260 



LEGEND OF THE 



As soon as Juan Diego, who was in advance of the servants, 

 arrived at the top of the hill, he found there the Most Blessed Mary 

 awaiting the prelate's answer. Pleased with his attention and 

 promptitude, she directed him to return the next day, when she 

 would give him a sign that would ensure credibility with the bishop. 

 The Indian promised to do so, but he could not comply with the 

 mandate of Our Lady, to return the next day, December 11th, 1531, 

 as he found on reaching home that his uncle, Juan Bernardino who 

 held the place of father in his affections, had fallen ill of a malig- 

 nant fever, which the Indians call cacolixtli, on which account he 

 was detained that day in administering to him some simples used 

 by the Indians, all of which, however, he applied without avail. At 

 length, the infirmity assumed a fatal character, and the patient asked 

 Juan Diego to call in a priest, from whom he might receive the 

 Holy Sacrament and Extreme Unction. 



The 12th of the same month, before the dawn of day, Juan 

 Diego set out for the Confessor, but on approaching the mountain 

 near the place where he had seen and spoken to the Most Holy Vir- 

 gin, foreseeing that she might blame him for his want of care in not 

 having returned, and that she might detain him to carry the signs 

 to the bishop, and considering moreover that the message he bore 

 did not admit of delay, he pursued another path lower down the 

 mountain, towards the eastern part of the hill, imagining that there 

 he would not meet the Virgin. But this did not turn out as he sup- 

 posed, for passing the spot whence a fountain was flowing, on turn- 

 ing to the brow of the hill, he saw the Holy Mother descending 

 from the summit to meet him in the path ! The Indian, surprised by 

 the saintly apparition, was greatly alarmed ; but the Holy Virgin, 

 with an affable countenance, said to him : c Whither goest thou, 

 my son? What road is this thou hast taken?' Juan Diego was 

 sadly confused, frightened, and abashed ; but the amenity with 

 which Our Lady met him renewed his courage ; and prostrating 

 himself at her feet, he said : ' Do not be offended, Beloved Virgin, 

 at what I am about to say to you.' And, after saluting her to ascer- 

 tain the state of her health, he began to exculpate himself by briefly 

 narrating the unfortunate situation of his uncle, begging her to have 

 a little forbearance with him, and that he would return some other 

 day to obey her commands. 



The Holy Mary heard him with incomparable benignity, and 

 replied, ' Hear, my son, what I say. Do not allow yourself to be 

 disturbed or afflicted by any thing ; neither fear infirmity, affliction, 

 nor grief. Am not I, your mother, here ? Are you not under my 



