Celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe

Friday, Dec. 16, 2016

SALT LAKE CITY — On Dec. 11 parishes all over the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City began celebrations honoring the 485th anniversary of the appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Saint Juan Diego.

Despite the cold weather that evening, the celebration at the Cathedral of the Madeleine drew hundreds of people, Catholic and non-Catholics, Hispanics and Anglos. 

The faithful of all ages came with flowers and with their prayers to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe, who in 1531 appeared four times to Saint Juan Diego at Tepeyac Hill in Mexico. The Virgin told him that she desired a church to be built on the site, “where your people may experience my compassion. All those who sincerely ask my help in their work and in their sorrows will know my mother’s heart in this place. Here I will see their tears; I will console them and they will be at peace. So run now to Tenochtitlan and tell the bishop all that you have seen and heard.”

The bishop did not believe St. Juan Diego, so the Virgin gave him a sign – a cloak full of Castilian roses and, imprinted on the cloak, an image of herself. As a result, the Basilica of Guadalupe was built; the cloak (tilma) with Our Lady’s image is enshrined there. The basilica is the most visited Catholic shrine in the world. 

Juan Diego was canonized in 2002; in 1945 Pope Pius XII decreed Our Lady of Guadalupe the patroness of all the Americas. Her feast day is Dec. 12, but celebrations often begin the night before with the traditional “mañanitas.”

 “We have gathered here today to honor her for all the love and care that she has have for us,” said Clara Galvez, catechist teacher and parishioner of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, as the celebration started with a rosary in Spanish.

Dozens of children, students of the cathedral’s catechism classes, were dressed in traditional costumes from Mexico as well as representing the Virgin of Guadalupe and Saint Juan Diego.

Around 9:30 p.m. an outdoor procession took place through the streets adjacent to the cathedral. Some of the parishioners carried a large image of Our Lady of Guadalupe; others walked, singing and praying.

After the procession the cathedral was flooded with the music of mariachis and the voices of the Hispanic choir.

Father Martin Diaz, rector of the cathedral, presided at the Mass. He welcomed everyone to the celebration and reminded them all to be merciful.

“We need to not be afraid and be merciful and love our brothers and sisters,” he said.

Celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe is not only a Hispanic tradition but also is a celebration of the inclusiveness of the Catholics around the diocese, said Carmen Olviera, a cathedral parishioner.

“I think it is important because we continue a very important tradition. We can pass it on to generations to come, and especially teach our youth, young children and families the importance of Our Lady of Guadalupe in our church and in the whole world,” Olviera said.

“In the midst of all the situations that we are going through, (celebrating) Our Lady of Guadalupe is an occasion to be festive because of the hope that she brings to us,” said Francisco Peña, who came to the celebration at the cathedral with a flower arrangement for the Virgin.