MARY, OUR MOTHER

CHAPTER XXXVIII: TWO HEARTS OF WIT & WISDOM

It is self-evident from the quotations of the Bible, as stated in these previous chapters:
Almighty God encourages us to make statues. He does not forbid us to make statues and honor them. - - - To adore them is out of order! - - -
Why then would God tell us to make graven images of Angels and to honor them? And Almighty God tells us to make pictures! - - -
It was in 1531 Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego at GUADALUPE, what is today the outskirts of Mexico City (which is now the largest city in the World.)
To think that America was discovered in 1492--just 38 years later already Mary appears in the Americas!
Many books have been written on this subject, telling in detail the human-interest, heart-warming story of Our Blessed Mother's apparition there. However Our Lady left her picture on the mantle--tilma--of Juan Diego!
This miraculous image is located, beautifully enshrined over the main altar at the Guadalupe Basilica, Mexico City. The mantle, or tilma, as the local people call it, is actually of a cactus substance, which should decompose, according to scientists in 45 years. To this day, after 450 years, the mantle and picture is intact, miraculously preserved. Believe it or not. - - -
In fact, some years ago, four eye doctors, including my own doctor, Dr. Charles Wahlig who was a wonderful devotee of Guadalupe, examined the eyes of this picture, they found, to their amazement, when applying lights and their instruments--they were looking into the depth of a human eye!
They took photographs of the pupil of the eyes--there you see--again believe it or not--the picture of Juan Diego. He is up for canonization in Rome. [He is now Blessed Juan Diego.] Pope John Paul II also visited there--to see for himself!
This incredible apparition resulted in the biggest sudden conversion in the history of the Church: In 2 years, after the apparition, over 7,000,000 Indians were converted, and the custom of those days, of killing maidens and offering them up to their gods was immediately abolished!
This confirms, as stated before, the approval from the Scriptures to venerate--not adore--pictures!

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