always: May His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. [End with the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be…]
Third Day
O Mary, whose Immaculate Heart was pierced by seven swords of grief, help me to walk valiantly amid the sharp thorns strewn across my pathway. Obtain for me the strength to be a true imitator of you. This I ask you, my dear Mother. [End with the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be…]
Fourth Day
Dearest Mother of Guadalupe, I beg you for a fortified will to imitate your divine Son’s charity, to always seek the good of others in need. Grant me this, I humbly ask of you. [End with the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be…]
Fifth Day
O most holy Mother, I beg you to obtain for me pardon of all my sins, abundant graces to serve your Son more faithfully from now on, and lastly, the grace to praise Him with you forever in heaven. [End with the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be…]
Sixth Day
Mary, Mother of vocations, multiply priestly vocations and fill the earth with religious houses which will be light and warmth for the world, safety in stormy nights. Beg your Son to send us many priests and religious. This we ask of you, O Mother. [End with the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be…]
Seventh Day
O Lady of Guadalupe, we beg you that parents live a holy life and educate their children in a Christian manner; that children obey and follow the directions of their parents; that all members of the family pray and worship together. This we ask of you, O Mother. [End with the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be…]
Eighth Day
With my heart full of the most sincere veneration, I prostrate myself before you, O Mother, to ask you to obtain for me the grace to fulfill the duties of my state in life with faithfulness and constancy. [End with the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be…]
Ninth Day
O God, You have been pleased to bestow upon us unceasing favors by having placed us under the special protection of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. Grant us, your humble servants, who rejoice in honoring her today upon earth, the happiness of seeing her face to face in heaven. [End with the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be…]
