The diocese celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe

Intermountain Catholic

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The procession honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe wound through the streets near the Cathedral of the Madeleine on Dec. 11. IC photo/Laura Vallejo

SALT LAKE CITY — All over the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City the celebrations for the anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe illuminated the hearts of children and adults during the evening of Dec. 11.

At the Cathedral of the Madeleine a procession marked the beginning of the celebration.

A mariachi band, a Venezuelan group, a solo artist and all those devoted to Our Lady of Guadalupe then filled the interior of the Cathedral.

The Most Reverend John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City; Father Martin Diaz, the Cathedral pastor; and Father José Barrera, the Cathedral’s parochial vicar, celebrated the midnight Mass honoring Our Lady, assisted by Deacon Armando Solorzano.

"Together here we celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe; she is the star of the New Evangelization," said Bishop Wester as he welcomed everyone.

When the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Juan Diego in 1531 on the hilltop in Tepeyac, near Mexico City, her message was "Don’t be afraid. I am here. I am your Mother."

"Today we have to look at these words and find the courage and strength to live every day as disciples of Jesus," said Bishop Wester. "Our Lady of Guadalupe is an example of the eternal love of God."

Bishop Wester shared the homily with Fr. Barrera, who that day was celebrating the anniversary of his ordination to priesthood.

"December 12 of 1992 I received the ordination to the priesthood, and it has been sheltered by the eternal love of Our Lady," Fr. Barrera said.

Narrating the story of the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego that took place 482 years ago, Fr. Barrera said that seeing everyone at the Cathedral to celebrate the feast day deeply touched his heart.

"We together as a family need to show our deepest religious values of our cultures," said Fr. Barrera. "Let’s open our hearts to Our Lady of Guadalupe and let’s have her present in all the days of our lives. … We are not alone. The Virgin Mary of Guadalupe is always next to us on our journey."

Pope Francis also celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. At the Vatican, he addressed all brothers and sisters from all over the Continent with his greetings in Spanish during the general audience on Dec. 11.

"When Our Lady appeared to Saint Juan Diego, her face was that of a woman of mixed blood, a mestiza, and her garments bore many symbols of the native culture. Like Jesus, Mary is close to all her sons and daughters; as a concerned mother, she accompanies them on their way through life. She shares all the joys and hopes, the sorrows and troubles of God’s People, which is made up of men and women of every race and nation," said the Pope.

"When the image of the Virgin appeared on the tilma of Juan Diego, it was the prophecy of an embrace: Mary’s embrace of all the peoples of the vast expanses of America – the peoples who already lived there, and those who were yet to come. Mary’s embrace showed what America – North and South – is called to be: a land where different peoples come together; a land prepared to accept human life at every stage, from the mother’s womb to old age; a land which welcomes immigrants, and the poor and the marginalized, in every age. A land of generosity. That is the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe," concluded the Pope, "and it is also my message, the message of the Church. I ask all the people of the Americas to open wide their arms, like the Virgin, with love and tenderness. I pray for all of you, dear brothers and sisters, and I ask you to pray for me! May the joy of the Gospel always abide in your hearts. May the Lord bless you, and may Our Lady be ever at your side."

CNS contributed to this article.