Feast of Our Lady Of Guadalupe

¿No estoy aquí, yo, que soy tu madre?
Am I not here, who am your Mother?
Are you not under my shadow and protection?
Am I not the fountain of your joy?

December 12th will be the feast-day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Aztec Indian Juan Diego in December of 1531 generated the conversion of Mexico, Central and South America to Catholicism. Indeed, the Blessed Virgin Mary entered the very life stream of Central America and became an inextricable part of Mexican life and a central figure to the history of Mexico itself.Her appearance in the center of the American continents has contributed to the Virgin of Guadalupe being given the title "Mother of the Americas." This is a very special day not just for Hispanics but for all of the Americas because she is the patron of all of the Americas. Having just celebrated the patronal feast of our country (US) with the feast of the Immaculate Conception we now have the extra benefit of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. How fortunate we are to share in the love of our heavenly mother. And as a result of her Yes, to God's plan of salvation we also will soon celebrate the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ who was born of the Virgin Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer
O Holy Mary, Virgin Mother of God, who as Our Lady of Guadalupe didst aid in the conversion of Mexico from paganism in a most miraculous way, we now beseech thee to bring about in these our times the early conversion of our modern world, from its present neo-paganism to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of thy divine Son, Jesus Christ, starting in the Americas and extending throughout the entire world, so that soon there may be truly "one fold and one shepherd", with all governments recognizing the reign of thy Son, Jesus Christ the King. This we ask of the Eternal Father, through Jesus Christ His Son Our Lord and by thy powerful intercession - all for the salvation of souls, the triumph of the Church and peace in the world. Amen.

Also see Fr. Z's post on the miracle of St. Juan Diego
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, please pray for us.
St. Michael, Defend us!