Our Lady of Guadalupe

December Challenge / Random / Indoor Still Life

St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, floor-to-ceiling reproduction (another view here), complete with real and painted cactuses and a gurgling stream, of the scene on the Hill of Tepeyac in Mexico in 1531 where the Virgin Mary appeared to a peasant, Juan Diego, with instructions to carry her message to the bishop. As proof, she caused roses to bloom in December, and her image was miraculously produced on his cloak, where it can be seen in Mexico City to this day.

This miracle brought about the conversion of 8 million indigenous Mexicans.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patron saint of Mexico, the Philippines, and the Americas.

I had been a Christian for several years when I first heard the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I found myself immediately convinced of its truth! There are many accounts of appearances of Mary the Mother of Jesus throughout the past two millennia, but only a handful have been deemed authentic by the Catholic Church. Our Lady of Guadalupe is one.

I highly recommend a charming novel, "Our Lady of the Lost and Found" by Diane Schoemperlen, which intersperses the story of a lady in a blue raincoat (Mary) who knocks on the door of a novelist saying she needs a rest and asking to spend a week with her. Interspersed with accounts of their conversations and activities are chapters recounting the most famous appearances of Our Lady.

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THE SAGA OF THE NOVEL

All work and no play make Scribbler a dull girl, so I'm happy to be blipping and to have the challenge of this challenge. But I'm slaving away at my novel every day, yes, even on Sunday, and have no seconds left to visit, or even to say thank you for visits and comments and hearts. Thank you!

Today I added a chapter and renamed a character—in the same section of the novel I've been editing for weeks! Very happy with my progress, except I wish it were faster.