Dear Friend,

Since the apparition tracing back to the 16th century, the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe has been a very festive day for those living in the Americas, as She is the Patroness of the Americas. Serenades to Our Lady, declaring our love to Her, children dressed up in costumes, gatherings after holy Masses with hot cocoa and desserts. 

Now all of that has been curtailed due to the pandemic. It was even announced that the Shrine in Mexico City will be closed on the feast day where normally hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gather from all over Mexico. We now live in a time where there is much uncertainty. Countless numbers of lives have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 virus, fear, an unstable economy, unemployment, the loss of financial security and much more. Any one of which can cause our faith to waver. 

Let us recall what Our Lady of Guadalupe said to Juan Diego: “Hear me and understand well, my little son, that nothing should frighten or grieve you. Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear that sickness, nor any other sickness or anguish. Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish?”

In other words, hope is alive and well when we entrust all things to Our Lady of Guadalupe. 

Today, let us give Our Lady all our trials and tribulations and consecrate ourselves (and our families) to Her. Let us offer all our thoughts, words, acts and sufferings this day, so that through Our Lady of Guadalupe, we may gain souls for Jesus and make reparation for the offenses committed against Her Immaculate Heart.

Also, let us set aside time to prayerfully recite the Litany of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Did you know that a litany is a form of prayer, dating back to the fourth century, with a series of invocations, alternating with petitions, that enables us to strengthen our faith and to obtain the favors for which we are praying. 

This litany to Our Lady of Guadalupe has the Ecclesiastical Approval of His Eminence Raymond Cardinal Burke.

LITANY OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

Lord, have mercy on us.                                  
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God our Heavenly Father, Creator through whom we live,
have mercy on us.
God the Son, the One who owns what is near and beyond,
have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
have mercy of us.
Holy Mary of Guadalupe,
pray for us.*
Holy Mary, Mother of America,
Holy Mary, Star of the New Evangelization,
Holy Mary, Perfect and Ever Virgin,
Holy Mary, Mother of the True God,
Holy Mary, Mother worthy of honor and veneration,
Holy Mary, Mother most merciful,
Holy Mary, Mother of those who love you and have confidence in you,
Holy Mary, Mother of those who cry to you and search for you,
Holy Mary, Mother who cures all our pains, miseries, and sorrows,
Holy Mary, Mother who remedies and alleviates our sufferings,
Holy Mary, Mother who keeps us within her compassionate and merciful gaze,
Holy Mary, Mother who shows us her help, love and compassion,
Holy Mary, Mother who chooses those who are humble and simple,
Holy Mary, Mother who graciously repays all who serve her,
Holy Mary, Mother who has us under her shadow and protection,
Holy Mary, Mother who carries us in her embrace,
Holy Mary, Fountain of our joy,
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray

Almighty and Eternal God, your message of mercy, entrusted to Our Lady of Guadalupe, invites all your children to place all their trust in you. Through the intercession of the mother of your Son, may your message of Merciful Love inflame our hearts that we may be faithful heralds and instruments of this Divine Mercy to the world.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

We are truly blessed to have you as part of the Catholic Action Family. May Our Lady of Guadalupe bless you and your loved ones now and always!

Your friend in Christ,

Thomas J. McKenna
Founder and President
Catholic Action for Faith Family

P.S. We invite you to watch the TLM (Traditional Latin Mass) on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, said by His Eminence, Raymond Cardinal Burke, live – from the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at 12:15 CST, December 12th, on EWTN.  Please check for local times at www.ewtn.com.