"Our Lady of Guadalupe" greeting card

On December 9, 1531, a radiant woman appeared to an indigenous peasant named Juan Diego, on Tepeyac hill in Mexico. She identified herself as the Virgin Mary - the Mother of God. 

She asked to have a shrine built there, so she could share her love and protection with the people. The bishop did not believe Juan. He asked for a sign as proof. In the same time, Juan's uncle became very ill. Our Lady assured Juan that his uncle would be well.

Although it was winter, she directed Juan to gather flowers at the hilltop. When he opened his tilma to show them to the bishop, they saw an image of Our Lady on his cloak! Mary was depicted as she first appeared to Juan. She is dressed as a native princess, hands folded in prayer. Her cloak symbolizes the twilight sky when Juan first saw her, with its deep blue color and the arrangement of stars. The bishop received his sign.

Scientific tests on the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe have revealed miraculous results. One, no paint or other medium has been detected on the original image. In 1981, Dr. Philip Serna Callahan published his findings via infrared radiation test. Two, the tilma made of plant fiber has remained intact since. It should not have lasted more than 30 years. In 1983, the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate published a study regarding this. The third aspect pertains to Mary's pupils. Optomologists have observed that her eyes reflect the characteristics of living eyes. Engineer Jose Aste Tonsmann magnified an image of them by 2500 times. Our Lady's pupils manifest triple reflection, or the Purkinje effect. Several figures can be seen in both eyes. The image in her eyes follows the curvature of the cornea, just as human eyes do. 

December 12 is the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas.

Angel's tunic: Rosa (Rose), from Alexander's Highland Market

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Details:

• 4" x 6" heavyweight card
• Blank inside for your special message
• (1) envelope per card