Our Lady of Guadalupe

 The Tilma of Our Hearts.

The apparition of the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe is the ultimate teaching and example of Consecration to her.  

Juan Diego was on his way to run an errand when he heard the voice of Our Lady call out to him. 

Consecration is not something we decide to do. 

It is a calling from Our Lady to come closer to her. 

Oftentimes that call comes when we least expect it. 

In the middle of our daily, bustling lives while we are running errands;

Running from one thing to another. 

Like Juan Diego, when we hear her voice, will we stop what we are doing and come to her?

Our Lady gave a gift of flowers to Juan Diego and arranged them herself in his Tilma. 

When our Lady calls us to herself, to consecrate ourselves to her, she gives us the gift of her virtues and arranges them in our hearts.  

When Juan Diego came to the bishop and opened up his Tilma, the image of Our Lady appeared, impressed upon it. 

In our consecration, the image of Our Lady is impressed upon the Tilma of our hearts for all to see. 

Through Consecration to Mary, her image is impressed on our hearts and we become "Living Tilmas" , reflections and images of Mary for all the world to see. 

And as Juan Diego showed the bishop the image of Our Lady on his Tilma, so those who are consecrated show the image of Our Lady that is on the Tilma of their hearts to others and thus bring others to her. 

As we gaze upon the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, it should be as if we are looking in a mirror, for her image on the Tilma of Juan Diego should be a reflection of her Living Image on the Tilma of our hearts. 

A gift that she gives to all her children her whom she calls to consecrate their hearts to her Immaculate heart!