21 Introduction Mexican people are the descendants of Tepeyac. To no other nation has God given such a gift as the artifact of the tilma of Saint Juan Diego that carries our Lady’s image and a message so convincing that it led to the conversion of the multitudes en masse in just a few years. The speeches of this period reflect the spirit of reconciliation ushered in by the actions of President Cárdenas following the ouster of Calles and the beautification project of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1938. After nearly three decades of war and over a decade of persecution of the Church and the loss of many of her clergy, the faith of the Mexican people showed its strength in the campaign to pay for these renovations, at a time when Mexico was suffering deep economic hardship. May the inspiring words of the archbishop find a welcome home in your heart, that you too may know Our Lady of Guadalupe as that tender mother who is here for you. Father Allen Moran, o.p. Father Allen Moran, o.p., is a Dominican priest of the Province of Saint Joseph.
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