The appearance of Our Lady on Tepayac hill outside of what is now Mexico City in 1531 to an indigenous convert, Juan Diego, changed the entire trajectory of mission in the Americas. Mary spoke the native language, wore customary Aztec dress and was as dark skineed as the indigenous population. The faith in Jesus which Mary brought was not a foreign import but a further expression of the relationship people already had with God. My favorite part of the story: Mary had appeared to Juan Diego several times telling him to build a church on the site. He had tried to convince the local bishop but was unsuccessful. Mary had asked for an update on December 12 but the uncle of Juan Diego had fallen ill. He wanted to find a priest to pray over his uncle so he avoided the usual route for fear he would encounter the Blessed Mother and slow him down on his mission. Mary, of course, found him and chided him to trust her: “Am I not here, I who am your mother!” Mary had learned the importance of trusting God during her own crisis as Elizabeth reports: “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” As we celebrate Mary today she encourages us to have the same trust in God that she had and that she encouraged in Juan Diego.
