• Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
   
  December 12 is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the celebration is very important to Mexican Catholics. It commemorates Juan Diego’s encounter in 1531 with the Blessed Mother in the appearance of a beautiful, young Aztec woman. Our Lady asked Juan Diego to go to the Bishop and ask that he build a church that will aid in the conversion of many Mexicans.
   
  Juan went to the Bishop who twice did not believe this poor man. After returning to Our Lady, once again unsuccessful, she gave Juan a sign to take back – beautiful out of season roses rolled up in his tilma. Juan delivered the Bishop this sign and when he unrolled the Tilma there was a miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on his cloak. Soon a church was built on the site as Our Lady requested and within a few years 8 million people were converted to Catholicism!
   
  This is a very important feast day for the Mexicans at Mary Queen as well and the celebration is fantastic! All are welcome to join the celebration of the amazing ways God and our Lady work in our lives. On Wed., December 11, at 11 PM there will be Vespers, Eucharistic Adoration, and then different groups will lead the rosary, music and prayers hourly all night.  Then at 5 AM on Dec. 12 there is Morning Song, the Rosary and the Aztec dancers. Tamales are served as people leave for work and school.
   
  The dancers will again perform before the 8:15 Mass attended by the school. The big celebration is at Mass at 7 PM on Dec. 12. The dancers greet people as they arrive. After Mass and ending the celebration is a presentation of the story of Juan Diego and Our Lady.
   
  Last year at the 5 AM Morning Song and it was amazing! There were 100s of people in the church, so many families. There were musicians and singers, dancers. The altar that was erected was so beautiful and people kept bringing more and more flowers to add to the beauty. I was overwhelmed by their love and devotion and celebration! And the hot tamales I was given for my breakfast on my way to work were unforgettable. I will definitely return to celebrate this beautiful feast with these beautiful people again, year after year.
   
  Please mark your calendar and take in one of the celebrations of Our Lady of Guadalupe this year.

  
  last updated 01/12/2013 jm