Franciscan Sisters Review Guadalupe Mysteries Deciphering the Code

During this time of anticipation for the 500th anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico on December 12, 1531, Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity truly desire to grow in our own relationship with the Blessed Virgin Mother of God in our lives. This includes prayers calling on her intercession, but also looking to Mary who, as a handmaid of the Lord, devoted her life totally to the person and work of her Son. We try to echo the active love she showed at Nazareth, in the home of Elizabeth, at Cana, and on Calvary.

One book that we have found helpful in growing in this desire and learning more about this Marian apparition is Ignatius Press Guadalupe Mysteries Deciphering the Code by Grzegorz Górny and Janusz Rosikon. It is more than a spiritual reading book. Research experts from varied academic disciplines collaborate to add their insights on this mysterious glorious gift to the world.

Sister Elizabeth Ann Miller comments:

“This is a marvelous book, explaining every detail of the Our Lady of Guadalupe’s self-image. This book not only explains the meaning behind every part of the image, but gives a short history of the various cultures living in Mexico. With this background it adds weight to the purpose and timing of her appearance resulting in thousands of Mexicans seeking baptism into the Catholic faith. This image spoke significantly to the Aztec, Spanish, and Mestizo cultures of that time. Mary’s divine image is not a reproduction of another person’s rendering of what they saw, but it is the real image of the Blessed Virgin Mary with which she gifted and blessed the world.

It seems appropriate to conclude words on this picturesque keepsake with these words from The Seventh Book of The Versified Life of Saint Francis by Henri d’Avranches:

“No, let the Virgin blest be your mediatrix with Christ,

And Christ with the Father be your mediator.

To the Virgin let his be your salutation:

O loving Mother, ‘hail Mary, filled with the Spirit’s gift,

The Lord be with you, you who are blessed among women

And blessed the fruit of your womb.’ And say those words

For as long and as often as your devotion lasts.

For through these you ponder the first joys of Christ’s mother.”