Our Lady of Guadalupe
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Because she was with child, she wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky: it was a huge dragon, flaming red, with seven heads and ten horns; on his heads were seven diadems. His tail swept a third of the stars from the sky and hurled them down to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, ready to devour her child when it should be born. She gave birth to a son–a boy destined to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and to his throne. (Revelation 12:1-5)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It seems very appropriate that this year’s celebration falls on the same day as Gaudete Sunday. The third Sunday of Advent encourages us to rejoice and the Guadalupe feast is always one of the most joy filled celebrations of the Eucharist that I am privileged to attend each year. There is a beauty in commemorating this apparition when God broke into the lives of the poor by sending his mother with a message that God’s healing is real and that he desires communion with us through prayer.
The event of Mary’s appearing to St. Juan Diego recalls three miracles. The first is the appearance of roses in December on the mountain of Tepeyac. These were to be a sign for the bishop that the message to build a temple where God could be worshipped was truly from God. The second is the healing of St. Juan Diego’s uncle. The third was the appearance on his tilma of an image of a woman, clothed with the sun. The image of the Virgin Mary can still be seen in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe today, almost 500 years later.
In a time where we are assaulted all day long with negative images, this holy one seems to take on even more significance. Every day we are surrounded with images of violence, of drugs, of pornography. We Christians need more than ever to have holy images that will break into our fallen world and lead us to God. In that sense, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, our model of Christian holiness, is one of the best gifts God could have sent to us.
I will end this post with one of my favorite songs that is often sung on this feast of the Church. May the simple beauty and joy of this day infect the hearts of all.
Adiós, oh Virgen de Guadalupe
Adiós, oh Madre del Salvador
Desde que niño nombrarte supe
Eres mi vida, eres mi vida, mi solo amor
Adiós, oh Virgen madre querida
Adiós refugio del pecador
Eres mi encanto, eres mi vida
Dulce esperanza,
Dulce esperanza, en mi dolor
Adiós, oh Virgen de Guadalupe
Adiós, oh Madre del Redentor
Ante tu trono siempre se agrupe
Todo tu pueblo
Todo tu pueblo, lleno de amor
Adiós, oh Madre, la mas amable
Aquí te dejo mi corazón
Adiós oh Virgen incomparable
Dame, Señora, dame, señora tu bendición
Farewell, oh Virgin of Guadalupe
Farewell, O Mother of the Saviour
Since a child, I have known your name
You are my life, you are my life, my only love
Farewell, oh dear Virgin Mother
Sinner’s refuge, farewell
You are my enchantment, you are my life
Sweet hope,
Sweet hope in my pain
Farewell, oh Virgin of Guadalupe
Farewell, O Mother of the Redeemer
Before your throne forever be gathered
All your people,
All your people, full of love
Farewell, O Mother most friendly
I’ll leave my heart
O incomparable Virgin, farewell
Give me lady, give me lady, your blessing
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