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Ave Maria, Empress of the Americas & Queen of Mexico
      The story of Our Lady of Guadalupe begins in 1531 when the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Juan Diego, an Aztec convert in central Mexico. She told him to build her a sanctuary on that site and gave him roses as a sign for the Bishop. However, when Saint Juan Diego emptied the roses from his tilma (a woven cactus cloak) it was discovered that Mary's image had been imprinted on the cloth. Modern studies have been baffled and can find no scientific explanation for how the image was applied or how the cactus cloth has survived for so long, especially considering that for over a hundred years it was displayed in the open air.
       In 1533 the first sanctuary for the image was erected and in the following years, by the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, nine million Aztecs converted to Christianity and secured Mexico as a firmly Catholic nation. In 1570 the Arbishop sent an oil painted copy of the miraculous image to King Philip II of Spain. The following year Admiral Doria carried a copy into the great sea battle of Lepanto when the Christian fleet, though outnumbered, defeated the Turkish forces and saved Europe from a Muslim invasion.
      In 1737 "The Most Holy Mary of Guadalupe" became the patron of Mexico City. In 1746 Our Lady of Guadalupe became patron for all of New Spain, from California to El Salvador and the knight Boturini Benaducci promoted the solemn and official coronation of the image. In 1754 His Holiness Pope Benedict XIV approved the patronage of New Spain and granted a Mass of Office proper to the celebration of the feast on December 12.
       Years later the image was carried throughout the world and Our Lady of Guadalupe became patron of Ciudad Ponce, Puerto Rico. The official coronation of the image, with pontifical authority, took place in 1895 with huge attendance of the episcopate of the Americas. In 1910 Pope St Pius X officially declared the Virgin of Guadalupe Patroness of all Latin America. Over the years many miracles occured in connection with the image. A bomb exploded directly under it, causing great damage to everything around it but not harming the
cloth at all. A man's face appeared in the right eye of the Virgin, which was documented by photographer Alfonso Marcue. She was crowned in Santa Fe, Argentina and Pope Pius XI extended her patronage to the Philippines. Finally, in 1945, His Holiness Pope Pius XII declared Our Lady of Guadalupe "Queen of Mexico and Empress of the Americas", for the first time extending her association officially to North America's English-speaking area. There were other miraculous events and in 1961 Blessed Pope John XXIII prayed to her as Mother of the Americas.
       Countless experts, opthalmologists, photographers and scientists examined the image searching for a scientific explanation or signs of tampering, but each time came away baffled with no other explanation but the miraculous. In 1976 the new Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe was dedicated, four miles from central Mexico City. His Holiness Pope John Paul II called her the "Star of Evangelization" and in 1988 the liturgical celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe was raised to the status of a feast in all dioceses in the United States. Juan Diego was declared blessed in 1990 and recently Pope John Paul II travelled to Mexico City to declare him a Saint of the Roman Catholic Church. She has also proven to be a particularly powerful force in the modern struggle against abortion and the culture of death.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, our most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary, Pray for us O Holy Mother of God, that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Pray for Us!
Music playing is Ave Maria
Picture Gallery of the Empress of the Americas