12 December 2022

Our Lady of Guadalupe / Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

 

Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Feast Day: 12 December

Patroness of the Americasof Mexico, of Unborn Children and Secondary Patroness of the Philippines

The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe


Opening Prayer of the Mass of Our Lady of Guadalupe 

O God, Father of mercies, who placed your people under the singular protection of your Son’s most holy Mother, grant that all who invoke the Blessed Virgin of Guadalupe, may seek with ever more lively faith the progress of people in the way of justice and of peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.


Las Mañanitas a la Virgen de Guadalupe - Basilica de Guadalupe 2012

Las Mañanitas is a Mexican birthday song, sung very early in the morning to the celebrant. Every year after the solemn Mass on her feast day in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe some of Mexico's top singers and musicians face the image of La Virgen de Guadalupe on the tilma (cloak) of St Juan Diego and serenade her with Las Mañanitas.

A Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe

 

Virgin of Guadalupe,
Patroness of unborn children,
we implore your intercession
for every child at risk of abortion.
Help expectant parents to welcome from God
the priceless gift of their child’s life.

Console parents who have lost that gift
through abortion,
and lead them to forgiveness and healing
through the Divine Mercy of your Son.

Teach us to cherish
and to care for family and friends
until God calls them home.
Help us never to see others as burdens.

Guide our public officials
to defend each and every human life
through just laws.
Inspire us all to bring our faith into public life,
to speak for those who have no voice.

We ask this in the name of your Son,
Jesus Christ, who is Love and Mercy itself.
Amen.

¡Viva La Virgen de Guadalupe!

1 comment:

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Father Seán,
Both of us have witnessed on February 23 of 1994 near México City, coming back from the mushroom farm, such a pilgrimage caravan of people. It was quite impressive when we stood their in our boss's car—waiting for them to pass by. Most villages would make this journey annually to our Lady of Guadalupe. They were followed by trucks for food, water and blankets. When the evening came, they would roll up into those blankets and sleep against the homes or even under their trucks, parked alongside the road. It would take them several days to reach their destination.
As a little girl, I too have walked alongside Dad and my Paternal Grandpa to a pilgrimage village not too far from our home. And just across the German border there was a pilgrimage city of Kevelaer where so many people have walked to the chapel for honoring Mary.
It is only strange that the Roman Catholic Church needed some 500 years for recognition... And even worse that Juan Diego was canonized in 2001.
Hugs,
Mariette