Am I Not Your Mother?

Amanda Lawrence reviews a book of reflections on Our Lady of Guadalupe by Archbishop Luis María Martínez.

“Why does Mary insist that the poor, simple Juan Diego should be the messenger of her love and that the Virgin’s will and desire be fulfilled through his intervention?”

I found the answer to this—and much more—between the pages of Am I Not Your Mother?, a recent release by Magnificat. The book focuses on the boundless blessings Mary has bestowed upon her children while emphasizing her role in helping them overcome adversity, as told by Archbishop Luis María Martínez, the first Primate of Mexico.

Am I Not Your Mother

Archbishop Luis María Martínez exemplifies a brilliant example of leadership in history. Appointed by Pope Pius XI in 1937, Archbishop Martínez presided over the fiftieth anniversary of the coronation of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Magnificat’s release contains eight chapters of wisdom and beauty in a collection of his reflections and sermons, combining elegant writing with extraordinary documentation shaped around the immaculate Virgin Mary. It’s a quick read, just over 200 pages, with plenty of space to meditate on the philosophical meanings and lyrical homilies offered as communion with Jesus through Mary.

Am I Not Your Mother? brings together proclamations that sing of the most tender love of Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe; our mother declared “Patroness of the America” by the Church. Within its pages, the reader is enveloped in a series of encouraging letters that ponder the significance of Mary’s apparition and her words to Juan Diego at Tepeyac.

Father Allen Moran, O.P. has freshly translated the original texts into English, allowing anglophone readers to investigate the world alongside the Mexican archbishop as he unpacks the profound interactions between Mary and Juan Diego in 1531. Archbishop Martínez preached these sermons in the wake of persecution in Mexico. His words were like promises to the faithful gathered at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Archbishop of Mexico City, Luis Martinez (1881-1956), was a poet, a theologian, a philosopher, and a noble shepherd of his flock. He has authored Secrets of the Interior Life, Only Jesus, and other works.

The insight is endlessly perusable, inviting further consideration of God’s mysteries into the reader’s life. Teal pages function as transitions between chapters, and notes about the source material and its meanings add detail to the experience. Although I understand the exclusion, I would have enjoyed seeing the original Spanish texts alongside the new translations, partly because I’m partial to bilingual books, but mostly because only “the sweet Mexican language” of her native tongue can hold a candle to Our Lady of Guadalupe. The omission does not hinder the reading experience in the slightest. I trust these beautiful translations ring true and encourage reading them!

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Throughout history, religion's role has long been controversial; even today, secular society saturates it with tremendous pressure to align within its boundaries. It’s the archbishop's position to ensure the safety of his flock. Archbishop Luis María Martínez provides courageous moral leadership that I applaud, hoping to see others in his position continue. His spiritual speeches span a wide range of topics that many in our country can learn from.

Modern living bombards us with idolatry, violence, and the hostile, unending noises of a surrounding world in agony, where humans choose to remain ignorant and indifferent to Christ. Combating worldly misery with tactile moments of introspection and prayerful contemplation found in this book may help the reader cultivate a deeper relationship with The Holy Trinity through Mary. These reflections are only the beginning of the experience; it’s where they lead the reader's mind that matters.

Pick up this absorbing assortment of the realities of Mary’s love, outlined in exquisite detail in an outstanding, graceful book, where you will learn more about the significance of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In the words of the archbishop himself,

Mary is the Mother of God, she is the co-redemptrix of the human race, and, because she is co-redemptrix, she is the mediatrix of all graces. Because Mary is the Mother of God, the Almighty has done great things in her, and all generations will call her blessed.

Amen!

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