Written by Benoît Santos - Updated on Oct 27, 2024
Our Lady of Guadalupe has a fabulous story that has convinced the Catholic Church and millions of believers around the world. She is a religious figure who has left a strong mark on Mexico , and continues to do so to this day.
In this article, we will see:
- Who is Our Lady of Guadalupe?
- The image of the Virgin of Guadalupe
- Celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Prayers to Our Lady of Guadalupe
And if you enjoyed this article, we invite you to come and discover the prayer news with several prayers to the Mother of Christ, as well as our article on Our Lady of Guadalupe .
Without further ado, let's find out everything you need to know about the Virgin of Guadalupe and the type of prayer to address to her.
Who is Our Lady of Guadalupe?
Our Lady of Guadalupe is the name given to the Virgin Mary after she appeared to a native in Mexico. The Blessed Virgin is said to have appeared to a certain Juan Diego in 1531. In Latin America, the Virgin of Guadalupe is considered a strong figure in Catholicism. A feast day is even dedicated to her. On December 12, all believers in the American nation and the rest of the world celebrate her .
The name "Guadalupe" would come from the Arabic Wadi al-lub, which means "river of the hidden" or "river of wolves". But if we refer to the Mexican version, Guadalupe would rather come from "Nahuati coatlallope", which would mean "the one who crushes the snake". According to other theories, this name would come from the unification of two similar terms, but this would be the result of a simple coincidence.
Our Lady of Guadalupe was named patron saint of the capital, Mexico City, in 1737. In 1895, she was given the title of patron saint of Mexico . Since 1951, she has held the title of patron saint of students in Peru. The Virgin of Guadalupe is also known as the patron saint of Latin America and the city of Ponce (Puerto Rico). In 1895, she was even proclaimed the "Queen of Mexico". In 2002, she was elevated to the rank of "Empress of the Americas".
The image of the Virgin of Guadalupe
According to belief, an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on Juan Diego's tilma after he gave some Spanish roses to Bishop Zumarraga . Juan Diego had offered these roses to prove that the Blessed Virgin had indeed appeared to him. After several investigations, the Church officially recognized the miracle of the tilma and the apparitions in 1784.
The image of the Virgin of Guadalupe is displayed in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Mexico. Every December 12, the site is said to receive more than twenty million visitors. The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is the place of devotion that is said to receive the most people after the Vatican . But there are also other sites dedicated to her in other parts of the world. The Basilica Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in is undoubtedly the best known. The site is located in Antiguo Cuscatlan (El Salvador).
In Mexico, the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe is a unifying element on the cultural and political level. And this, since the 16th century. This figure has helped to rally all social classes and different ethnic groups. A certain Miguel Hidalgo even used the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe as a banner during the War of Independence . This image was also used by the liberating army of the South, during the revolution of 1910, and by a certain Emiliano Zapata during the War of the Criteros.
Celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Every year, starting on December 8, believers in Mexico gather to celebrate the day of Our Lady of Guadalupe . The event brings together thousands of people. The celebration is usually composed of masses, music, pilgrimages and dances.
On December 11, the festivities are at their peak. At the end of the day, you can attend popular serenades in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe. The rest of the evening is dedicated to the various tributes that will be paid to her. To do this, believers gather and perform "Las Manatinas", a traditional Mexican song that is sung during major events (weddings, Mother's Day, birthdays, baptisms, etc.). Masses and pilgrimages follow one another throughout the night. The Celebration and Blessing of the Roses are some of the most important. They take place on December 12, in the middle of the day.
On the day of the event, festive gatherings are created throughout the country. The Feria de Guadalupe, del Bario de Guadalupe or Bocoyna are some examples.
Prayers to Our Lady of Guadalupe
“Our Lady of Guadalupe, I know with certainty that You are the perfect and perpetual Virgin Mary, Mother of the true God . You show me and offer me Your love, Your compassion, Your help, Your protection (…) You are my Mother and I am under Your protection. You are my Fountain of life and I nestle in Your arms! Mother of mercy, with love, I consecrate to You my whole being, my life, my sufferings, my joys, all those whom You have entrusted to me and all that belongs to me. I desire to be all Yours and to walk with You on the path of holiness (…) Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of unborn children , give us the grace to love, to give, to welcome and to respect life, in the same love with which You conceived in Your womb the life of Jesus, Your beloved Son. Holy Mary , Queen of homes, protect and help our families, so that they may always be united; assist us in the education of our children and bless them. I beg you, most holy Mother, give me a great love for the Eucharist and for regular Confession, a taste for prayer and for meditation, so that I may bring peace and joy through Jesus Christ our Lord who, with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Now you know who Our Lady of Guadalupe is. You know her story and the fabulous miracles that allowed her to be officially recognized by the Church. You know that December 12 is the day of the celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe , and that it is a grandiose event for all believers, especially for those who reside in Mexico. Finally, you know the prayers that you can recite when you want to address Our Lady of Guadalupe.
To write a comment
