12-12-12 Our Lady of Guadalupe

 

12-12-12! Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The image above is one of my Mandala designs which I call the

Tu Madre Mandala

I created this after coordinating several immersion retreats to Mexico. Each time the Benedictine Sisters of Guadalupa who were our gracious hostesses, urged us to tell the story of OLG and the Mexican people. This Mandala is my attempt to do that. A brief explanation follows. Happy Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of ALL our Americas.

 

Translation of Mandala Text:

"Am I not here, I who am your Mother? Have I not placed you on my lap?

Who else do you need? Do not grieve or worry about anything."

Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to the Mestizo peasant, Juan Diego, in 1531 on Mount Tepeyac. She came, not to the center of power, but to the periphery of a society which had been oppressed and stripped of their indigenous culture, religion and dignity. The "Tu Madre" mandala combines indigenous symbols of hope, resurrection and transformation

from both the Aztec, "Piedra del Sol" and the Mayan Pyramids of Xochicalco with the traditional image of the tilma of Juan Diego. The Virgin wears the blue-green of divinity and her dress is the color of earth. Her head tilts in a listening.

contemplative glance that radiates concern and compassion. Her hands are clasped in a gesture of offering. The black band indicates the expectancy of new life for within her dwells hope for salvation. The Guadalupe event marks the beginning of a new era. It's universal message is not just for Mexicans but our Mexican sisters and brothers ask that we walk with those whose lives are lived on the periphery. They ask that we be open to their struggle even when it's painful.

Here is a presentation about the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We created it for one of our CSJ Associate gatherings
http://www.scribd.com/doc/116526859/Mexico-Story-of-Olg-Web
The powerpoint, itself, gives the broad strokes of the presentation. All th pictures were taken during our Mexico immersion reteats.