Dear Friend, 

Countless blessings filled the souls of the pilgrims who came to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin, as well as those who viewed online, on the Solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe. 

Before the sun rose, Mañanitas serenaded Our Lady with Traditional Mexican Marian Music beneath the mosaic of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

For the bi-lingual Holy Mass, celebrated by our Shepherd, Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke, the entrance procession included Knights of Columbus, members of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Priests, Seminarians and Deacons.

Cardinal Burke and the Deacons kissing the altar, honoring the altar of sacrifice, which represents Christ, where the miracle of the Eucharist occurs. Also, reverencing the relics of saints and martyrs that were placed inside of the altar.

The incensation of the altar at the beginning of the Holy Mass, a solemn rite symbolizing the Church's prayer rising to God, representing Christ, and signifying purification.

Later, the Deacon incensed Cardinal Burke, after His Eminence finished incensing the sacred vessels, Crucifix and altar during the Offertory; which set apart the celebrant as a vessel for Christ.

Cardinal Burke preached the homily in English and Spanish.

His Eminence started his homily about Bishop Juan de Zumárraga, Juan Diego, Our Lady and then described the miracle:

“And then he opened his white tilma, in the hollow of which were the flowers. And all the different flowers, like those from Castille, fell to the floor. Then and there his tilma became the sign, there suddenly appeared the Beloved Image of the Perfect Virgin Saint Mary, Mother of God, in the form and figure in which it is now, where it is preserved in her beloved little house, in her sacred little house in Tepeyac, which is called Guadalupe. And as soon as the Governing Bishop and all those who were there saw it, they knelt, they were full of awe, they stood up to see it, they were moved, their hearts were troubled, their hearts as well as their minds were raised. And the Governing Bishop, in tears, with sadness, begged Her, he asked Her forgiveness for not having carried out Her venerable will, Her venerable breath, Her venerable word.”

“And the Bishop got up, and untied Juan Diego’s garment, his tilma, from his neck where it was tied, on which appeared the venerable sign of the Heavenly Queen. And then he took it and placed it in his private chapel. And Juan Diego still stayed for the day in the Bishop’s house, who still kept him there. And on the next day he [the Bishop] said to him: “Come, let’s go so you can show me where it is that the venerable will of the Queen of Heaven wants Her chapel built.” Immediately the order was given to make it, to build it.…”

Cardinal Burke continued:

Today, we fall on our knees with Bishop Juan de Zumárraga before the heavenly image of the Virgin Mother of God, the “woman clothed with the sun” who gave birth to the Son, Who has conquered forever the “huge red dragon,” Satan, “a murderer from the beginning,” and “a liar and the father of lies.” We recognize the evil, the sin, which seeks to destroy us because we are sons and daughters of God the Father, alive in His only-begotten Son, God the Son Incarnate, through outpouring of the sevenfold gift of the God the Holy Spirit into our souls. We fall down in worship of Jesus, God the Son made man in the womb of the Virgin Mother, the One Who saves us from Satan’s hateful designs. Jesus is the “one who is to rule all the nations, and of whose “kingdom there will be no end.” Our Lady of Guadalupe brings Him to us and brings us to Him, even as she first brought Him into the world, conceived in her womb at Nazareth and born of her at Bethlehem.

“In the face of the difficulties, the trials, and the temptations by which Satan wishes to discourage us and lead us away from the Heart of Jesus, Our Lady receives us into her arms, urging us to trust Our Lord and His promise of eternal salvation.”

“Let us especially place our families and our homeland “in the hollow” of the mantle of Our Lady of Guadalupe, “in the crossing of [her] arms,” that Christ the King may reign in all hearts. Let our hearts, one with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, lift up to the glorious-pierced Heart of Jesus all who suffer in body or in spirit, that they may be purified of all sin and inflamed with divine truth and love.”

“Consecrating our hearts to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of the Virgin of Guadalupe, His Mother, and pleading, through her intercession, that His victory over sin and death in our human nature may be realized in each of our lives and in the lives of all our brothers and sisters, may we proceed faithfully on the pilgrim way which leads to our true homeland: the eternal life of Heaven. There may we, with the angels and all the saints, forever praise and glorify God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”

Here is the link to view the Holy Mass and Homily. The Homily begins at 6:50. Over 7,500 views.

More photos from the Solemnity:

Cardinal Burke’s solemn blessing imparted with the weight of the Church and therefore it has great value in the eyes of God.

During this Octave of Our Lady of Guadalupe, remember that the Mother of God keeps us within her compassionate and merciful gaze.

Embracing the love of Our Lady of Guadalupe,

Thomas McKenna

Founder and President

Catholic Action For Faith And Family
https://www.catholicaction.org/

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