A Reflection for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Find today’s readings here.
Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Americas and the Holy Mother of God. La Virgen de Guadalupe is depicted as a pregnant indigenous woman, wearing a pink dress and blue-green robe decorated with stars. Rays of light emanate from her. She wears a black belt tied in a ribbon to signify her state of pregnancy. She stands above a crescent moon.
In the story of her apparitions she appears to Juan Diego, a humble indigenous man, in the hill of Tepeyác in current-day Mexico. After appearing to him on multiple occasions and asking him to construct a church in her honor, it is believed her apparitions went on to help convert millions of indigenous peoples in the region.
Despite her current reputation as one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic tradition, this was not always her position. Today’s Gospel from Luke reminds us of Mary’s humanity, including her initial fear upon speaking to the angel Gabriel.
Reading the Gospel, I was struck by the fear Mary feels in her interaction with the angel Gabriel. Though she ultimately accepts that the will of God be done upon her, she is initially “troubled” by the interaction, and even questions how she could possibly conceive the Son of God (“How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” (LK 1:26-28)). Her humanity and relentless trust in the Lord can today serve as an example of how to lead our daily lives.
Her fear, just like the fear many of us may feel today, is understandable! She has just been told that she is to birth the Son of God, whose kingdom will have no end, and which will be done through God for nothing is impossible to him. Though Mary is told the Lord is with her, she is understandably taken aback by the revelation. Who wouldn’t be?
And for many today, as we are tasked by God to love our neighbors and care for the wellbeing of all life on Earth, threats of mass deportations, irreversible climate change and injustice on the global stage can feel immense and impossibly challenging to overcome. But here again Mary serves as an example to follow.
Mary, a young woman of color who is later in life also an immigrant and a refugee, is the epitome of strength and faith we must strive for. And today’s psalm reminds us of our shared humanity: “You are the highest honor of our race” (Judith 15:9d). When Mary accepts God’s will, she is not yet the patron saint of the Americas, nor is she one of the most venerated saints of the Catholic faith. She is a human believer of Christ willing to accept the humanly inconceivable.
On this feast day, I am reminded of all the rosaries, prayers for intercession and veneration so many Catholics in my life hold for La Virgin de Guadalupe. I hope today we are all inspired by her story to intentionally choose God in all we do, and to accept his will in our lives.
¡Que viva la virgen de Guadalupe!
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Get to know Leilani Fuentes
What is your favorite Advent/Christmas hymn?
I’m going to cheat because this is not exactly a hymn, but a staple in my household has always been “Mi burrito sabanero.” The song tells the story of the donkey that carried Mary (pregnant with baby Jesus) on their journey to Bethlehem! I love how it focuses on the joy even the animals involved with Jesus’ birth experienced. It is also just so much fun to dance around to this catchy tune.
Do you have any favorite holiday recipes? (Bonus points if you share the recipe here!)
I absolutely do. In my personal opinion, no Christmas celebration is complete without some sort of ponche (aka Mexican hot fruit punch). I believe my grandma’s is the best, but I appreciate any and all attempts. This is the recipe we follow:
Ingredients
- Fruit: apples, dried plums, raisins, tejocotes, guavas
- Peeled and chopped sugar cane
- Cinnamon sticks
- Sugar
- Water
Steps
- You will need a pot big enough to hold all of your fruit and enough water to cover it
- Wash and chop your apples, sugar cane and guavas
- Place all the ingredients into your pot, and fill it with water
- Cook the punch at medium heat until the water is a deep brown (and your house smells amazing)
- Serve and enjoy!
Share a photo of an Advent or Christmas memory.
This picture, circa 2013, is of my brother and I participating in a Christmas pageant at my home parish. I was absolutely delighted to be wearing these beautiful wings, and yet I cannot actually recall what we did during the pageant. Merry Christmas from the Fuentes siblings!
