Our Lady of Guadalupe's message gives hope, Bishop Solis says

Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

SALT LAKE CITY —Every year, no matter whether it’s raining, snowing or if the temperature is below zero, people from all over the Diocese of Salt Lake City gather in their parishes to celebrate and honor Our Lady of Guadalupe.

For the vigil feast celebrated on Dec. 11, the Cathedral of the Madeleine, as the mother church of the diocese, welcomes people from all walks of life, young, old, regardless of the language they speak or their religion. This year, in keeping with tradition, the celebrations started with recitation of the rosary, followed by Mariachi songs, but then they added a reenactment of Our Lady’s appearances to St. Juan Diego in December 1531 near what is now Mexico City.

The play was performed by the cathedral’s catechism students and teachers. 

This year a winter weather advisory was in place for the evening of Dec. 11, so the traditional procession led by the Knights of Columbus, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Bishop Oscar A. Solis took place inside the cathedral.

The chant of “La Guadalupana, la Guadalupana” resonated as the procession took place.

In his homily, Bishop Solis noted that the celebration was a time to gather with joy and gratitude to commemorate the miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary to St. Juan Diego, which “converted millions to the Catholic faith. Today many more souls are being saved by the miracles related with Our Lady of Guadalupe.”

Asking those in attendance to focus their attention on the humble Virgin, Bishop Solis said that when she appeared to St. Juan Diego, she gave him “the mission to transmit the Good News.”

Among the readings for the feast was a passage from the Book of Revelations that the bishop commented on in his homily.

“We read today about a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and above her head a crown of 12 stars. … The baby that is in her womb is God’s presence; it is a symbol of hope in the midst of sufferings, the  sins and the chaos,” Bishop Solis said adding that the reading is a call to transform hearts and the world  through Our Lady.

“God wanted the world to know about his mercy and love for all. … God sent [Our Lady of Guadalupe] to teach us the sainthood virtues, obedience and fidelity to God, so we can live in union with Our Lord in a very special way. … He gave us a mother who will always be with us in joy, in sadness, in the trials and challenges of life,” the bishop said.

Recalling the words that Our Lady of Guadalupe said to St. Juan Diego: “Am I not your mother? Am I not here with you?” Bishop Solis said that the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe “motivates and gives hope.”

Today’s world lives in fear of war, and lives with violence and injustices, he said. 

“We are living with spiritual and moral degradation not only of our soul but also in our surroundings and in our society,” Bishop Solis said, adding that people nowadays tend to be more worried about material things and have no time for God.

“Tonight we are reminded that we have nothing to fear. ….  Laura Vallejo… Let’s trust in the mercy and love of God, and let’s invoke Our Lady’s intercessions,” Bishop Solis said.

Bishop Solis concluded the Mass with “¡Viva Our Lady of Guadalupe!,  ¡Viva Saint Juan Diego!” and “¡Viva Christ the King!”, and thanked everyone for their presence that day in the cathedral. Following the Mass, Aztec dancers presented a performance and those attending were invited to the social hall for tamales and hot cocoa.