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Lepanto Newsletter March 1, 2026 Vol.1.2 News of our efforts is now being captured by AI! For example, if you ask one of the AI search engines to give information about a “Lepanto” movie they will point to Firmament Films as the production company and originator of the film about the great Battle. This is certainly wonderful news and important recognition. But what about the larger back story? The entire 16th century was enormously pivotal to our modern world in so many ways. Herewith we relate thoughts about some of the important societal occurrences and trends that greatly impacted the church and indeed our world, of which the Battle of Lepanto was certainly an exclamation point. As the 15th century came to a close and the 16th century began, Columbus had sailed to the Americas four different times, inaugurating European exploration of and settling in the “New World”. Many missionaries followed and gave their lives to share the “Santa Fe” (see the films Black Robe, The Mission and others). But Europeans also brought new strains of illness. It is estimated that as many as one-half the native population of Mexico was claimed by small-pox. Many indigenous people were subjected to the malfeasance of unscrupulous explorers. Such catastrophic problems caused the indigenous people to believe that the world was ending. Perhaps more human sacrifices to the SUN god would end the scourge(s) and revive and protect the people? In the “Old World” Europe too was being torn apart from within as well as without. In 1517 Martin Luther’s Treatise divided Christendom. The Muslims of the Ottoman Empire, who had conquered Constantinople in 1453, steadily advanced far into Europe, even laying siege to Vienna in 1529. Perhaps it was the end of the world in Europe too. On a cold December morning in 1531 an elderly (57-year-old) devout indigenous convert was on his way to catechism instruction when he was intercepted by the apparition of a young woman dressed in a very vibrant blue-green cloak on Tepeyac Hill (present day Mexico City). Her complexion was that of a Mestiza (part native and part Spanish) and she spoke to him in his native Nahuatl language. She told him NOT TO BE AFRAID; that she was his heavenly mother. Indeed there were many signals to the indigenous people about who this young woman was. Her cloak was not just a vibrant bluish-green but was indicative of her Queenship. The black sash ribbon she wore indicated that she was pregnant; but she also wore her hair down signaling to the Aztecs that she was a virgin! The elderly man, named Juan Diego, went to the local bishop to relate his encounter and pass along the young lady’s request that a chapel be built on Tepeyac Hill (formerly the location of worship of Aztec gods). The naturally circumspect bishop requested a sign from the lady. But Juan Diego’s uncle was gravely ill. On his way to ask a priest to give last rights to his uncle, the lady intercepted him again, despite his attempt to avoid Tepeyac Hill due to concern about his Uncle. He told her that the bishop had requested a sign. She pointed him to the top of the hill where, to his utter amazement, he found beautiful CASTILLIAN roses (NOT NATIVE TO MEXICO but to SPAIN). He gathered them into his TILMA; she arranged them herself! Upon showing the “sign” to the bishop, the flowers spilled out of the TILMA only to reveal the miraculous image that we know today, almost 500 years later, as Our Lady of Guadalupe! Bear in mind that the cloth from which the TILMA was made is AGAVE i.e., from the cactus plant and it normally disintegrates within no more than approximately 25-30 years! There were many other signs that that the indigenous people saw in the image. For example the image showed the lady with the SUN under her feet! In addition one could see the 4 petal Jasmine or solar flower over her womb. These visuals conveyed to the Aztecs that she was the Mother of the SON of God. Nine million native people converted to Christianity in just seven years. Meanwhile in Europe many millions left the Catholic Church. It was as if the Catholic Church spent forty years in the wilderness. Until October 7th, 1571! The day of Victory at Lepanto when the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was raised high above Don Juan’s fleet as they sailed into the breach of the Battle! Yours sincerely, Francis
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