This is a wonderful photograph of Pope Francis when he visited Mexico's Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2016. Juan Diego's tilma is mounted high up on the basilica wall, so everyone can see it. But there is an elevator that allows special guests to visit her in the camarin, the little room where the framed image swings backwards for people to have more intimate space in which to pray.
When Pope John Paul II visited Guadalupe early in his papacy, he proclaimed the Guadalupe Patroness of the American Hemisphere—that is Canada, The United States, Mexico (which is part of North America), Central and South America.
When Pope John Paul II visited Guadalupe early in his papacy, he proclaimed the Guadalupe Patroness of the American Hemisphere—that is Canada, The United States, Mexico (which is part of North America), Central and South America.
Here is a Father Elizondo's splendid litany to the Guadalupe which we might pray during these days of sickness and struggle. The litany might also open us up to the vision of a God-saturated politic in all of its life-dimensions. I would call the litany a short course in Catholic Social Teaching, of which many Catholics are sadly unawares.
Mother of the unborn, pray for us.
Mother of orphans,
Mother of the rejected,
Mother of the unrecognized,
Mother of the powerless,
Mother of the oppressed,
Mother of migrants,
Mother of the marginalized,
Mother of the destitute,
Mother of foreigners,
Mother of immigrants,
Mother of the homeless,
Mother of those considered gift-less,
Mother of those who see no value in their lives,
Motaher of those who have no political influence
Mother of those who have no reason to hope,
Mother of consolation,
Mother of those who say "yes" to Jesus,
Mother of Providence,
From becoming oppressive, deliver us.
From becoming cynical,
From denying options to the poor,
From becoming opportunists,
From becoming deaf to the voices of prophets,
From becoming blind to injustice,
From becoming complacent,
From becoming ungrateful servants,
From becoming arrogant,
From becoming elitists,
Model of love and compassion, may we imitate you.
Model of hope and new life,
Model of evangelization,
Model of simplicity,
Model of justice for the poor,
Enabler of the downtrodden,
Example of receptivity,
Example of humility,
Example of sensitivity,
Bridge builder of cultures,
Respecter of diversity,
Virgen Morena, Dark Virgin, Mother of God, Lady of Guadalupe, we commit ourselves to follow your example, to be life-givers and to be receptive to new life. We will be faithful followers in our love towards the poor, in your desire to give dignity to all people and to treat all the abandoned with tenderness. Let us live with constant confidence that we need not fear when we acknowledge you as our Mother, Mother of God. Grant that we may participate in your plan for new life and give us faith in the daily miracles that you and your Son, Jesus, work in our lives Amen.
Mother of the unborn, pray for us.
Mother of orphans,
Mother of the rejected,
Mother of the unrecognized,
Mother of the powerless,
Mother of the oppressed,
Mother of migrants,
Mother of the marginalized,
Mother of the destitute,
Mother of foreigners,
Mother of immigrants,
Mother of the homeless,
Mother of those considered gift-less,
Mother of those who see no value in their lives,
Motaher of those who have no political influence
Mother of those who have no reason to hope,
Mother of consolation,
Mother of those who say "yes" to Jesus,
Mother of Providence,
From becoming oppressive, deliver us.
From becoming cynical,
From denying options to the poor,
From becoming opportunists,
From becoming deaf to the voices of prophets,
From becoming blind to injustice,
From becoming complacent,
From becoming ungrateful servants,
From becoming arrogant,
From becoming elitists,
Model of love and compassion, may we imitate you.
Model of hope and new life,
Model of evangelization,
Model of simplicity,
Model of justice for the poor,
Enabler of the downtrodden,
Example of receptivity,
Example of humility,
Example of sensitivity,
Bridge builder of cultures,
Respecter of diversity,
Virgen Morena, Dark Virgin, Mother of God, Lady of Guadalupe, we commit ourselves to follow your example, to be life-givers and to be receptive to new life. We will be faithful followers in our love towards the poor, in your desire to give dignity to all people and to treat all the abandoned with tenderness. Let us live with constant confidence that we need not fear when we acknowledge you as our Mother, Mother of God. Grant that we may participate in your plan for new life and give us faith in the daily miracles that you and your Son, Jesus, work in our lives Amen.
