The Queen of the Americas, the Protector of Life
Today is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the pregnant Madonna of the Americas. She appeared 478 years ago to Juan Diego, a poor Aztec Indian on Tepeyac hill in Mexico. She told him that she was the “Mother of God, for whom we live,” and left a miraculous picture of herself on his tilma or cloak.
Rocco has more videos from across the country and videos. He notes that because of the increasing Hispanic population, this devotion is the future of the Church in the U.S.
The entire history of the apparitions and this devotion can be found here.
Here is some extraordinary video from the midnight celebrations in her shrine in Mexico.
On a visit to this sanctuary in 1999, Pope John Paul II entrusted the cause of life and unborn children to her care. In 1995 he composed this prayer.
Prayer of John Paul II for Life
O Mary,
bright dawn of the new world,
Mother of the living,
to you do we entrust the cause of life:
Look down, O Mother,
upon the vast numbers
of babies to be born,
of the poor whose lives are made difficult,
of men and women
who are victims of brutal violence,
of the elderly and the sick killed
by indifference or out of misguided mercy.
Grant that all who believe in your Son
may proclaim the Gospel of life
with honesty and love
to the people of our time.
Obtain for them the grace
to accept that Gospel
as a gift ever new,
the joy of celebrating it with gratitude
throughout their lives
and the courage to bear witness to it
resolutely, in order to build,
together with all people of good will,
the civilization of truth and love,
to the praise and glory of God,
the Creator and lover of life.
John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Encyclical Letter “The Gospel of Life”
Given in Rome, on March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, in the year 1995.
Today her intercession is needed more than ever.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Queen of the Americas, pray for us!
