Homily: December 12, 2025, Feast of the Our Lady of Guadalupe

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 “Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah.”

Today we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of the Americas, the Mother who draws near to her children with tenderness and mercy.

In the Gospel, we see Mary going in haste to the hill country to help Elizabeth. That was 2,000 years ago. Yet 500 years ago, Mary again traveled to a hill the hill of Tepeyac, to meet a poor, humble indigenous man, Juan Diego, and to entrust him with a mission that seemed completely impossible: “Build me a church here.”

Juan Diego was a recent convert, just learning the faith. How could he possibly accomplish such a task?

But this is how Mary works. She always chooses the lowly, the simple, the overlooked because she knows that when we say “yes” with humility, God does the rest.

Her words to Juan Diego are among the most comforting Mary has ever spoken. Here are just a few:

• “My son, I love you. I desire you to know who I am. I am the ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of the true God.”

• “All who sincerely ask for my help in their work and in their sorrows will know my nearness in this place.”

• “I am your merciful Mother, the Mother of all who love me, who cry to me, who trust in me. I will hear their weeping and their sorrows.”

• “Am I not here, I who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life?”

These words were not only for Juan Diego. Mary repeats them to every Christian who turns to her. She is our Mother given to us by Jesus Himself at the foot of the Cross.

Throughout history, especially during persecution, Christians have called on her as Help of Christians, and she has never abandoned those who sought her intercession.

So today, on this beautiful feast, let us entrust ourselves our families, our struggles, our parish to her loving care.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. Amen.


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