Homily for the Thursday of the Second Week of AdventJuan Diego, a wise and venerable Indian, a tiller of the soil, the Virgin Mary's messenger and an early evangelizer, helped shepherd thousands into Christianity. The Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego in 1531. Mary asked Juan to request that the local bishop build a church on that site. The bishop, in disbelief, asked for a heavenly sign. She appeared to Juan Diego on the top of the hill, which was covered with beautiful flowers blooming out of season. Arranging the cut flowers on his cloak, known as a tilma, Mary sent him on his way to the bishop. When Juan unfolded his tilma before the bishop, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on it.Mary’s appearance also put an end to the ritual of human sacrifice. We pray for Mary’s help today to bring an end to the human sacrifice of God’s children through abortion and to convert non-believers. Readings from December 9, 2021Isaiah Psalms Matthew