Driving along the Route 91 freeway in Compton, Calif., I was struck by an unusual sight: a tent with a circular dome topped by a cross, in the parking lot of a hotel casino. I pulled over for a closer look and discovered it was an installation in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Thanksgiving marks not just the start of the Christmas season but also the beginning of a spiritual period leading up to Dec. 12—the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In the lead-up to the celebration, parishes organize novenas and processions while families create altars adorned with candles, flowers and images of Our Lady, who is also known as La Morenita del Tepeyac (“The Brown Virgin of Tepeyac Hill,” referring to the site in Mexico of Mary’s apparitions to St. Juan Diego in 1531).
Given the demographics in Los Angeles County, an installation in Compton in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe is appropriate. The city is home to both Hispanic and African American communities, two groups whose histories are marked by oppression and social injustice. Her presence in Compton sends a powerful message: No matter what the struggles a community faces, faith and unity can provide strength and solace. The Virgin’s image has long been a unifying force during the Chicano civil rights movement, transcending borders and bringing together people from diverse backgrounds.
In neighborhoods like Boyle Heights and East L.A., this diversity is vividly expressed through street art, including striking depictions of the Virgin of Guadalupe. These murals, created by Chicano artists, transform ordinary walls into powerful canvases of culture and resistance. Her image often appears alongside themes of migration and community empowerment because her image is a symbol of social justice. The presence of la Virgen in public spaces is a testimony that transcends generations and it is part of the culture in southern California.
Many immigrants have come to settle and work hard every day to support their families in Los Angeles, and honoring Our Lady serves as a vital connection to their heritage and homeland. As Dec. 12 approaches, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles organizes processions in Hispanic-majority parishes across the county. The oldest such procession took place for the 93rd time this year on Dec. 1, going from the Our Lady of Solitude Parish (Nuestra Señora de la Soledad) to East Los Angeles College Stadium, where Archbishop Jose H. Gomez celebrated a Mass. These acts of family devotion unite the community through faith.
But the devotion goes beyond the walls of churches and parishes. In Hispanic and Mexican American households, altars to Our Lady of Guadalupe appear in living rooms and on porches, illuminating neighborhoods with the warm glow of candles. Some altars are modest, with few candles, but others are adorned with vibrant flowers and intricate decorations, often positioned to face the street where Catholics passing by cross themselves or simply bow their heads.
On Dec. 12 this year, Our Lady of Guadalupe’s feast will begin with the traditional hymn “Las Mañanitas.” Starting at 4 or 5 a.m., churches will come alive with mariachi bands, dancers in traditional Aztec clothing and the fervent prayers of the faithful. The atmosphere is both festive and reverent, as cheers rise for la Morenita. After the early morning festivities, many families stay for a special Mass before dropping children off at school and heading to work.
In some parishes, the celebration continues in the afternoon. Families who could not attend in the early morning arrive later to give thanks for the blessings of the past year and to seek the intercession of Our Lady. Entire families go to the parishes and, after Mass, enjoy traditional Mexican foods such as tamales and champurrado, which are generously distributed.
Last year, I decided to go to Orange County, outside the city of Los Angeles. The procession at St. Michael’s Abbey embodied the same fervor and devotion seen in urban parishes. It reminded me that devotion to Our Lady is a unifying force, capable of bringing people together in celebration.
Some parishioners, priests and novices dressed in traditional Mexican colorful serapes with images of the Virgin of Guadalupe and flowers. Their chants filled the dark forest canyon with joyful Spanish-language hymns. The lights of the candles flickered against the mountainside, casting a warm glow on our faces as hundreds of us walked in unison, praying and singing.
This popular devotion—nurtured through novenas, Masses and processions—reflects a rich tapestry of faith, culture and community. This Dec. 12, we must remember that Our Lady of Guadalupe is more than just a religious figure. She is a symbol of hope and protection. She is the protector of the unborn, the oppressed and the immigrants.
Across different communities, La Morenita del Tepeyac is seen as the protector of the helpless, the one who intercedes on behalf of those who are vulnerable and marginalized. The devotion to her is about the maternal care and the intercession she offers to all believers. She is the mother, la Madrecita, who brings us to Jesus Christ. Our Lady of Guadalupe represents a spiritual refuge and a guiding light in times of uncertainty. She is the one who reminds us Mexican immigrants that faith, hope and love endure in the face of adversity.
[Also read: “500 years later, Our Lady of Guadalupe still consoles millions with her message: God has not forgotten us”]
