The Apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe
For 5th - 8th Grades
Narrator:
In the year 1531, it was a cold December morning in colonial Mexico
and Juan Diego was on his way to Mass. He was Aztec but he had
become Catholic and the church was very far away from his house.
While he was walking he heard beautiful music and he went to see
where it came from. (music plays) When he approached the hill called
Tepeyac, he saw a bright light that looked like the sun. Then he heard
a girl’s voice.
Mary:
Juan, my little Juan.
Narrator:
He climbed the hill and saw a beautiful young woman wearing clothes
that shined like the sun, the moon and the stars.
Mary:
Hello, my son, I am the Virgin Mary, the Mother of the One God of All
Life. I want someone to build a little church right here on this hill.
That way I can help the people who live nearby. I will give them hope
and love because I am their Mother too. So, I want you to go to the
Bishop and tell him to build my church. Tell him how I sent you to do
this.
Narrator:
Juan Diego agreed to go to the Bishop for the Lady. (Juan Diego nods)
When Juan Diego came to the Bishop’s house, he had trouble getting
in. Some of the people did not want him to see the Bishop because he
was busy. The Bishop, whose name was Juan de Zumárraga, did meet
with Juan Diego and he told the Bishop everything about the Lady and
how she wanted to have a church built. But the Bishop did not believe
him.
Bishop:
I need to have a sign or some proof that this Lady came to see you. If I
don’t have proof, I will not build the church. (shake head no)
Narrator:
Juan Diego left feeling very sad. He did not want to tell the Lady that
he could not do what she asked. When he returned to the hill of
Tepeyac, the beautiful Lady appeared again. He knelt down and
begged for her to be patient.
Juan Diego: Please forgive me, I did as you asked me but I could not convince the
Bishop. He will not believe me without a sign. Maybe you should send
someone else.
Mary:
(smiling) Dearest Juan Diego, it is very important that you personally
do this for me. I believe in you and I want you to go to the Bishop
again. I will give you a sign tomorrow morning.
Narrator:
At this Juan was very happy because he believed that with this proof
the bishop would believe him. So the next day on December 12th he
woke up early and was getting ready to go see the Lady when he found
out that his uncle, Juan Bernardino, was very sick.
Juan Bern.: I think I am dying. Go and find a priest to help me!
Narrator:
Juan Diego was sad because he wanted to help his uncle but he could
not go see the Lady. So, while he was walking he tried to go another
way. But the Lady appeared to him anyway.
Mary:
Where are you going?
Juan Diego: My uncle is very sick and I must find a priest to pray with him. I
promise I will come back to see you. I am sorry.
Mary:
Listen, my dearest son, do not be afraid of anything. Am I not your
Mother? I am here to protect you. Your uncle is already well and you
do not need to help him anymore. I need you to go back to the hill
where you saw me. There you will find many flowers. Gather them
and bring them to me.
Narrator:
Juan Diego did as she said and found many beautiful Castilian roses of
all different colors, which was a miracle. He cut them and gathered
them in his tilma or cloak. He took them back to the Lady. She
reached out and arranged the flowers in his tilma and said,
Mary:
These flowers are the proof that the bishop wants. When he sees them
he will know that I have sent you as my messenger. He will build the
church that I want on the hill.
Narrator:
Juan Diego was very happy now. His uncle was cured and he had the
proof that he needed. At the Bishop’s house he told Bishop Juan de
Zumarraga the whole story and held his tilma tight. At the end of the
story he opened the tilma and the flowers fell away. As they fell, a
beautiful, bright image of the Lady appeared! She looked exactly as
she did when she appeared to Juan Diego on the hill. Everyone was
very surprised and amazed. The Bishop fell onto his knees, prayed
and cried.
Bishop:
I am sorry I didn’t believe you!
Narrator:
Later, they built the church on the hill of Tepeyac and they placed the
tilma inside it. Juan Diego went home and saw his uncle who was now
well.
Juan Bern.: A very beautiful Lady appeared to me while I was sick. She told me
not to be afraid and that she will cure me. She told me her name: Holy
Mary of Guadalupe.
Narrator:
THE END.
Even today, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe that miraculously
appeared on the tilma hangs in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
in Mexico City. The church has millions of pilgrims visit each year
especially on December 12, her feast day.