On the 12th of December we normally celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, but since it falls on the Third Sunday of Advent this year it is not celebrated in the official Liturgy.

However, we still remember this great miracle of Our Blessed Mother’s apparition and her miraculous image on St. Juan Diego’s tilma, preserved to this day at her Shrine in Mexico City.

The message of La Morenita was very simple, that she was the Mother of the One True God and the Mother of all, Spanish and native people alike. She come to remind us of her presence with us always, with her Divine Son and that there is nothing to fear with Jesus and Mary at our side.

Finally, Our Lady requested that a little shrine church be built so that she could show her love for us there, much like that which she will no doubt do here at our own Holy Rosary Shrine.

Our initial shrine logo is Our Lady of Guadalupe with a Rosary that has a Franciscan Tau Cross. Jesus is hidden but present in her womb. The Holy Rosary is a powerful way to bring to mind the reality of Our Lord’s presence in us and to meditate on the mysteries of His life.

This Sunday is also known as Gaudete Sunday, a day of joyful penance because soon we will celebrate the birth of the Christ Child. For Mary, to be with Him was her happiness, may it also be so for us.

God bless you,

Fr. Peter