Dear brothers and sisters, the time has come to banish once and for all from the continent every attack against life. No more violence, terrorism and drug-trafficking! No more torture or other forms of abuse! There must be an end to the unnecessary recourse to the death penalty! No more exploitation of the weak, racial discrimination or ghettoes of poverty! Never again! These are intolerable evils which cry out to heaven and call Christians to a different way of living, to a social commitment more in keeping with their faith.

Not only did he speak against such evils, he also urged the American people to live-up to their vocation of holiness.

We must rouse the consciences of men and women with the Gospel, in order to highlight their sublime vocation as children of God. This will inspire them to build a better America. As a matter of urgency, we must stir up a new springtime of holiness on the continent so that action and contemplation will go hand in hand.

He saw the only way to end such grievances was through prayer and action, united together.

St. John Paul II concluded his remarks with a brief prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe, a prayer that still applies today.

Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, Queen of Peace! Save the nations and peoples of this continent. Teach everyone, political leaders and citizens, to live in true freedom and to act according to the requirements of justice and respect for human rights, so that peace may thus be established once and for all.To you, O Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, belong all the love, honor, glory and endless praise of your American sons and daughters!

Hidden symbols found in Our Lady of Guadalupe’s images

Face and Hair

Instead of the typical “white” Madonna, Our Lady of Guadalupe appears with the complexion of the indigenous people. More specifically she is a mestiza, a combination of Mexican and Spanish, indicating that she is for all people. Her eyes are cast downwards, indicating to them that she was not a god and symbolizing humility. The gaze is also one of compassion and motherly tenderness. Her hair is loose, indicating that she was a virgin maiden.

Mantle and Tunic

The lady wears a rose-tinted tunic with four-petaled flowers imprinted on it, symbolizing the earth and the four seasons. The rose color may point to the dawn, symbolizing a new era. Around her mantle is a bluish-turquoise cloak with stars upon it. This is the color of both royalty and the heavens above. She may not be a god, but she is certainly from heaven.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE SYMBOLS

Ribbon

The black ribbon around her belly indicates that she is with child. Some believe that her appearance gives evidence that she is about to give birth.

Hands

She is pictured in prayer, showing again that she is not a god, but praying to someone else who is. Her knee is slightly bent, which could indicate a prayerful dance.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE SYMBOLS

Medallion

A circle medallion is around her neck that is engraved with a cross. This symbolized her consecration to Jesus Christ.

Sun

Behind the lady are the rays of a sun. This meant she was greater than their Aztec sun god.

Moon

Similarly, she stands upon the moon, showing her superiority to the Aztec moon god and that she is greater than the night.

Angel

It was believed that angels took the Aztecs’ sacrifices to their gods. In this case, the lady is the sacrifice given and stands as the perfection of all sacrifices. Also, only royalty were lifted on shoulders, so it again points to her place in the heavenly court. The angel also has wings that are similar to an eagle’s wings in Aztec iconography.

Book of Revelation

All of this symbolism has an added dimension when viewed in light of Scripture. She is clearly the woman from the book of Revelation. And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery. (Revelation 12:1-2) Later on in that chapter it even reads, “But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness” (Revelation 12:14).