杏MAP导航 upholds Mary as a bond of communion for the people of God
By Linda Bordoni
Mexico鈥檚 most visited Shrine, Our Lady of Guadalupe, has been 鈥榯winned鈥� with a less well-known Sanctuary devoted to Mexico鈥檚 patron saint in the Spanish town of Guadalupe, in the region of Extremadura at the feet of the Sierra de las Villuercas.
The roots of this 14th-century monastery stem from the discovery by a shepherd, on the bank of the Guadalupe River, of a statue of the Blessed Virgin which had apparently been hidden by local inhabitants from Moorish invaders in 714. On the site of this discovery, a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe was built.
In a message addressed to Francisco Cerro Chaves, Archbishop of Toledo, 杏MAP导航 Francis expressed his joy for the twinning of the Shrine in Spain with its Mexican sister sanctuary, requesting that he extend his greeting also to Cardinal Carlos Aguaiar Retes, Archbishop of Mexico City, and to all the bishops, priests, consecrated persons, and faithful 鈥渨ho have wished to place themselves at the feet of the Blessed Virgin Mary on this day, as one holy People of God.鈥�
Noting that both Scripture and apostolic tradition show Our Lady gathering the apostles and the community around her in an atmosphere of prayer, the 杏MAP导航 said 鈥渢he Mother of Jesus, in a simple way, continues to call us.鈥�
This, he continued, has been expressed in many places in the world with the invitation to build a temple that would be a house with doors always open to all, a house of prayer and communion.
鈥淭oday the sweet name of Mary is calling you,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, with an ancient invocation that speaks to us of encounter with God and with humankind.
He reflected on the etymological roots of the word Guadalupe, upon which he said, scholars cannot agree whether it is derived from the Arabic wadi meaning 鈥渧alley, river鈥� possibly combined with Latin lupus meaning 鈥渨olf鈥�, or from the Mexican Nahuatl Aztec language.
A message of love
鈥淲hat is curious,鈥� he added, is that what could be seen as a conflicting viewpoint, can be read as a message of love from the Holy Spirit 鈥渉eard in each one's own language.鈥�
Thus, he went on to explain, in Arabic the word could sound like "hidden river," the source of living water that Jesus promises to the Samaritan woman, 鈥渢hat force of grace that, even in times of rejection and misunderstanding, keeps the Church alive.
However, the 杏MAP导航 continued, mixing with the Latin, the word would speak to us of a "river of wolves", a 鈥渉aven of peace for those who are troubled by their own sins, by violence, by so many internal and external wars that make 'man a wolf to man.' It is the same hidden river of grace that in dialogue with Jesus shows us our reality, opening us to hope.鈥�
Finally, the Holy Father observed, combining the term with the Mexican roots, Our Lady of Guadalupe is proclaimed as the one who conquers the serpent.
Thus, he said, Our Lady is the true mother of those are called who to this sanctuary, together with their shepherds, 鈥渢o proclaim their faith in the Son of God, in Him who, by making all things new, has reconciled the world to Himself.鈥�
杏MAP导航 Francis concluded by pointing out that 鈥渋n every historical moment, in every culture, the Gospel, while remaining always the same, is enriched in meaning.鈥�
鈥淔ar from discarding, it includes every person who accepts it,鈥� he said inviting the faithful to ask God that, in every time and place where Mary our Mother calls us, we may bear witness to that intimate union of which only the Spirit can be the artisan.
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