Mary of Guadalupe

Feast:  December 12th

The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a beautiful feast appropriately celebrated during Advent.  Just as the message of Guadalupe was a message of light piercing through the darkness, so is the message of Advent that of Light dawning upon mankind.  The story of Our Lady of Guadalupe is beautiful in that it once again shows us the tenderness of Mary as mother, appearing to a humble native named Juan Diego on the hills of Tepeyac, to offer consolation and hope to a world wrapped in ignorance and darkness.  She appeared heavy with child, anticipating the beautiful event we are to celebrate Christmas night, when the Child to be born of her comes to save His people.

Advent's Main Characters

There are three major personalities in the season of Advent: Isaiah, John the Baptist and Mary. It is very helpful to meditate on the significance of these three personalities and to find their significance in the event of Christmas.

In Allegiance to Jesus Christ

 
The second chapter of the Rule of Carmel has this to say: "In many and various ways the holy fathers established how everyone, whatever his order or whatever kind of religious life he has chosen, must live in allegiance to Jesus Christ and serve him faithfully from a pure heart and a good conscience."

November 23 is the Solemnity of Christ the King and the last Sunday in the liturgical year.  Next Sunday, November 30 is the First Sunday of Advent.  The whole Church  gathers in churches everywhere to give glory and homage and pledge our allegiance to the King of Kings and Lord of lords.  We acknowledge the kingship of Christ and so I reflect on what this kingship means.

The life of Jesus was a paradox.  He was the God who lowered himself and assumed a human estate.  He was the Master who served his disciples at the Last Supper.  He was the Teacher who showed surprise at the faith of the centurion. He was the innocent man who was crucified for a man-made crime.  And now, a King, flogged and mocked, stripped naked, crowned with thorns, dragged on the streets  and crucified on the cross.  What a pathetic King! A joke of a kingship!  And so they all thought...