Since her swearing-in, Hillary has "hit the road" in her big blue bird three times. People the world over are greeting her with delight - especially men of all stripes (who can blame them?). Hillary was in Mexico this week. Like her previous visits to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, her schedule was packed with public appearances and tours. Among the places she stopped was the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (I so remember the last time Pope John Paul II was there).
This Basilica commemorates the apparition of the Virgin Mary to Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin. Juan Diego was carrying a message when the Virgin appeared and told him to ask the bishop to build a church in that spot. Juan Diego arrived, carrying his cloak (tilma), at the bishopric and conveyed the message. When he opened his cloak, it was full of roses, and a picture of the Virgin was on the inside. The cloak is on display in the Basilica that now sits on the site. In the picture above, Hillary receives a red rose from the rector of the Basilica, Monsignor Diego Monroy. Appropriately, Hillary is wearing a beautiful red suit. In the beautiful picture below, you see Monsignor Monroy gesturing toward Juan Diego's actual cloak, preserved to this day since the 16th century. The miraculous image is venerated throughout Latin America. Hillary offered a bouquet of white roses to the Virgin. What a wonderful visit! I am sure the Blessed Mother is smiling down on our Hillary.
