Amazing Facts and Miracles about Our Lady of Guadalupe

Our Lady of Guadalupe Fact Page

• Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Saint Juan Diego on December 9, 10 and 12, 1531.
• The image is proven not to be painted by human hands; no natural or animal mineral colorings, or paint, are found on it
• The image has remained intact with all its original vibrancy for 475 years. The natural life span of a cloak made with fiber from the gave or maguey plant is only about 30 years.
• The image is a pictograph which could be read and understood by the Aztec Indians.
• On her rose garment is a topographical map of the location of her apparition.
• Our Lady appears as a beautiful young Indian maiden and Queen.
• She is wearing a blue-green mantle (the color worn by royalty) covered with stars.
• The stars signify she comes from heaven – the Queen of Heaven. The constellations are in the exact position as appeared before dawn on the morning of December 12, 1531.
• Her robe is colored rose or pale red and covered with Aztec flowers, symbolic of an Aztec princess.
• In the center of her robe, overlying her womb, is a four petal quincunx flower in the shape of a cross which is the sign of the Divine and the center of the cosmic order to the Aztec. The Virgin’s Baby, Jesus, is Divine and the new center of the universe.
• Her hands are joined in prayer and, therefore, she is not God but clearly there is one greater than she and she points her finger to the cross on her brooch.
• Her fur cuffs symbolize royalty.
• She wears a black maternity band signifying she is with Child.
• A black cross is on the brooch around her neck. This signifies she is a follower of the God of the Spanish Missionaries, Jesus Christ who died on the cross for all.
• She stands in front of the sun. The sun symbolizes the greatest Aztec god – Huitzilopochtli. She announces the God who is greater than their sun god.
• She stands on the moon. The crescent moon symbolized the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent moon god. She has clearly crushed and defeated him.
• The image depicts Revelation 12:1:  a woman clothed with the sun with the moon at her feet
• An angel with eagle’s wings supports the Mother of God. The eagle was the “bird of the sun.” Here the eagle is the servant of the Virgin. She holds her mantle in one hand and robe with the other, signifying the Son she bears is from both heaven and earth.
• To date the image cannot be explained by science.
• The image on the tilma was able to do what up to that time the missionaries were not able to do significantly. Namely, clearly explain Christianity to the Indian people. The proof is in the fact that after the apparitions, eight million natives of Mexico converted to Catholicism from 1531 to 1538.
• A doctor once heard a heartbeat coming from the image using a stethascope over the womb area.
• The eyes of the image have the refractory characteristics of human eyes, and they miraculously reflect the image of the witnesses present at its unveiling, including Juan Diego and the bishop

I also found this article by the modern-day Catholic "prophet" Charlie Johnston very interesting, especially how the actual title "Guadalupe" is actually a mispronunciation of the Aztec word that Juan Diego used to refer to Our Lady---"Coatlallope"---which literally means "she who crushes the serpent."  How fitting!

In 1531, the poor peasant, St. Juan Diego, was visited by Our Lady several times on Tepeyac Hill, near what is now Mexico City. Most of the missionaries in the Americas were well-intended, but they had utterly failed to convert the Aztec Indians. The average Aztec was caught between a rock and a grinding stone. Their indigenous faith, the cult of Quexlcoatl (the infamous feathered serpent) required constant human sacrifice. The pyramids always ran red with human blood. The Spanish and Portuguese explorers frequently enslaved native peoples. The problem was so bad that, in 1430, Pope Eugene VII had made enslaving a native of the Canary Islands a matter of excommunication. In 1537, Pope Paul III explicitly extended the punishment to the enslaving of American Indians, as well.

The Aztec culture had long prophesied of a woman who would free them from the bloody requirements of Quexlcoatl. When Juan Diego tried to report the messages of Our Lady to his bishop, the bishop quite reasonably demanded some proof. On his last visit to Our Lady, a bunch of wild roses were blooming at the hilltop out of season. Our Lady told Juan Diego to gather them up in his tilma (an apron made of cactus fibers, commonly worn by working peasants) and take the flowers to the bishop. When he dropped them from his apron in front of the bishop, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on his apron. (Interestingly, tilmas rot, usually within 20 years – and never last more than 40. Diego’s tilma, with the image of Our Lady on it, still stands in the cathedral in Mexico City, vibrant almost 500 years later). The titles of Our Lady are always related to where she appeared or to what her primary role in that appearance is. Diego explained to the bishop that this woman was, in Aztec "Coatlallope", which roughly translated means “she who crushes the serpent.” The bishop, however, mistakenly heard the name of the European Spanish City, Guadalupe, rather than the Aztec phrase, which is how the title came about.  

The miraculous image spoke simultaneously to two cultures. I could go into detail on what it meant to the Aztecs, but suffice it to say it was recognized as the deliverance from the bloody cult of Quexlcoatl. Within a decade, 10 million Indians converted and the Cult of Quexlcoatl was consigned to the ash heap of history. When the missionaries failed, Our Lady came herself and accomplished the conversion to the worship of her Son, Jesus--the Christ. In today's culture, our little efforts to re-convert Europe and to convert Islam may fail, but so long as we hold fast to Our Lady’s mantle, she will prevail.  (excerpt from Charlie Johnston's blog:  https://charliej373.wordpress.com/

Lastly, our family celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe by making these simple and delicious rose-shaped cinnamon rolls.  I think I will start making these on every Marian Feast Day, and even the Feast Days of St. Therese and St. Elizabeth of Hungary :) If you want the recipe, I found it at the Catholic Cuisine website:  http://catholiccuisine.blogspot.com/2015/07/st-elizabeth-rose-bread.html

Our Lady of Guadalupe, 

Pray for us all!

Belated Thanksgiving Note

I hope all of you had a thank-filled and joy-filled Thanksgiving!  To be honest, mine was filled a feast full of sadness and tears, but I still tried to give a litany of thanks in between my crying episodes :}  Ai-ya-yai!  I'm a pathetic mess at this time of year...  Hunting season seems to get harder for me to handle each year, and I  get a bit homesick being so far away from family during these big holiday feasts.  But God always surrounds me with things to be thankful for if I would just wipe the tears away and take a look outside of my selfish-self. 

This morning, for example, I awoke to glittery frost all over the trees and fields around our house...  Each glistening flake is a kiss from God, an "I love you" from Heaven...and He was just waiting for me to notice and say "thank You" or "I love You" in return.  Some days it is harder than others to notice the God-sent gifts around us; some days we simply have to will it, to force ourselves to be grateful because we feel so broken inside, but I think God is pleased with our efforts even when they don't come naturally.  I find hope in the Psalmist's words:  

"He who offers a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving honors Me."  Psalm 50:23 

Sometimes giving thanks feels like a sacrifice, but it still honors God if we choose to be thankful despite the sadness we might be going through.  Perhaps it even consoles His Heart more when we thank Him through our tears, because it means that we love Him enough to come to Him just as we are (weepy, weak, sinful, and sad), and we trust that He loves us just as we are.  

So anyway, to fit with the Thanksgiving theme, here is our family's top 10 list of gifts that we are thankful for:

1. The Eucharist:  The Greek word “Eucharisteo” literally means “to give thanks.”  That is so fitting because the fact that God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins and continues to give us Jesus’ life-giving Body and Blood in the Eucharist is certainly something to be thankful for! 
2. Our Marriage:  As most of you who are married know, marriage is hard sometimes. The past few years have been particularly hard for us, but God has taught us so much through the struggles and guided us closer to Him and to each other as we have learned how to love and forgive as God loves and forgives us.  We also learned to never lose hope, because God can bring good out of every circumstance if we trust in Him.  Our marriage received some extra special graces this summer when we took a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, which is a village in Bosnia where the Blessed Virgin Mary has been miraculously appearing every day since 1981, giving messages of peace, conversion, and love.  We hope that as we live those messages, our marriage and our family will grow in holiness and help set the world on fire with love for God. 
3. Joseph:  Joseph is now 14 and we can sure tell that he is a teenager!  He is now taller than his mother, and his hair has become crazy-curly like his father’s (was) J  His favorite activities lately are:  altar serving at Mass, playing his violin, hanging out with his awesome 8^th grade friends from St. Andrew School, fishing with his grandpa, mountain biking, snow skiing, and playing baseball at every possible opportunity—especially pitching!
4. Michael:  Michael is 12 and is excelling in the 7^th grade.  He is our competitive child who is crazy about sports.  He was thrilled to play 2 seasons of baseball this year:  one in Helena, MT and one in Aberdeen, SD (because we spent the summer in SD while getting our house sold in MT).  His teams in Helena AND in Aberdeen won the championship tournaments, which was a boy’s dream come true.  He also enjoys being an altar server, fishing with grandpa, playing chess with dad, playing darts, playing football at recess, snow skiing, and mountain biking.
5. Dominic:  Dominic is 9 and having fun in the 3^rd grade.  He is our sweet and sensitive son with a heart bigger than Montana.  He is mommy’s biggest helper because he plays with his younger brothers so patiently and so well.  He loves school and was thrilled to finally be old enough to join the orchestra this year.  He chose the cello and plays it beautifully already.  He also enjoys baseball, snow skiing, mountain biking, and taking care of the chickens that we acquired at our rental house.
6. Nathanael:  Nathanael just turned 5 and it’s hard to believe that our sweet baby boy with the dimpled chin is now a big boy who goes to preschool, knows his ABCs, and can count to 1000!  He continues to be a complete delight to our family with his sweet and silly temperament and that adorable freckled face.  He is crazy about Legos, Bionicles, magnet blocks, Nerf guns, Wild Kratts, and playing with his brothers.
7. Isaiah:  Isaiah is 2 ½ and keeps us all smiling. He is fully potty-trained, so we no longer have a child in diapers---gasp!  He spends his days playing with jets, trains, and cars, chasing chickens in our yard, and following mommy wherever she goes.
8. Our family and friends:  We are so blessed with extended family that loves us, prays for us, and encourages us from afar.  With no family in Montana, we feel so very blessed to have such supportive friends through our Catholic Church and the boys’ Catholic School.  Our friends and family (both near and far) have been one of life’s biggest blessings as we constantly encourage one another on this often difficult journey towards heaven.
9. Our jobs:  Paul took on a new position within the Federal Aviation Administration this year and he has been enjoying it a lot.  It has provided him with new challenges to conquer, more flexible hours, and less traveling—hurray!  Maria continues to have the best job in the world as a stay-at-home mom.
10. A Soul-Changing Book: Our family is so thankful for a book that is truly expanding our souls and teaching us how to grow closer to Jesus in a profound way.  The book is called Consoling the Heart of Jesus by Fr. Michael Gaitley, and we hope you will put it on your “Must Read” list!  This book teaches anyone how to become a saint (yes, even if you are a weak, sinful soul—which we all are!), and at the same time how to console Jesus’ Heart that is hurt by all the souls who reject His love and mercy.  Through beautiful insights from saints whom Jesus Himself appeared to (such as St. Faustina and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque), the book explains how to console Jesus in surprisingly simple ways, like having confident trust in His mercy when we fail—for that gives Him the joy of being our Savior.  But I hope you will read the book for yourselves to learn even more ways to be consolers of Jesus’ Heart!

Our family hopes that you all have hearts full of “Eucharisteo”—thanksgiving—for all the blessings God has given you, too!  May all of our hearts grow in gratitude this year, and grow closer to Jesus’ Sacred Heart which loves us so much and is thirsting for us to love Him in return.  

As Jesus said in these powerful words when he appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque:

“Behold this Heart, which loves so much, yet is so little loved. 

Do me the kindness then—you, at least—

of consoling my Heart as much as you can.

Yes, let’s console Jesus’ Heart with our love and gratitude as much as we can...

even if it is a sacrifice to do so at times.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Family Photo Shoot

Every year I try to take new photos of the boys for our family blog and also for my mom's "Grandkids Wall of Fame"  :)  It is always a fun, yet stressful project for me because I am such a perfectionist and I have zero photography training, but I have to say I am pleased with this year's results.  Normally I take the photos at a nearby lake, but this year I took the photos right outside our rental house (yes, we are still in a rental...keep praying for us to find the home God has planned for us soon!).  Sometimes I struggle with being grateful for our rental house because it's waaayyyy out in the valley where the cactus and sage brush thrive, but I was thankful for the Montana-esque backdrop it made for these photos...  Always try to find the silver-lining, right?  :}  It would have been humorous for you to watch me take these photos because I kept having to kick chickens out of the way so that they wouldn't get in the photo.  I'm sure am learning to be quite the pioneer woman living out here!  Actually, I'm learning that I am no Laura Ingalls Wilder...there's no way I would have survived the pioneer days! :)  Anyway, here are the photos...  I was shocked to see how much the boys have grown since last year's photo.  I guess I didn't notice the change from day to day, but I can sure see it from year to year.

I am blessed to be the momma of these five beautiful boys:

I couldn't believe how much Joseph matured this year!  He looks so different from last year...  Even though he is only in the 8th grade, I had the strange feeling that I was taking his senior pictures!  It certainly gave me a twinge of sadness to think of how few years he has left in our home :(

Michael gets more and more handsome each year and more and more freckles too!

He got his braces off this year, so he was finally able to smile showing his teeth--although he just barely showed them off :}  He is the only one in the family with those beautiful brown eyes, and I have a feeling that someday they will melt a young lady's heart--unless, of course, he chooses the priesthood! :)

Dashing Dominic!  What more can I say?  How I love his hazel eyes, his huge hugs, and his sensitive, loving heart!

Natey's photo was perhaps my favorite one of all.  I just love his dimpled chin, his sweet grin, and that sweet sweater to match the blue mountains behind him!

I was grateful to get at least one good picture of Isaiah.  Getting a 2 year old to sit still and smile is like trying to catch a tumbleweed in a tornado!  :)  With the other boys photos, I had plenty of good photos to choose from, but with Isaiah I only had two...this one, and this one:

I'm guessing my mom will want the other one for her wall, but this one sure makes me laugh :)

After taking all the pictures of the boys, I asked my son Michael to take a few of Paul and I.  I thought they turned about pretty sweet  :)  I can't even pick which one I like the best.  Do you have a favorite?  I think my husband looks quite handsome in that hat.  God has abundantly blessed me...beautiful boys, a handsome husband, and Jesus' merciful love...what more could a girl want?  Well, perhaps a new house, but there I go being greedy again.  Truly, I am grateful for what I have and trying not to want more...but it is hard.  Pray for me and I will pray for you...just send me a comment or an email (pmhurlbert@gmail.com) if you have specific prayer intentions.  I would be honored to pray for you specifically.  

My oh my, look who's FIVE!

Nathanael turned FIVE this week...November 10th to be exact.  It is hard to believe that our sweet baby boy with the dimpled chin is now a big boy who goes to preschool, knows his ABCs, and can count to 1000!  He continues to be a complete delight to our family with his sweet and silly temperament and that adorable freckled face :) We celebrated his special day by going to an afternoon Mass at Carroll College, followed by eating at a restaurant of the Birthday Boy's choosing...  He chose a Japanese Steakhouse so that he could see a fire show---typical boy.  Then we came home and gave him a few presents.  Simple and sweet.

Here is Nathanael the month he was born.  Simply adorable.  He was our first baby with that cute dimpled chin and I remember just wanting to kiss it all the time and gaze at his sweet face all day long.  I still love to cover him with kisses, and he still is super adorable, but now I can start to see in his face the young man he is to become.  In the picture below I see a 5 year old going on 15.   I see more maturity on his face and realize he's not a baby anymore.  Bittersweet.  But I am so grateful for each year God has given me with this sweet boy, and although I don't know how it's possible, I find myself loving each of my boys more and more each and every year of their lives.  I am one very blessed mother.

Dearest Nathanael,

my baby boy with the dimpled chin who is no longer a baby.

I still love to kiss that dimple and all those freckles, 

and I hope you will always let me.

I am so proud of the son that you are:

sweet, silly, and sensitive.

You are one of mommy's biggest helpers--

the way you play with Isaiah so that I can get things done.

I love the way your brilliant mind works 

and how you love to build and create with Legos and K'Nex for hours.

I love your smile, your laughter, and your joyful heart

that you contagiously give to everyone in our home and everyone you meet.

You are a blessing to our family, a firecracker of joy,

and I pray that you will set the world on fire with love for Jesus!

Isaiah's newsflash

Guess what?

I'm officially potty-trained!!!

Now give me some privacy please!

Thank you, very much :)

Eucharistic Miracle of Buenes Aires

A friend sent me this YouTube video of a recent Eucharistic Miracle that is definitely worth sharing!  For those of you who are Pope Francis fans, you will be delighted to learn that he was directly involved with this miracle.  This story makes my belief in the Real Presence so much deeper, and I hope many non-Catholics will see this video and have their hearts opened to the beauty of the Eucharist and the truth that God loves us so much that He literally shares His Heart with us at every Mass!

Here is the link:
Eucharistic Miracle of Buenes Aires
or you can copy and paste it using this address:  https://www.youtube.com/embed/3gPAbD43fTI

Our Little (and not so little) Saints

We continued the tradition of celebrating the saints on Halloween as a way to focus on what is holy rather than what is not.  Only one family joined our celebration this year, but we still had a fun and holy time!  We carved "Saint-O-Lanterns," played Catholic trivia and a few other saint games, prayed a litany of the saints, shared stories of our favorite saints, and had great food and fellowship!

Joseph is dressed as St. Thomas Aquinas, Isaiah is St. Gabriel, Nathanael is St. Pio, Dominic is St. Damian, and Michael is St. Peter

(Paul was levitating and Maria was bi-locating, which is why we are not pictured) ;)

Each time I see a picture of the Sacred Heart all aflame with love for us, I am reminded of Jesus' words to St. Margaret Mary (paraphrased):

"Behold this Heart that loves so much, yet is so little loved...

Do me the kindness, then--you, at least--

of consoling this Heart of Mine, 

as far as you can."

May we all become saints that console His heart and quench His thirst for love in countless small ways!  Through the intercession of all the holy saints, I pray that my family (and yours) may become saints that set the world on fire for love of Christ!  Happy All Saint's Day!!!