NICAN MOPOHUA: APPARITIONS OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
Sometime around the
middle of the 16th century, less than two decades after the apparition of the
Mother of God to Blessed Juan Diego, an account of the events was written in Nahuatl (the language of the Aztecs) by Don Antonio Valeriano, a native scholar. It is called Nican Mopohua. The
Spanish version was translated into English in the 1980s by Fr. Real Bourque,
OMI. The numbered division of the text allows a meditative reading of each of
218 details in the account.
Here is the
account, in its proper order, of how quite recently, miraculously, there
appeared the Perfect Virgin Holy Mary, Mother of God, our
Queen, at the Tepeyac hill, known as Guadalupe.
First, she allowed Herself to be seen by a little Macehual
(Indian), by the name of Juan Diego; then her precious image appeared before
the recently elected Bishop Don Fray Juan de Zumarraga.
1. Ten years after the
conquest of the city of
2. faith
began to sprout and put forth green shoots, opening up its corolla to the
knowledge of Him through Whom one lives: the true God.
3. In
that year, 1531, within a few days of the month of December, a Macehual (little Indian), a poor man of the people
4. named
Juan Diego lived, it is said, in Cuautitlan,
5. although
in all things related to God (his religion) he belonged to Tlatilolco
(the parish in
First
Encounter of Saturday
6. It was Saturday, very
early, at dawn, and he was going in search of God and his commandments.
7. As he approached
the small hill called Tepeyac, as the day was already
breaking,
8. he heard singing
from the small hill, like the song of many fine birds; when their voices ceased
it was as if the hill answered with songs even more gentle, more joyful than
those of the coyoltototl, the tzinitzcan
and of other delicate song birds.
9. Juan stopped to
look around. He said to himself: "Am I worthy of
what I hear? Perhaps I am only dreaming it? Perhaps I am only seeing it as in
dream?
10. Where
am I? Where do I find myself? Could this be the place that the old ones, our
ancestors, spoke about; the land of flowers, the land of corn, of our meat and
our sustenance? Could this be the heavenly land?"
11. He stood looking
up towards the top of the hill, from the side where the sun rises, from where
the beautiful celestial song came.
12. When the song
suddenly ceased, when it could no longer be heard, then he began to hear
someone calling him from the top of the little hill: "Juanito, Juan Dieguito!"
13. Then he dared to
go where he was being called. Nothing troubled his heart: he was not anxious
about anything. Rather, he felt extremely joyous and happy; he made his way up
to the small hill to see where he was being called.
14. When he came to
the summit of the little hill, a Maiden was standing there. When she saw him,
15. She told him to
come closer.
16. When he arrived in
front of Her, He greatly admired in what manner, above all comprehension, her
perfect beauty was expressed.
17. Her dress shone
like the sun, as if it were gleaming,
18. and
the stone, the rock on which she was standing, seemed to be sending forth beams
of light;
19. Her splendor
looked like that of precious stones, as "ajorca"
(though even more beautiful),
20. the
ground sparkled as the rays of a rainbow in the mist.
21. The mesquite
bushes, the cactus, and other scrubby plants that grew there looked like
emeralds. Their foliage was like turquoise, and their stems, thorns and leaves
shone like gold.
22. He prostrated
himself in her presence, listening to her voice and to her words, which were
full of praise, very affable, as those of someone who wished to attract him and
esteemed him highly.
23. She said: "Listen
my son, little one, Juanito, where are you
going?"
24. And he answered: "My
Lady, Queen, my Little Child, I am going to your little house of Mexico, Tlatilolco, to follow the things of God which are given and
taught to us by those who are the images of our Lord: Our priests."
25. Then she spoke to
him and made known her precious will;
26. She told him: "Know
for certain, my son, the smallest one, that I am the
perfect and ever virgin holy Mary, mother of the true God, through whom one
lives, the creator of mankind, the one who owns what is near and beyond, the
owner of heaven and earth. I ardently desire that here they build me my sacred
little house, a 'Teocalli',
27.
Where I will show him, I will exalt him and make him manifest.
28.
Where I will offer him to all the people with all my love, my compassionate
gaze and my help, my salvation
29.
Because I an truly your merciful mother,
30.
Yours and mother of all who live united in this land,
31.
And of all mankind, of all those who love me, of those who cry to me, of those
who search for be, of those who have confidence in me.
32.
There I will listen to their cry, to their sadness, so as to curb all their
different pains, their miseries and sorrow, to remedy and alleviate their
sufferings.
33.
So to realize what my compassionate, merciful gaze intends, go to the palace of
the bishop of
34.
Be assured that I shall be very grateful and will reward you,
35.
I will enrich you and glorify you,
36.
And you will greatly merit that I repay your weariness, your service with which
you will request this matter to which I send you.
37.
Now my son, my smallest one, you have heard my voice; go and do everything the
best you can."
38. Immediately in her
presence Juan bowed very low and said: "My Lady, my
Little Daughter, I am going to fulfill your venerable desire, your venerable
word, for now I depart from you, I your poor little Indian."
39. He then took leave
of her and descending the rocky slope of Tepeyac, set
off in rapt wonder towards
First
Meeting with the Bishop
40. Upon reaching the
center of the city he went directly to the palace of the Bishop, who had
arrived only very recently, as Governing Priest. His name was Don Fray Juan de Zummarraga, a priest of St. Francis.
41. As soon as Juan
arrived, he tried to see the Bishop. He pleaded with his servants, the members
of his household, to go and tell him.
42. Then after a long
time his personal helpers came to call him, when the Lord Bishop ordered that
he should enter.
43. When he entered he
knelt in front of the Bishop, he prostrated himself and told of the precious
voice, the precious words of the Queen of Heaven, what her message was, and he
told of all he had admired, seen, and heard.
44. Having listened to
the whole story and to his message as well, which he did not hold to be
entirely true,
45. the Bishop
responded: "My son, another time you will come and with more calm I will
listen from the beginning; I will see and consider the reason for which you
have come, your will and desire."
46. Juan Diego went
out; he was sad because his mission was not realized immediately.
Second
Encounter of Saturday
47. Toward the end of
the day, he returned straight to the top of the hill
48. where
he had seen the Queen of Heaven earlier; Our Lady, clothed in light, was
waiting for him.
49. When he saw Her, he fell at once to his knees, and bowing low before
Her, said:
50. "My
Little Patroness, my Lady, Queen, my smallest daughter, I went where you sent
me in order to fulfill your amiable voice, amiable word. Although it was
difficult for me to enter the place where the Governing Priest lives, I saw him
and before him I exposed your voice, your word, as you requested.
51. He
received me kindly and listened perfectly, but from what he answered me, it
seemed as if he did not understand and was not sure.
52. He
said to me: you will come another time. I will calmly listen to you from the
beginning and I will see why you came, your desire, your
will.
53. I
believe, according to the way he answered me, he thinks the house you want them
to build here for you may be my invention, or maybe it does not come from your
lips.
54. I
beg you very much, my Lady, Queen, my little girl, entrust one of the noblemen,
someone who Is esteemed, who Is known, respected, honored, to direct, to carry
out your amiable wish, your amiable word, so that they will believe him.
55. Because
truly I am a man of the fields, I myself need to be led; I am like a beast of
burden, like a tall, like a wing, to be loaded with a burden. It is not up to
me to decide the place, where I go or where I stop.
56. Please
forgive me, I will afflict your countenance, your heart with sorrow; I will
fall in your anger, in your displeasure. Lady, my owner, I belong to you."
57. The Perfect
Virgin, worthy of honor and veneration, answered him:
58. "Listen,
the smallest of my sons, be assured that those who serve me, my messengers,
entrusted to carry my voice, my word, to accomplish my will, are
not few in number:
59.
But it is very necessary that you personally go, request that my wish, my will,
be realized, be carried out, through your
intercession.
60.
I beg you earnestly, youngest son of mine, and solemnly do command you that
once again tomorrow you go to see the bishop.
61.
From my part, let him know, let him hear my wish, my
will, so that he will make, he will build the temple that I ask.
62.
So, once again, tell him that it is I personally, the ever virgin, holy Mary,
the Mother of God who is sending you."
63. Juan Diego in turn
answered Her, saying: "My
Lady, Queen, my little girl, don't let me cause any pain in your face or in
your heart. With great pleasure I will go to carry your voice your word.
Nothing will stop me, nor will I find the road too hard.
64. I
shall go to carry out your will but maybe I shall not be heard and if I am
heard maybe I shall not be believed.
65. Tomorrow
evening, when the sun sets, I shall return to tell your word, your voice, what
the Governing Priest will have answered me.
66. I
now respectfully say farewell to you, Smallest of my Daughters, Young One, my
Lady, my little Child: rest a little while."
67. Then he also went
to his own house to rest.
Meeting
with the Bishop on Sunday
68. On the next day,
Sunday, when it was still night, when it was still dark, he left his house. He
went straight to Tlatilolco to learn the ways of God
and to be counted on the list, to see the Lord Bishop only afterwards.
69. At about
70. Juan Diego then
went to the palace of the Lord Bishop.
71. As soon as he
arrived he did everything he could to see the Bishop; only after a lot of
effort did he see him again.
72. He knelt at the
Bishop's feet, he cried, he became sad as he spoke, as he explained the word,
the mission, the voice of the Queen of Heaven.
73. He hoped that his
mission would be believed, the will of the Perfect Virgin to do, to build her
little sacred house where she said, where she wanted it.
74. The Governing
Bishop asked him very many things, he questioned him to discover where he had
seen Her, what she looked like. He told the Lord
Bishop absolutely everything.
75. Although he
declared absolutely everything, and in each thing the Bishop saw, admired with
all clarity that she was the Perfect Virgin, the Kind, Wonderful Mother of our Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ,
76. nothing,
however, came of it.
77. The Bishop said
that it could not be by Juan Diego's word alone that his petition would be
done, would be realized;
78. some
other sign was very necessary before it could be believed that he had been sent
by the Queen of Heaven in person.
79. As soon as Juan
Diego heard this he said to the Bishop:
80. "Lord
Governor, consider what sign you would like, because I shall now go to ask it
of the Queen of Heaven who sent me."
81. The Bishop, having
seen that Juan Diego confirmed everything, that he never hesitated, nor showed
any doubt, dismissed him.
82. As soon as he had
left, the Bishop sent some of the members of his household in whom he had
complete confidence to follow him, to observe where he went, whom he saw, with
whom he spoke.
83. And thus it was
done. Juan Diego went out; he just followed the road.
84. Those who followed him lost sight of him at the end of the
causeway near the Tepeyac at the wooden bridge.
Although they looked everywhere, they could not find him.
85. So they went back,
not only because they were greatly upset with that, but also because they could
not fulfill their attempt and that made them angry.
86. So they went to
relate to the Lord Bishop, to put into his head that he should not believe him,
that he was telling nothing but lies, that he had invented what he had told the
Bishop, or that he had only dreamed or imagined what he said and what he asked.
87. And then they
determined that if once again he were to return, they would lay hands on him
and punish him severely so that he would not again tell lies and cause trouble.
Encounter
of Sunday
88. In the meantime
Juan Diego was with the Blessed Virgin, telling her the answer that he brought
from the Bishop.
89. When she had heard
it, the Lady said:
90. "Well
done my little son; you will return here tomorrow so that you may take the
bishop the sign that he has asked for.
91.
With that he will believe you, and he will not doubt this any longer, nor
distrust you.
92.
Know, little son, that I will repay you for the trouble, the labor, and the
weariness that I have caused you.
93.
There now, go. For tomorrow I will wait for you here."
The
Sickness of his Uncle
94. The next day,
Monday, the day when Juan Diego should have taken a sign to be believed, he did
not return.
95. When he returned
to his house, his sick uncle, Juan Bernardino, was now very bad.
96. Although Juan
Diego went for the doctor, and he did what he could, it was too late; he was
very gravely ill.
97. When night came,
his uncle begged him, even though it was not yet dawn and still dark, to go
forth to Tlatilolco, to fetch a priest who would hear
his confession, who would prepare him.
98. He was sure that
this was the time, this was the place to die; because he would never get up
again, he would not be cured.
99. So on Tuesday,
when it was still very much night, there from his house came Juan Diego to call
a priest from Tlatilolco.
100. When he had
reached the foot of the little hill, where the Sierra ends, where the path
emerges on the side where the sun sets, where he had come before, he said to
himself:
101. "If
I follow the path straight ahead, the Lady might see me and surely she will
detain me as she has done before, that I may take the sign to the
ecclesiastical Governor as she commanded me.
102. First,
lot her allow us to deal with our own troubles, lot me first quickly call the
religious priest that my uncle is waiting for so anxiously."
103. He then made his
way around the hill, climbed towards the middle and when there he crossed to
the eastern side, to come out rather quietly, to go to
104. He thought that
the roundabout road he took would keep her from seeing him, she for whom every
place is perfectly seen.
The
Encounter of Tuesday
105. He saw her as she
came down from the top of the hill, from where she had been watching him, from
where she saw him before.
106. she came to meet him on the side of the hill; she came to
stand in his way and said:
107. "What
is it, smallest of my sons? Where are you going, where are you heading?"
108. And he, maybe he
grieved a little, perhaps he felt ashamed, or maybe he was startled or became
frightened.
109. In her presence,
he prostrated himself, greeted Her, and said:
110. "My
Little Girl, my smallest Daughter, my Child. I hope you are happy, how are you
this morning? Is your dear little body well, my Lady my Child?
111. With
pain, I will distress your face, your heart. I tell you, my little Girl, that
one of your servants, my uncle, is gravely ill.
112. A
terrible illness has him in its grip, and surely he will die of it soon.
113.
Now I must go rapidly to your little house in
114.
In reality we were born for that, we who have come to await the labor of our
death.
115.
However, when I have done this I shall return here and carry your voice, your
word, my Lady, my young One.
116.
I beg of you to forgive me, still have a little more patience with me, because
I am not deceiving you, my Youngest Daughter, my Child. Tomorrow without fall I
will come In haste."
117. When she had
heard his excuses the Perfect and Pious Virgin said to Juan Diego:
118. "Listen
and keep in your heart, my youngest son, that there is nothing for you to fear,
nothing to afflict you. Let neither your face nor your heart be worried. Do not
fear this nor any other illness, nor anything pounding
nor afflicting.
119.
Am I not here, I who an your mother? Are you not in my
shadow, under my protection? Am I not the fountain of your joy? Are you not in
the fold of my mantle, in my crossed arms? Is there anything else you need?
120.
Don't let anything afflict you, perturb you. Let not the sickness of your uncle
cause pain. He will not die of it now. Be assured that he is well."
121. At that very
moment his uncle recovered, as it was later known.
122. When Juan Diego
heard these loving words, the loving voice of the Queen of Heaven, he was
filled with consolation and his heart was set at rest.
123. He begged her to
send him at once to the Governing Bishop, to bring something as a sign, a
proof, so that he would believe.
124. Then the Queen of
Heaven told him to climb to the top of the little hill where he had seen her
before.
125. She said: "Climb,
smallest of my sons, to the top of the little hill where you saw me and where I
gave you my commands.
126. There
you will see many flowers; cut them, pick them, gather them together, them come back here, bring then here to my presence."
127. So Juan Diego
climbed the little hill.
128. When he reached
the top he was filled with wonder at the sight of so many flowers in full
bloom, flowers of the greatest variety, beautiful and splendid, though their
proper time to bloom had not yet come.
129. For truly at that
season the frost was very keen.
130. From the flowers
came the sweetest of perfumes. They were like precious pearls steeped in the
dew of the night.
131. He then began to
cut them, gathering them all together, placing them in the fold of his tilma (apron).
132. Certainly the
summit of the little hill was no place to find any flowers; nothing could
flourish there only weeds, wild bushes, thorns, nopales
and mesquites.
133. And if by chance
a few blades of grass were to sprout, it was December, when frost kills
everything, destroys everything.
134. When he came
down, he brought the different flowers he had cut to the Heavenly Child.
135. When she saw
them, she took them in her venerable hands
136. and put them again in the fold of his ayate
(apron) and said:
137. "My
youngest little son, these various flowers are the proof, the sign that you
will take to the bishop.
138.
You will tell him in my name to see in them my wish, and because of them he can
fulfill my wish, my will.
139.
Juan, you who are my messenger, in you is placed absolutely all my confidence.
140.
I order you most severely that only in the presence of the bishop, when you are
alone with him, are you to open your ayate and show
him what you bring.
141.
You will tell him everything exactly. You will tell him that I ordered you to
climb to the top of the little hill to cut flowers. Tell him everything you saw
and admired.
142.
Thus, you will be able to convince the governing priest that he should do
everything in his power to make, to build my temple, which I have asked
for."
143. As soon as the
Celestial Queen had given her command, he set out on the road, straight to
144. So he came, his
heart at peace because everything would work out well, he would fulfill it
perfectly.
145. He was very
careful of what he carried in the fold of his apron, for fear of dropping
something.
146. He walked along,
enjoying the fragrance of the varied precious flowers.
Meeting
with Bishop: The Miraculous Image
147. When he reached
the Bishop's palace, the porter and other servants of the Governing Priest came
out to meet him.
148. He begged them to
tell the Bishop that he wished to see him, but none of them would do so; they
pretended they did not understand him or that it was still too dark.
149. Or perhaps
because they knew him, that he would just bother them, annoy them.
150. Their comrades
had already told them about him, those who had lost sight of him when they had
tried to follow him.
151. For a very long time he waited for an answer.
152. He stood there
for a long time, head down, doing nothing, just in case he would be called.
When they saw that he looked like he was carrying something in the fold of his tilma, they approached him to see what he had and stop wondering.
153. When Juan Diego
realized that there was no way to hide from them what he was carrying, and
therefore that they would molest him and push him, and maybe even beat him, he
allowed them a glimpse of his flowers.
154. When they saw
such fine and varied flowers and they realized that it was not the time for
them to bloom, they admired them very much: how fresh they were, how wide open,
how fragrant and lovely they were.
155. They wanted to
grab some and take them out.
156. Three times they dared to try to take them but there was no
way they could do so.
157. When they made
their attempts the flowers no longer seemed real; they were as if painted,
embroidered or sewn on the tilma.
158. They went at once
to tell the Governing Bishop of what they had seen.
159. They told him how
much the little Indian who had come before wanted to see him, and that he had
been waiting for a long time for permission to see him.
160. The Governing
Bishop, as soon as he heard this, realized that this was the proof which was to
convince him to put into effect the work that the little man had asked to have
done.
161. He gave orders
that Juan Diego be brought into his presence immediately.
162. Having entered,
Juan Diego prostrated himself in his presence, as he had done before.
163. Once again he
told him what he had seen, what he had admired, and his message.
164. He said: "My
Lord, Governor, I did, I carried out, what you commanded me.
165. I
went to tell the Lady, my Mistress, the Heavenly Child, Maiden, Holy Mary, the
Beloved Mother of God, that you asked for proof in order to believe me, so that
you would make her sacred little house, where she asked you to build it.
166. I
also told her that I had given you my word to bring you some sign, some proof
of her will, as you told me to do.
167. She
listened well to your voice, your word, and received with pleasure your
petition for the sign, the proof, so that her beloved will be done and
verified.
168. Now,
while it was still night, she ordered me to come to see you again.
169. I
asked her for the proof so that I would be believed, according to the promise
she had made to me and she fulfilled it immediately.
170. She
sent me to the top of the little hill where I had already seen Her, to cut there various roses of
171. and
when I cut them, I took them down to Her
172. and
she took them in her holy hands;
173. once
again she put them in the fold of my ayate (apron),
174. so that I would
bring them to you, so that I would give them to you personally.
175. Although
I knew well that the top of the hill is not a place where flowers will grow
since only weeds, wild scrub, thorny bushes, cactus, and mesquites grow there,
not even for that reason did I doubt or hesitate.
176. When
I arrived at the top of the little hill, I thought I was already In paradise.
177. There
they were, already all perfect: the varied precious flowers, the finest ones,
full of dew, resplendent; I went and cut them.
178. She
told me to give them to you from her and that by so doing I would provide
proof. You would see in it the sign you asked for so that her beloved will
would be fulfilled.
179. To
show that my word, my message is true
180. here
they are. Do me the favor of receiving them."
181. Then Juan Diego
unfolded his white tilma, in which fold she had put
the flowers
182. so that all the
varied precious flowers fell to the floor.
183. Then there
appeared the sign, before their very eyes, the Beloved Image of the Perfect
Virgin, Holy Mary, Mother of God, in the form and figure that can be seen now,
184. where it is still preserved in her beloved little house, in
her sacred little house in Tepeyac, which is called
Guadalupe.
185. As soon as the
Governing Bishop and all who were there saw Her, they
fell to their knees, admiring her very much.
186. They stood up to
see Her, becoming sad and grieving, their hearts and
thoughts in suspense.
187. The Governing
Bishop was in tears; sadly he begged her forgiveness for not having by then
fulfilled her will, her venerable voice, her venerable
word.
188. When he stood up
he untied the tilma of Juan Diego where it was
knotted at his neck,
189. and on which she appeared, on which the Celestial Queen was
converted into a sign.
190. He then took the tilma and placed it in his oratory.
191. Juan Diego spent
the day in the house of the Bishop, who would not let him go.
Juan
Diego's Uncle is healed
192. The next day the
Bishop said: "Come, bring me to where the Queen of Heaven wants us to
build her temple."
193. Immediately, some
people came forward, eager to offer their services to build the little house,
the little temple.
194. As soon as Juan
Diego had showed where the Lady of Heaven had ordered her sacred little house
to be built, he asked for permission to be excused.
195. He wanted to go
to his house to see his uncle Juan Bernardino, who had been so ill when he had
left him to get a priest in Tlatilolco to hear his
confession before he died and prepare him, of whom the Queen of Heaven had said
he was already cured.
196. But they did not
let him go alone; they accompanied him to his house.
197. When they arrived
they saw his uncle already cured, totally free of pain.
198. And he, on his
part, admired very much the way his nephew was accompanied and honored.
199. He asked his
nephew what was happening, why were they honoring him so much.
200. Juan explained
that when he left to get the priest for his confession and preparation, the
Lady of Heaven appeared to him in the Tepeyac
201. and she sent him to
202. and that the Lady had told him not to be afflicted, that his
uncle was happy; with that he had been greatly consoled.
203. His uncle replied
that this was true; in that precise moment he had been healed.
204. He had seen her
in exactly the same form as she had appeared to his nephew
205. and she told him also to go to
206. and that when he saw him, he would reveal absolutely
everything and tell all that, he had seen
207. including the wonderful way in which she had healed him,
208. and that her Beloved Image would be called, would be named
the Perfect Virgin, Holy Mary of Guadalupe.
209. Then they brought
Juan Bernardino to the presence of the Governing Bishop so that he might speak
to him, to give his testimony.
210. Together with his
nephew, Juan Diego, the Bishop lodged them in his house for some days.
211. Meanwhile, the
little sacred house of the Queen Child was built in the Tepeyac,
where she had been seen by Juan Diego.
212. The Lord Bishop
removed the Image of the Beloved Heavenly Child to the main church.
213. He took her
Beloved Image out of his palace, out of his oratory, so that it might be seen
and admired by everyone.
214. Absolutely all
from that city, without exception, were shaken when they came to see, to admire
the precious Image.
215. They came to
recognize its divine character;
216. They came to
offer their prayers.
217. They greatly
admired that miraculous way in which she appeared
218. since absolutely
no man of earth had painted her Beloved Image.