Our Lady of Guadalupe
On December 9, 1531, our Lady appeared to a young Indian convert, Juan Diego, in Tepeyac, Mexico, now part of Mexico City. On his cloak she left the impression of her image. This site became the most venerated place of pilgrimage for Latin America. Under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mary was declared the patroness of the Americas. Formerly a secondary patroness of the Philippines, this memorial of Mary has been reintroduced as a celebration for the Philippines because of the former strong links of the Philippine Church with the Mexican Church.
Reading: Zechariah 2:14-17
Many godless nations will be linked up with God at that time. (“They will become my family! I’ll live in their homes!”) And then you’ll know for sure that God-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me on this mission. God will reclaim his Judah inheritance in the Holy Land. He’ll again make clear that Jerusalem is his choice.
Quiet, everyone! Shh! Silence before God. Something’s afoot in his holy house. He’s on the move!
Gospel: Luke 1:39-45
Mary didn’t waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly,
You’re so blessed among women,
and the babe in your womb, also blessed!
And why am I so blessed that
the mother of my Lord visits me?
The moment the sound of your
greeting entered my ears,
The babe in my womb
skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.
Blessed woman, who believed what God said,
believed every word would come true!
Prayer
Lord our God,
Like you and your Son Jesus,
Mary cared for the poor and the humble,
to whom she herself belonged.
With the whole people of the Americas
we honor her today and ask you
through the intercession of Mary
to give us a deep respect and concern
for all that is poor and little
and to let us live in your caring hand.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
