Mary arranges the roses of our hearts
By Greg Zambrano
The angels call us to adore him, but Our Lady shows us how to properly approach the tabernacle, the manger and, ultimately, heaven – the peaceful place of Our Lord.
During Advent, on Dec. 12, we celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe. To me this is wonderful opportunity to reencounter Our Lady. When I attended Mass her Dec. 12 feast day, I pondered why the feast was in Advent.
The priest spoke about the Marian apparition and, afterwards, I started thinking of Juan Diego’s story. He lived in Mexico, and, in 1531, was told by Our Lady to go to the top of the mountain to pick flowers and then return them to her so she could arranged them how she believed they should go.
Going to a mountaintop in Christianity often signifies an encounter with God such as the Transfiguration, Moses on Mt. Sinai, Abraham on Mt. Moriah.
To me, Mary arranging the roses has sharp importance. Come to her, she will arrange.
Mary then gave strict instructions to Juan Diego to only allow the bishop to see them just as she did when speaking to Fatima children, to St. Dominic and others to whom she appeared.
Juan Diego revealed the roses and the spectacular miracle of the tilma with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This perfect image causes most to drop to their knees and cry because of its immense, beautiful sign from God.
By seeing these events as an Advent message, we can attempt to encounter God at the mountain top. The roses can prompt us to pray the rosary and allow Our Lady in our souls, our life and to consecrate ourselves to the Immaculate Heart. By following Our Lady’s instructions, you will be known as her son or daughter.
With this in mind, I suspect that Our Lady desires that all of us be ready to receive Jesus in the Eucharist with a sweet rose smell of saintly odor coming from the proper Advent preparation in our hearts.
If Our Lady is calling, it is never too late! Come, let us adore him. Merry Christmas to all. Thank you, Lord, for giving us Mary, our mother, to keep us in your graces.
