Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe 2021

Most Reverend José H. Gomez
Archbishop of Los Angeles

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
December 12, 2021

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, ¹

Today we celebrate a historic night. Four hundred and ninety years ago, in these days of the month of December, the Mother of God appeared to Saint Juan Diego in Tepeyac.

Let us listen again to the first words that Mary addressed to Juan Diego:

“I am the Ever-Virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the one True God, by whom we live, the Creator of all things, the Lord of heaven and earth. I desire that a temple be built here soon, so that I may show all my love, my compassion, my help, and my protection, because I am your merciful mother.” ²

Our Lady of Guadalupe came to be the Mother of the Americas, to announce the new birth of Jesus Christ among the peoples and nations of the New World.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is not only the Mother of Mexico, but also the Mother of the entire American continent. 

Our country, the United States, like all other countries in North America, Central America, and South America are born "from the Creator of everything; the Lord of heaven and earth" and under the mantel of Mary. Every nation and every person under his loving protection and care.

In the apparitions at Tepeyac, the prophecy of Zechariah, that we heard in tonight’s first reading, is fulfilled: “Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they shall be his people.”

And Saint Paul tells us in today's second reading: "Rejoice always in the Lord... rejoice! ... The Lord is near."

It is true, Jesus is coming. Our Lord is near. He is almost here, only missing a few days until Christmas arrives. 

Jesus Christ is the Lord, he is the one who governs the whole world and the entire American continent. And Our Lady of Guadalupe came to reveal it to us on those beautiful days of December 1531. 

Our Lady of Guadalupe continues building his temple on the American continent. 

As we know from the wonderful story of his appearance, St. Juan Diego finally managed to convince Bishop Juan de Zumárraga to build the church that today is the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, where his miraculous tilma is. 

But that was only the beginning. Our Lady wants much more than that. 

The temple that the Virgin wants is a spiritual temple that is build with the "living stones" of our lives. ³ Your life and my life.

Carrying in our hearts the joy of Jesus Christ and following the path that he has taught us for the glory of God and to love our brothers and sisters. We are the temple that Our Lady wants to build on the American continent!

In the Magnificat, Mary sings the 'great things' that God has done in her life: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord … The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”

Our Blessed Mother discovered that her life was part of a bigger plan. She discovered that God wanted her to play a very important role in salvation history. 

And just as God had a plan for Mary, he also has a plan for each one of us. For each one of us he has a task that we must carry out within the plan of salvation. 

On this great anniversary of Our Lady’s apparition at Tepeyac, let us commit ourselves to serve Jesus and his plan of love. Let us say with Our Blessed Mother: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

But the question we all have is the same one that St. John the Baptist is asked in today's Gospel: "What should we do?"

And St. John the Baptist responds by telling us to live compassionately, to care for those around us. He tells us: "Whoever has two tunics, give one to the one who has none, and whoever has food, do the same."

He asks us to be faithful to God, faithful to who God wants us to be — not just at special times or during this time of year, but always all the time. 

So, dear brother and sisters, let us continue to built the temple that Our Lady of Guadalupe wants through our little efforts every day, our love for others and our efforts to live as Jesus taught us and asked us to. The mission of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the American continent continues, four hundred and ninety years later. Her mission continues in your life and mine. 

We all know that our world needs Jesus. That the United States and all the nations of the American continent need Jesus. 

Let us ask today for the grace to renew our desire to share with everyone, but especially with those around us, that Jesus Christ loves us and that he gave his life for us. 

And may we continue to invite you, with our word and with our example, to put your hand in the hand of Jesus, so that you can walk in his light and follow him on the path that leads to eternity, towards love that never ends. 

And of course, always counting on the company and intercession of our Most Holy Mother of Guadalupe. 

Our Lord has done great things for us, so let us go and do great things for him. Let us continue to build the temple of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the American continent so that our families and the whole world may be a new world of faith, peace, and of love. 

¡Que Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!
¡Que viva San Juan Diego!
¡Que viva San Junípero Serra!
¡Que viva Cristo Rey!
¡Que viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!
¡Que viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!
¡Que viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!