Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the source of your joy?” – Our Lady to Juan Diego

 

IMG_440111270

Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  She is the Protectress of the Americas and the Unborn, and the Patroness of the Diocese of Phoenix.  She is our Mother and the Cause of our Joy.

Our community gives thanks as today Sr. John-Mark Maria renewed her Temporary Vows and continues to inch closer and closer to Perpetual Vows in 2016.  Surely Our Lady of Guadalupe was smiling down on her and will continue to accompany her along this journey.

Our Lady is the Mother of God and she is our Mother.  Our Lady’s words to St. Juan Diego are full of tenderness, kindness, care and courtesy.  She goes so far as to say: “I will hear their weeping, their complaints and heal all their sorrows, hardships rostro_400_and sufferings.” Not only does she say this, but she really, truly, actually, repeatedly does it.  Our Lady is so attentive to all the details of Juan Diego’s life, and the same holds true for her solicitude toward each one of us.  Truly she is the icon of what women are created to be.

The apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego are at one and the same time charmingly simple and richly layered with beauty, meaning, and a message that literally changed the world.

Our good friend, Fr. John Muir – pastor of St Rose Catholic Church in Anthem AZ– just released a short video about Our Lady of Guadalupe.  He comes in from a refreshingly unique angle – speaking about Our Lady and unquenchable desire! Did I pique your curiosity?  Good! – then watch the video!!! It’s 5 minutes well-spent.  Enjoy and Happy Feast Day to all