PROVIDENCE – On a cold December day in central Mexico, a poor Aztec indian named Juan Diego was taking his daily walk to the chapel when a beautiful woman appeared before him.
"I am the ever-virgin Mary, Mother of the true God," she told the stunned man.
She instructed Diego to go to the capital city and tell the Bishop that he had seen her. At first, Bishop-elect Fray de Zumarraga ignored Diego's message from the Blessed Mother, so Diego returned to the place he had seen her. She was waiting for him and instructed him to return to the Bishop with the story once again.
Zumarraga demanded that Diego ask the woman for proof that she truly was whom she claimed to be. After a few days, the Blessed Mother appeared before Diego and told him not to be discouraged/ She instructed him to collect flowers from the hill where they had met. When Diego climbed to the top of the hill he found Castilian roses in full bloom, despite the frigid December weather.
When Diego returned to the Bishop once more, roses in hand and with assurances from Mary that this time he would be believed, he was stunned to see the Bishop and his advisors fell to their knees. A perfect image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pregnant with the son of God and dressed as a queen, appeared on his tilma, a traditional cloak. Diego, the Bishop and soon all who saw the tilma were believers that the Virgin Mary had ineed appeared.
The year was 1531 and Mexico was ruled by the Aztecs who worshipped many gods, the Blessed Mother called for their conversion. In less than a decade more than six million Aztecs had converted to Christianity. The image that appeared on Diego's tilma is now known as Our Lady of Guadalupe and she is recognized as the "Patroness of the Americas."
Today, that tilma bearing the image of the Blessed Mother is still in the same perfect condition it was nearly five centuries ago. The tilma is kept in Mexico City's Cathedral for the millions of pilgrims who visit. Miraculously it has survived floods, fires and even a bomb blast.
The Mexican Cathedral where the tilma is displayed is, unfortunately, out of reach for many would-be pilgrims. Digitally-produced exact replicas of the image, however, have been consecrated by the Cathedral's rector for use in pilgrimages across the world. One of those images, hailing from Vermont, will be in Rhode Island starting today and through February 2. Catholics in Rhode Island will have the opportunity to see, and pray to, the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe at several churches and other sites in the diocese.
The Human Life Guild, through the Repect Life Office, has brought the image to Rhode Island for a statewide pilgrimage. Respect Life Coordinator Carol Owens said that because of the "pressing moral issues" facing Catholics, particularly abortion, the Image's tour is especially important. "We need the powerful intercession of Our Lady, Our Blessed Mother, to bring about a conversion of hearts and minds of the atrocities that challenge society today. Primarily, we need to protect our unborn children, the most vulnerable of our citizens," Owens said. She noted that in the 35 years since the U.S. legalized abortion in Roe vs. Wade an estimated 50 million abortions have been performed.
"Although the elections have passed, we as faithful Catholic citizens must continue to be the voice of the unborn and for all who are unable to speak for themselves," she said.
The powerful Image, Owens is confident, will be a source of inspiration for those working to end abortion. "It is through divine assistance from Our Lady's intercession that we will continue to form the consciences of our citizens," she said.
St. Theresa Parish in Pawtucket will be host to the image on January 10 and 11. Father Joseph Paquette said that the image's statewide tour is an opportunity for parishes to promote community and faith in the face of difficult times. "At this time our country is in such turmoil... it's just another way to try to gather people together and pray," he said.
He added that he hopes people will pray to the Blessed Mother for courage and strength in their personal lives as well as to "enlighten our politicians."
Loraine Cournoyer, a parishioner of St. Patrick Parish in Providence and one of the guardians of the image while it is in Rhode Island, will host the image in her home in January. She said she was initially drawn to this project after a planned pilgrimage to Mexico City was cancelled. "She's coming to visit us because we can't visit her." Cournoyer hopes the image's visit to Rhode Island will have a positive effect on the people who see it. "What I hope is that while Our Lady's here all who are exposed to her will be touched, that our hearts will be touched by her."
The image will tour several parishes and homes across the state. See the box for a schedule. All events are free and open to the public.
• January 8 – 9
St. Philip, 622 Putnam Pike,
Greenville
Eucharistic Adoration and Veneration of the Image
• January 10 – 11
St. Theresa, 358 Newport Avenue, Pawtucket
Image on display at all weekend
masses
• January 12
St. Patrick, 244 Smith Street,
Providence
6 p.m. – Midnight;
Eucharistic Adoration and Veneration of the
Image of Our Lady
• January 13
Home of Loraine Cournoyer
Veneration, Rosary
• January 14
St. Patrick, 244 Smith Street,
Providence
Mass at 7 p.m., Veneration until
10 p.m.
• January 15
Mother of Life 400 Atwells Avenue Providence
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Prayer, Special
Devotions, Rosary at noon
• January 16
SS. John & James 20 Washington St., West Warwick, 5:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• January 17
Broad Street Abortion Clinic
St. Paul Church
One St. Paul Place, Cranston
Image will be part of an 8 a.m. procession at the abortion clinic and then on display for Veneration at the 9 a.m. Respect Life Mass at St. Paul’s
• January 17
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 791 Potters Avenue, Providence (Hispanic Family Conference)
1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
• January 18
St. James Chapel, 2079 Matunuck School House Rd., Charlestown
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Adoration
• January 19
St. James Chapel, 2079 Matunuck School House Rd. Charlestown
8 a.m. – 11 p.m. Adoration
• January 20
St. James Chapel, 2079 Matunuck School House Rd.
Charlestown, 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Adoration
• January 21
St. James Chapel, 2079 Matunuck School House Rd., Charlestown, 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. Adoration
• January 22
St. Pius V, 55 Elmhurst Ave,
Providence
Eucharistic Adoration following
noon Mass until 8 p.m.;
Confessions 7-7:45 p.m.
• January 23
SS John & Paul, 341 South Main St., Coventry
7:30 a.m. Mass followed by Eucharistic Adoration;
3 p.m. Divine Mercy Chaplet; 4:30 p.m. Rosary; 4:45 p.m., Benediction; 5:00 p.m. Holy Mass.
• January 24 – 25
Please contact Respect Life Office
• January 26
St. Martha Church, 2595
Pawtucket Ave, East Providence
Holy Hour, Rosary, Benediction
6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• January 27
St. Timothy, 1799 Warwick Ave,
Warwick
7 p.m. Holy, Rosary and Benediction (possible Mass during the day)
• January 28
Body of Christ Chapel,
Veneration of the Image
• January 29/30
Home of Fran Robertson
7 p.m. – 6 a.m.
• January 30
St. Francis de Sales, 381 School Street,
North Kingstown,
9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• January 30/31
Home of Liz Murtagh,
Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet
9 p.m. – 6 a.m.
• January 31
Sacred Heart, 820 Providence St., West Warwick; Holy hour and Rosary 11 a.m. – 12 noon, Holy Mass 12 noon, and 5 p.m., Veneration of the Image 1 – 5 p.m.
• February 1
St. Luke Parish, 108 Washington Rd., Barrington
Veneration of the Image at all Sunday Masses
