Friday – Our Lady of Guadalupe

Gospel – Luke 1:26-38

The Visitation

Sacristy, Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth

Today’s Gospel retells the story of Mary’s Visitation to her cousin Elizabeth.  It echoes Mary’s YES , John’s leap for joy and Elizabeth’s declaration that Mary is “Mother of my Lord.”   It speaks to us of a message of faith and hope.

And as we celebrate today the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we are reminded of another kind of visitation – that of Mary to Juan Diego in 1531.  Again it is a reminder to us all of Mary’s love and protection, especially in this time of pandemic and doubt.  Like Juan Diego, we have all been given a message of hope and faith.  God, give us the grace and humility to hear that message and grow in faith and love.

O Virgin of Guadalupe,
Mother of the Americas,
grant to our homes the grace of loving
and respecting life in its beginnings,
with the same love with which
you conceived in your womb
the life of the Son of God.
Blessed Virgin Mary,
Mother of Fair Love,
protect our families so that
they may always be united
and bless the upbringing of our children.

Our hope, look upon us with pity,
teach is to go continually to Jesus,
and if we fall
help us to rise again and return to Him
through the confession of our faults
and our sins in the Sacrament of penance,
which gives peace to the soul.

We beg you to grant us a great love
of all the holy Sacraments,
which are, as it were,
the signs that your Son left us on earth.
Thus, Most Holy Mother,
with the peace of God in our consciences,
with our hearts free from evil and hatred,
we will be able to bring to all others
true joy and peace,
which come to us from your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
who with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Amen.

- (Pope John Paul II.)


 

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