John Morales engaged in a conversation with Father Esequiel Sanchez about the significant event of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s apparitions. This event holds profound importance, especially considering that before 1000 AD, Christianity was nonexistent in the Americas.

Father Sanchez, the rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines, Illinois, delved deep into the intriguing story and the historical context of these apparitions, aligning with the Nican Mopohua narrative. This story is not just about an uneducated, illiterate man, Juan Diego, but about a historian, a guardian of the people’s history, whose powerful memory helped in validating the apparitions.

The conversation highlighted the unique timing of these apparitions, coinciding with Europe’s turmoil during the Protestant Reformation. What makes Our Lady of Guadalupe’s message extraordinary is its focus on love, help, and protection without calling for conversions or foretelling apocalyptic events. She sought to build a sanctuary for everyone – natives, Spaniards, Africans, mestizos – under her maternal care.

Father Sanchez pointed out the global impact of these apparitions, evident from the widespread devotion across continents. The emotional, personal stories of faith, like that of a father undertaking a painful penance for his sick daughter, show the deep, personal connection devotees have with Our Lady of Guadalupe.

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