“Am I not here?”: The Maternal Comfort of Guadalupe Leading Us to Jesus
FULL ARTICLE HERE - Our Lady of Guadalupe: The Advent Star Guiding Us to Christ
The Nican Mopohua, a 16th-century account written in Nahuatl that narrates the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego in 1531, offers one of the most beautiful expressions of her maternal love.
In her dialogue with Juan Diego, Mary presents herself as “the perfect ever Virgin Holy Mary” and “Mother of the one true God,” showing that everything in her leads to Christ. Her desire that a “sacred little house” be built reveals her mission: “to show him, to exalt him” and “to offer him to all my people with all my personal love.”
Through these words, Our Lady of Guadalupe shows that her motherhood extends not only to Jesus but also to “all men … those who love me, those who call on me, those who seek me,” promising to hear their cries and heal “their different sufferings.”
At another moment, she consoles Juan Diego with a tenderness that still touches hearts across the continent. She urges him not to fear “any ... distressing or painful thing” and reminds him of her presence: “Am I not here, I who have the honor and joy of being your mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection?” Her other words, “Are you not in the fold of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms?”, reveal a Mother who accompanies, protects and brings peace.