b'A LOVETHAT TRANSCENDS BORDERSMarianist Family members in San Antonio reflect on the meaning and significance of La Virgen de Guadalupe.By Carol DexterT Twice, Juan Diego went to the bishop, and twice, thehe story of Juan Diego and La Virgen de Guadalupebegan on a December morning in 1531 on a hillside bishop doubted the words of this uneducated indige-trail outside of present-day Mexico City. Juan Diego nous man. After the second request, the bishop toldwas an ordinary local man, a bit past middle age. Juan Diego to bring him proof that the apparitionBelow:Juan Diego as depicted Juan Diego had become Catholic a few years earlier was real.on the large mosaic of Our Lady through the guidance of Franciscan missionaries, and On the morning of Dec. 12, Juan Diego again encoun-of Guadalupe at the GuadalupeCultural Arts Center in San on that morning, he was hurrying along to a Mass tered Our Lady. She instructed him to gather flowersAntonio celebrating the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. from the top of the hill and, although it was winter,Suddenly, a radiant woman appeared before him. Her Juan Diego found an abundance of roses where Opposite page: Our Lady ofGuadalupe Shrine at the skin was the same deep caramel tone as Juan Diegos, La Virgen had indicated. He gathered the roses in hisOblate Center in San Antonio and she spoke to him in his native tongue. She told him cloakhis tilmaand hurried off to the bishop.As Juan Diego opened his tilma before the bishop,ALL PHOTOS: ROBIN JERSTADthe roses tumbled out at his feet, and there, imprintedon the cloak, was the image of Our Lady.Juan Diegos tilma, with the image of La Virgen canbe seen today at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupeoutside Mexico City. The tilmas colors have not fadeddespite the passing of nearly 500 years.Juan Diego was beatified in 1990 and canonizedin 2002. St. Juan Diegos feast day is Dec. 9, closelyfollowed by the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe onDec. 12.Who is La Virgen today?Its hard to overstate the importance of Our Lady ofGuadalupe to Mexicans and Mexican-Americans. Sheis both a religious and a cultural symbol, and those ofMexican heritage typically have at least one depictionof La Virgen in their homes. Even many non-CatholicMexicans view her as an emblem of national pride.she was the mother of the true God and of all those Many members of the Marianist Family have awho lived in that land. She instructed him to go to the powerful connection with La Virgen and a personallocal bishop and request that a chapel be built in her appreciation of her presence. Here are a few of honor on nearby Tepeyac Hill. their stories.4 Call 1.800.348.4732'