The destiny of Christianity on the American continent was seriously in doubt nearly ten years after Spain conquered Mexico. The newly appointed bishop-elect of Mexico warned the King of Spain that the continent would be lost absent a miracle due to the hostile colonial government and Native Americans who were wary of conversion. That miracle took place between December 9 and December 12, 1531, and it altered the course of the continent for all time.On a mountaintop outside of what is now Mexico City, the Virgin Mary reputedly appeared to a Native American Christian convert at that time. Despite the fact that the image she left on his cloak, or tilma, has baffled scholars for centuries, Our Lady of Gudalupe has a significant historical impact. Prior to the apparitions, a continent that appeared to be entirely lost to Christianity unexpectedly and mysteriously embraced it by the millions. The institutionalised brutality of the Aztec society was replaced by the message of love delivered by Our Lady of Guadalupe, who also created a link between the ancient and new cultures after 10 years of horrific conflict.Our Lady of Guadalupe still stirs millions of people's devotion today.One finds immense devotion to her and great admiration for her message of love, unity, and optimism everywhere from Canada to Argentina and even outside of the Americas. Today, you may find replicas of the Virgin's miraculous image all over North and South America, in homes and churches, on billboards, and even on clothing. One of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide is her shrine in Mexico City, where the miraculous image is still kept today.Anderson and Chavez recount the history of Our Lady of Guadalupe from the fifteenth century to the present in their book, Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mother of the Civilization of Love, and they discuss how her message has been and continues to be a significant catalyst for religious and cultural change. The authors examine the changing face of the Catholic Church in North, Central, and South America and show how Our Lady of Guadalupe's message was not only historically significant, but how it speaks to contemporary issues confronting the American continents and people today by using Juan Diego as a model for all Christians who seek to answer Christ's call of conversion and witness.
Paperback, 272 Pages