Part 4: The Miracle of Guadalupe

[00:00:10] Part 4, Verses 143-209, The Miracle of Guadalupe.

[00:00:17] In this final chapter of Juan Diego's extraordinary mission, the Virgin Mary's miraculous sign is revealed, forever changing the hearts of all who witness it.

[00:00:31] When he arrived at the bishop's house, the doorkeeper and the other servants met him.

[00:00:36] He asked them to announce his arrival, but they ignored him, perhaps because it was still very early or because they were already familiar with him and considered him a nuisance.

[00:00:46] Some servants who had previously encountered him had warned others about him.

[00:00:52] Juan Diego waited patiently for a long time, standing with his head bowed, holding the flowers in his tilna.

[00:00:58] When the servants noticed him waiting so long and saw that he was carrying something, curiosity got the better of them.

[00:01:05] They approached to see what he had in the hollow of his tilna.

[00:01:09] Seeing no way to avoid them, Juan Diego revealed a small glimpse of what he carried.

[00:01:15] They were amazed to see beautiful, fresh flowers, like those of Castile, blooming in a season when such flowers could not exist.

[00:01:23] Their buds were open, and they released a delightful fragrance.

[00:01:27] The servants tried three times to grab some of the flowers, but they were unable to touch them.

[00:01:33] When they reached out, the flowers seemed to disappear, appearing instead as if they were painted or embroidered into the tilna.

[00:01:41] The servants hurried to tell the bishop about the flowers, and that the lowly Indian who had visited before was waiting to see him.

[00:01:48] The bishop, upon hearing this, felt certain that this was the sign he had requested to confirm the lady's will.

[00:01:56] He immediately ordered the servants to let Juan Diego in.

[00:02:00] Once inside, Juan Diego prostrated himself before the bishop as he had done before.

[00:02:05] He recounted everything he had seen, heard and admired, saying,

[00:02:09] My lord and governor, I have done as you asked.

[00:02:13] I told the lady, my mistress, the heavenly maiden, Saint Mary, the beloved mother of God, that you requested a sign to believe me, and to build her sacred house.

[00:02:22] I also gave her my word to bring you the sign you asked for.

[00:02:27] She listened to your request, and fulfilled her promise.

[00:02:31] Early this morning, she instructed me to gather flowers from the top of the hill where I had seen her before.

[00:02:37] Despite the hill being barren and rocky, I found it transformed, filled with blooming flowers like those of Castile.

[00:02:44] I cut them as she commanded, and she took them into her venerable hands before placing them in my tilma for me to bring to you.

[00:02:52] She said this would serve as proof, so you would see her will and know my words to you are true.

[00:02:58] Here they are.

[00:03:00] Please accept them."

[00:03:02] Juan Diego then opened his white tilma, and the flowers spilled onto the floor.

[00:03:07] At that moment, the tilma became the ultimate sign, the beloved image of the perfect virgin, Saint Mary,

[00:03:14] Mother of God, appeared on the tilma in the exact form and figure in which it is now revered in her sacred house at Tepeyac, known as Guadalupe.

[00:03:26] The bishop, an all present, fell to their knees in awe.

[00:03:30] Overcome with emotion, they gazed at the image, their hearts and minds lifted in reverence.

[00:03:35] The bishop, weeping with humility and sorrow, begged forgiveness for his delay in carrying out the lady's will.

[00:03:42] The bishop untied Juan Diego's tilma, where the miraculous image had been revealed, and placed it in his private chapel.

[00:03:50] He kept Juan Diego in his home overnight.

[00:03:53] The next day, accompanied by the bishop, Juan Diego showed the place where the Lady of Heaven wanted her chapel to be built.

[00:04:00] Afterward, Juan Diego returned home to see his uncle, Juan Bernardino, who had been gravely ill.

[00:04:06] When they arrived, they found Juan Bernardino completely healed, just as the Lady of Heaven had promised.

[00:04:13] Juan Bernardino shared his own miraculous encounter with the Virgin, who had appeared to him, and healed him at the very moment she assured Juan Diego of his recovery.

[00:04:22] She also revealed her name to him, saying,

[00:04:25] You shall call me the perfect Virgin, Saint Mary of Guadalupe.

[00:04:30] Both Juan Diego and Juan Bernardino gave their testimony to the bishop, who lodged them in his home while the chapel was being built.

[00:04:37] The beloved image was later moved from the bishop's chapel to the main church, so that everyone could behold and venerate it.

[00:04:44] The entire city was filled with awe and devotion, marveling at the miraculous way the image had appeared, for no earthly hand had painted it.

[00:05:08] The Nikan Mopowa is brought to you by Juan Diego Network, featuring an original translation and adaptation of the text for the English language.

[00:05:16] Thank you for listening.