Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception & Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe

We celebrate this week two feasts in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patroness of the Americas. In these two closely related feats, we celebrate Mary and her role as the Mother of Jesus.

Today marks the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. In f91e2948 352f 40b4 a700 617ea041bdbc 1854, Pope Pius IX, declared that Mary was conceived with out sin, thus giving her the title of the Immaculate Conception. Four years later, at Lourdes, Mary appeared to St. Bernadette and presented herself with these words: “I am the Immaculate Conception.”

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, is celebrated on Saturday, Dec. 12, as one of the dates of the 5 appearances of Mary to St. Juan Diego. When Mary appeared to Juan Diego she instructed him to gather roses, which he then presented to the bishop as a gift. When he opened his cloak (tilma), an image of Our Lady was imprinted on it, now the famous image of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

These two beautiful feasts of Our Lady, Patroness of the Americas, may look a lot different this year: without the traditional processions, singing, dancing, and in-person Masses; however we continue to pray that Mary, Immaculate, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, holds all her people in her heart, this year especially as a prayer of intercession for those all affected by the Coronavirus worldwide.