PRAYER
of the nine-month novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe
March 12 - Dec 12, 2024
To download the prayer card in Latin
We are now concluding the first month, and our second month begins as we are on our sixth round of the Nine-Month-Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe. If you want to read and reflect over the messages from Cardinal Burke, you can click here.
Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke sent us an encouraging April message :
"As our first month of the Nine-Month Novena concludes and our second month begins, some of us may be experiencing the worst temptations from Satan to surrender and stop praying the Novena Prayer every day.
In the battle for the truth, we must never give way to discouragement, which is always the first temptation of the devil. When we are tempted to be discouraged or to be defeated, let us recall the vision of the final victory of Christ’s Redemptive Incarnation, recounted in the Book of Revelation."
His Eminence's reflections can be read by clicking here.
He has also sent us the Fourth Reflection dated April 23, 2024. The video link is here. (by Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke):
Let us continue to contemplate the importance of perseverance.
Though Saint Juan Diego failed to convince the Bishop that his claims were true, he did not let his failure be the cause of despair. Instead, he dutifully followed the Virgin Mother of God’s instruction to return to Bishop Zumárraga.
The ability to recognize our failures with honesty and humility is, itself, a gift of grace, and indeed a sign of the healthy operation of our consciences.
Indeed, the saints were keenly aware of their failures.
When we feel guilt, we should thank God that grace has spared us (at least in this moment) from the errors of a lax or dulled conscience, a condition which seems to afflict so many, in a particularly insidious way, in our times.
When we fail, do we let our pride intervene by supposing we can conquer sin?
Or do we turn to God for help?
And when we ask for help, do we demand results immediately?
Or are we willing to persevere in God’s plan for our eternal salvation? Let us honestly reflect on these questions.
As St. Juan Diego learned, the fruits of Our Lady’s intercession are not always immediately apparent. But they are real, and they are powerful. Let us continue to ask Our Mother to obtain for us all the good and holy things we desire, according to God’s plan for us. (Here is the full text).
Let us pray the nine-month novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe:
O Virgin Mother of God, we fly to your protection
and beg your intercession against the darkness and sin
which ever more envelop the world and menace the Church.
Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ,
gave you to us
as our mother
as He died on the Cross for our salvation.
So too, in 1531, when darkness and sin beset us,
He sent you, as Our Lady of Guadalupe, on Tepeyac
to lead us to Him Who alone is our light and our salvation.
Through your apparitions on Tepeyac
and your abiding presence with us on the miraculous mantle of your messenger, Saint Juan Diego,
millions of souls converted to faith in your Divine Son.
Through this novena and our consecration to you,
we humbly implore your intercession for our daily conversion of life to Him
and the conversion of millions more who do not yet believe in Him.
In our homes and in our nation,
lead us to Him
Who alone wins the victory over sin and darkness in us and in the world.
Unite our hearts to your Immaculate Heart
so that they may find their true and lasting home in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Ever guide us along the pilgrimage of life to our eternal home with Him.
So may our hearts, one with yours,
always trust in God's promise of salvation,
in His never-failing mercy toward all
who turn to Him with a humble and contrite heart.
Through this novena and our consecration to you, O Virgin of Guadalupe,
lead all souls in America and throughout the world
to your Divine Son in Whose name we pray.
Amen.
March, 2024
+ Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke
Let us pray:
O my God,
in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary
(if applicable, here kiss your scapular as sign of your consecration to Mary, which carries a partial indulgence),
I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Jesus from all the altars throughout the world,
joining with it the offering of my every thought, word, and action of this day.
O my Jesus,
I desire today to gain every indulgence and merit I can and I offer them, together with myself, to Mary Immaculate, that she may best apply them in the interests of Thy Most Sacred Heart.
Precious Blood of Jesus, save us!
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
+ Father R.Heilman, March, 2024
Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe
(normally between Dec 3--12)
April 26, 2024: Day 46.
(this is our fifth nine-days-novena of the nine-month-novena).
April 27: Day 47.
April 28: Day 48.
April 29: Day 49.
April 30: Day 50.
May 1: Day 51.
(Feast of St. Joseph the Worker)
May 2: Day 52.
May 3: Day 53.
May 4: Day 54.
(may the fourth be with you!)
April 26
- Day 46 -
1st day of the fourth nine-days-novena
of the nine-month-novena.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Introduction Prayer
Remember, O most gracious Virgin of Guadalupe, that in your heavenly apparitions on the mount of Tepeyac, you promised to show your compassion and pity towards all who, loving and trusting you, seek your help and call upon you in their necessities and afflictions. You promised to hear our supplications, to dry our tears, and to give us consolation and relief.
Memorare
Never has it been known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, we fly to you, O Mary, ever-Virgin Mother of the true God! Though grieving under the weight of our sins, we come to prostrate ourselves before you. We fully trust that, standing beneath your shadow and protection, nothing will trouble or afflict us, nor do we need to fear illness or misfortune, or any other sorrow.
Prayer
O Virgin of Guadalupe, you want to remain with us through your admirable Image, you who are our Mother, our health, and our life. Placing ourselves beneath your maternal gaze, and having recourse to you in all our necessities, we need do nothing more.
O Holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer us. Amen.
Daily Prayer
Dearest Lady of Guadalupe,
fruitful Mother of holiness,
teach me your ways of gentleness and strength.
Hear my humble prayer offered with heartfelt confidence to beg this favor _______
(mention your intention here)
Concluding Prayers:
Our father x 1
Hail Mary x 1
Glory x 1
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Step-by-Step Rosary community may pray the Rosary after the novena,
(and it is possible to pray a litany thereafter).
If you want to pray recommended daily litany instead of a Rosary click here.
For the one who just wants to pray the Loreto litany instead, click here.
April 27
- Day 47 -
2nd day of the fourth nine-days-novena
of the nine-month-novena.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Introduction Prayer
Remember, O most gracious Virgin of Guadalupe, that in your heavenly apparitions on the mount of Tepeyac, you promised to show your compassion and pity towards all who, loving and trusting you, seek your help and call upon you in their necessities and afflictions. You promised to hear our supplications, to dry our tears, and to give us consolation and relief.
Memorare
Never has it been known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, we fly to you, O Mary, ever-Virgin Mother of the true God! Though grieving under the weight of our sins, we come to prostrate ourselves before you. We fully trust that, standing beneath your shadow and protection, nothing will trouble or afflict us, nor do we need to fear illness or misfortune, or any other sorrow.
Prayer
O Virgin of Guadalupe, you want to remain with us through your admirable Image, you who are our Mother, our health, and our life. Placing ourselves beneath your maternal gaze, and having recourse to you in all our necessities, we need do nothing more.
O Holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer us. Amen.
Daily Prayer
O Mary, conceived without sin,
I come to your throne of grace to share the fervent devotion of your faithful Mexican children who call to you under the glorious Aztec title of Guadalupe.
Obtain for me a lively faith to do your Son’s holy will always:
May His will be done on earth as it is in heaven _______
(mention your intention here)
Concluding Prayers:
Our father x 1
Hail Mary x 1
Glory x 1
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Step-by-Step Rosary community may pray the Rosary after the novena,
(and it is possible to pray a litany thereafter).
If you want to pray recommended daily litany instead of a Rosary click here.
For the one who just wants to pray the Loreto litany instead, click here.
April 28
- Day 48 -
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Introduction Prayer
Remember, O most gracious Virgin of Guadalupe, that in your heavenly apparitions on the mount of Tepeyac, you promised to show your compassion and pity towards all who, loving and trusting you, seek your help and call upon you in their necessities and afflictions. You promised to hear our supplications, to dry our tears, and to give us consolation and relief.
Memorare
Never has it been known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, we fly to you, O Mary, ever-Virgin Mother of the true God! Though grieving under the weight of our sins, we come to prostrate ourselves before you. We fully trust that, standing beneath your shadow and protection, nothing will trouble or afflict us, nor do we need to fear illness or misfortune, or any other sorrow.
Prayer
O Virgin of Guadalupe, you want to remain with us through your admirable Image, you who are our Mother, our health, and our life. Placing ourselves beneath your maternal gaze, and having recourse to you in all our necessities, we need do nothing more.
O Holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer us. Amen.
Daily Prayer
O Mary, whose Immaculate Heart was pierced by seven swords of grief, help me to walk valiantly amid the sharp thorns strewn across my pathway.
Obtain for me the strength to be a true imitator of you.
This I ask you, my dear Mother. __________
(mention your intention here)
Concluding Prayers:
Our father x 1
Hail Mary x 1
Glory x 1
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Step-by-Step Rosary community may pray the Rosary after the novena,
(and it is possible to pray a litany thereafter).
If you want to pray recommended daily litany instead of a Rosary click here.
For the one who just wants to pray the Loreto litany instead, click here.
April 29
- Day 49 -
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Introduction Prayer
Remember, O most gracious Virgin of Guadalupe, that in your heavenly apparitions on the mount of Tepeyac, you promised to show your compassion and pity towards all who, loving and trusting you, seek your help and call upon you in their necessities and afflictions. You promised to hear our supplications, to dry our tears, and to give us consolation and relief.
Memorare
Never has it been known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, we fly to you, O Mary, ever-Virgin Mother of the true God! Though grieving under the weight of our sins, we come to prostrate ourselves before you. We fully trust that, standing beneath your shadow and protection, nothing will trouble or afflict us, nor do we need to fear illness or misfortune, or any other sorrow.
Prayer
O Virgin of Guadalupe, you want to remain with us through your admirable Image, you who are our Mother, our health, and our life. Placing ourselves beneath your maternal gaze, and having recourse to you in all our necessities, we need do nothing more.
O Holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer us. Amen.
Daily Prayer
Dearest Mother of Guadalupe,
I beg you for a fortified will to imitate your divine Son’s charity, to always seek the good of others in need. Grant me this, I humbly ask of you. ________
(mention your intention here)
Concluding Prayers:
Our father x 1
Hail Mary x 1
Glory x 1
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Step-by-Step Rosary community may pray the Rosary after the novena,
(and it is possible to pray a litany thereafter).
If you want to pray recommended daily litany instead of a Rosary click here.
For the one who just wants to pray the Loreto litany instead, click here.
April 30
- Day 50 -
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Introduction Prayer
Remember, O most gracious Virgin of Guadalupe, that in your heavenly apparitions on the mount of Tepeyac, you promised to show your compassion and pity towards all who, loving and trusting you, seek your help and call upon you in their necessities and afflictions. You promised to hear our supplications, to dry our tears, and to give us consolation and relief.
Memorare
Never has it been known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, we fly to you, O Mary, ever-Virgin Mother of the true God! Though grieving under the weight of our sins, we come to prostrate ourselves before you. We fully trust that, standing beneath your shadow and protection, nothing will trouble or afflict us, nor do we need to fear illness or misfortune, or any other sorrow.
Prayer
O Virgin of Guadalupe, you want to remain with us through your admirable Image, you who are our Mother, our health, and our life. Placing ourselves beneath your maternal gaze, and having recourse to you in all our necessities, we need do nothing more.
O Holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer us. Amen.
Daily Prayer
O most holy Mother,
I beg you to obtain for me pardon of all my sins,
abundant graces to serve your Son more faithfully from now on, and lastly, the grace to praise Him with you forever in heaven. _________
(mention your intention here)
Concluding Prayers:
Our father x 1
Hail Mary x 1
Glory x 1
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Step-by-Step Rosary community may pray the Rosary after the novena,
(and it is possible to pray a litany thereafter).
If you want to pray recommended daily litany instead of a Rosary click here.
For the one who just wants to pray the Loreto litany instead, click here.
May 1
- Day 51 -
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Introduction Prayer
Remember, O most gracious Virgin of Guadalupe, that in your heavenly apparitions on the mount of Tepeyac, you promised to show your compassion and pity towards all who, loving and trusting you, seek your help and call upon you in their necessities and afflictions. You promised to hear our supplications, to dry our tears, and to give us consolation and relief.
Memorare
Never has it been known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, we fly to you, O Mary, ever-Virgin Mother of the true God! Though grieving under the weight of our sins, we come to prostrate ourselves before you. We fully trust that, standing beneath your shadow and protection, nothing will trouble or afflict us, nor do we need to fear illness or misfortune, or any other sorrow.
Prayer
O Virgin of Guadalupe, you want to remain with us through your admirable Image, you who are our Mother, our health, and our life. Placing ourselves beneath your maternal gaze, and having recourse to you in all our necessities, we need do nothing more.
O Holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer us. Amen.
Daily Prayer
Mary, Mother of vocations,
multiply priestly vocations and fill the earth with religious houses which will be light and warmth for the world, safety in stormy nights.
Beg your Son to send us many priests and religious.
This we ask of you, O Mother. __________
(mention your intention here)
Concluding Prayers:
Our father x 1
Hail Mary x 1
Glory x 1
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Step-by-Step Rosary community may pray the Rosary after the novena,
(and it is possible to pray a litany thereafter).
If you want to pray recommended daily litany instead of a Rosary click here.
For the one who just wants to pray the Loreto litany instead, click here.
May 2
- Day 52 -
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Introduction Prayer
Remember, O most gracious Virgin of Guadalupe, that in your heavenly apparitions on the mount of Tepeyac, you promised to show your compassion and pity towards all who, loving and trusting you, seek your help and call upon you in their necessities and afflictions. You promised to hear our supplications, to dry our tears, and to give us consolation and relief.
Memorare
Never has it been known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, we fly to you, O Mary, ever-Virgin Mother of the true God! Though grieving under the weight of our sins, we come to prostrate ourselves before you. We fully trust that, standing beneath your shadow and protection, nothing will trouble or afflict us, nor do we need to fear illness or misfortune, or any other sorrow.
Prayer
O Virgin of Guadalupe, you want to remain with us through your admirable Image, you who are our Mother, our health, and our life. Placing ourselves beneath your maternal gaze, and having recourse to you in all our necessities, we need do nothing more.
O Holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer us. Amen.
Daily Prayer
O Lady of Guadalupe,
we beg you that parents live a holy life and educate their children in a Christian manner;
that children obey and follow the directions of their parents;
that all members of the family pray and worship together.
This we ask of you, O Mother. ____________
(mention your intention here)
Concluding Prayers:
Our father x 1
Hail Mary x 1
Glory x 1
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Step-by-Step Rosary community may pray the Rosary after the novena,
(and it is possible to pray a litany thereafter).
If you want to pray recommended daily litany instead of a Rosary click here.
For the one who just wants to pray the Loreto litany instead, click here.
May 3
- Day 53 -
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Introduction Prayer
Remember, O most gracious Virgin of Guadalupe, that in your heavenly apparitions on the mount of Tepeyac, you promised to show your compassion and pity towards all who, loving and trusting you, seek your help and call upon you in their necessities and afflictions. You promised to hear our supplications, to dry our tears, and to give us consolation and relief.
Memorare
Never has it been known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, we fly to you, O Mary, ever-Virgin Mother of the true God! Though grieving under the weight of our sins, we come to prostrate ourselves before you. We fully trust that, standing beneath your shadow and protection, nothing will trouble or afflict us, nor do we need to fear illness or misfortune, or any other sorrow.
Prayer
O Virgin of Guadalupe, you want to remain with us through your admirable Image, you who are our Mother, our health, and our life. Placing ourselves beneath your maternal gaze, and having recourse to you in all our necessities, we need do nothing more.
O Holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer us. Amen.
Daily Prayer
With my heart full of the most sincere veneration,
I prostrate myself before you, O Mother, to ask you to obtain for me the grace to fulfill the duties of my state in life with faithfulness and constancy.__________
(mention your intention here)
Concluding Prayers:
Our father x 1
Hail Mary x 1
Glory x 1
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Step-by-Step Rosary community may pray the Rosary after the novena,
(and it is possible to pray a litany thereafter).
If you want to pray recommended daily litany instead of a Rosary click here.
For the one who just wants to pray the Loreto litany instead, click here.
May 4
- Day 54 -
May the fourth be with you!
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Introduction Prayer
Remember, O most gracious Virgin of Guadalupe, that in your heavenly apparitions on the mount of Tepeyac, you promised to show your compassion and pity towards all who, loving and trusting you, seek your help and call upon you in their necessities and afflictions. You promised to hear our supplications, to dry our tears, and to give us consolation and relief.
Memorare
Never has it been known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, we fly to you, O Mary, ever-Virgin Mother of the true God! Though grieving under the weight of our sins, we come to prostrate ourselves before you. We fully trust that, standing beneath your shadow and protection, nothing will trouble or afflict us, nor do we need to fear illness or misfortune, or any other sorrow.
Prayer
O Virgin of Guadalupe, you want to remain with us through your admirable Image, you who are our Mother, our health, and our life. Placing ourselves beneath your maternal gaze, and having recourse to you in all our necessities, we need do nothing more.
O Holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer us. Amen.
Daily Prayer
O God,
You have been pleased to bestow upon us unceasing favors by having placed us under the special protection of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.
Grant us, your humble servants,
who rejoice in honoring her today upon earth, the happiness of seeing her face to face in heaven. _________
(mention your intention here)
Concluding Prayers:
Our father x 1
Hail Mary x 1
Glory x 1
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Step-by-Step Rosary community may pray the Rosary after the novena,
(and it is possible to pray a litany thereafter).
If you want to pray recommended daily litany instead of a Rosary click here.
For the one who just wants to pray the Loreto litany instead, click here.
Commander Cross Rosary also offers these optional prayers:
Your daily Rosary which also offer a litany at the end.
or
a recommended daily litany here below:
Monday: Litany of Humility
Tuesday: Litany of St. Michael the Archangel
Wednesday: Litany of St. Joseph
Thursday: Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus
Friday: Litany of Sacred Heart of Jesus
Saturday: Litany of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Sunday: Litany of Blessed Sacrament
During Lent, the Step-by-Step Rosary community only prays the Sorrowful Mystery
and you can of course pray the Rosary either before or after the novena.
Between Easter Sunday and Pentecost, we only pray the Glorious Mysteries.
After Pentecost, we go back to the traditional structure of the Rosary.
"It is my great joy to announce that, in addition to the modern languages into which the Official Prayer for the Nine-Month Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe has been translated, it has also been translated into Latin, the ancient and ever contemporary universal language of the Church. With this brief letter, I happily present to you the Latin text of the Official Prayer. Some may ask why it is important to translate the Official Prayer into the Latin language. Sadly, over the past several decades, the importance of the Latin language for the life of the Church has not been sufficiently taught and observed. Thanks be to God, in more recent times, there is a growing interest in the study of Latin, especially among young Catholics. In any case, the distinct service of the Latin language to the life of the Church must be restored. Since the Nine-Month Novena is offered to the universal Church, embracing many nations and a great multiplicity of languages, it is fittingly presented in Latin which linguistically embodies the unity of all members of the Mystical Body of Christ throughout the world, as it has done from the earliest centuries of the Church.
People in the United States alone communicate in more than 350 languages. In Canada, it is nearly 200; in Central America, over 500; in South America, an estimated 1,500 languages are spoken. The Nine-Month Novena is an occasion for faithful of all the different languages to pray with one heart and one voice. Even as Our Lady of Guadalupe is the mother of all America – South, Central, and North America – and of all nations, we pray, through her intercession, in the language which is common to us all in the Church.
In his Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in America, Pope Saint John Paul II recognized the need for greater unity among the many nations which constitute the Church in America. The final line in his Prayer to Our Lord Jesus Christ for the families of America asks:
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of America, pray for us!”
He reminds us that Our Lady is Mother of All America, Mother of all our countries and cultures, Mother of all our different languages. Praying the Official Novena Prayer in Latin, as it has done for the prayer of the universal Church throughout the Christian centuries, gives distinct expression to the unity of the Church on the American continent." Cardinal Burke March 18, 2024.
Messages and Reflections from Cardinal Burke
Nine Month Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe
Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke sends us the following encouraging April message:
"As our first month of the Nine-Month Novena concludes and our second month begins, some of us may be experiencing the worst temptations from Satan to surrender and stop praying the Novena Prayer every day.
In the battle for the truth, we must never give way to discouragement, which is always the first temptation of the devil. When we are tempted to be discouraged or to be defeated, let us recall the vision of the final victory of Christ’s Redemptive Incarnation, recounted in the Book of Revelation."
His Eminence wrote initially in his first lesson (by Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke):
"The first lesson which Our Lady of Guadalupe teaches us to equip us for today’s grave crisis is the inseparable unity of truth and love. We cannot truly love another person while also disregarding or betraying the truth which should inform every relationship. The fundamental approach to the crisis of the family, of society, and of the Church is the knowledge of truth and the practice of it with love."
The first lesson was followed up with a Second Reflection (by Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke):
"During the first apparition to St. Juan Diego, Mary introduced herself as the Virgin Mother of God and our mother. These words are as comforting and inspiring today as they were nearly 500 years ago:
“… I am honored to be your compassionate mother, yours and that of all the people that live together in this land, and also of all the other various lineages of men; those who love me, those who cry to me, those who seek me, those who trust in me.”
As Catholics, we say that Mary is our Mother a great deal. We call her our Blessed Mother – enough, perhaps, that we might sometimes lose sight of what an extraordinary thing it is that we are saying. Mary, the ever-Virgin Mother of God, is our mother: take a moment today to reflect as deeply as you are able on the beautiful implications of this statement. Know in your heart that she is your mother. Know beyond doubt that her maternal care for you is real. "(Here is the full text)
Here is our current Third Reflection (by Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke):
"This month, let us contemplate the events of the second apparition of Our Lady to St. Juan Diego.
Though he did his best to carry out Mary’s request, Juan Diego was unable to convince Bishop Juan de Zumárraga of the authenticity of his claims. As Juan Diego returned to Tepeyac Hill, he must have been consumed by grief for this failure, and was perhaps even a little confused that Our Lady would not have intervened more directly.
Mary’s response is telling: rather than criticize Juan Diego, she encourages him to return to the Bishop. She encourages him to persevere.
Our failures do not make us useless before God, nor unlovable before our heavenly Mother. Indeed, God sanctifies us in our weakness, if only we turn to Him for the help of Divine Grace. Even our greatest weakness is the invitation to practice greater reliance on God.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, it is perseverance, not immediate perfection, that is the mark of Christian life on earth. We are born in Christ in Baptism to grow ever more fully in Him, to carry ever more faithfully and generously, with Him, the cross of pure and selfless love.
What failures are currently weighing on your soul?
Our Lady desires you to be reconciled with her Divine Son. Go to confession as soon as you are able and begin again on the pilgrim path upon which you set forth in Baptism and which will reach its destination in eternal life.
We are called to the same perseverance that St. Juan Diego displayed when he committed anew to carrying forward Our Lady’s mission. Let us ask Our Mother to intercede with God for us, that we may receive in abundance the grace of perseverance." (Here is the full text).
Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke sent us an encouraging April message :
"As our first month of the Nine-Month Novena concludes and our second month begins, some of us may be experiencing the worst temptations from Satan to surrender and stop praying the Novena Prayer every day.
In the battle for the truth, we must never give way to discouragement, which is always the first temptation of the devil. When we are tempted to be discouraged or to be defeated, let us recall the vision of the final victory of Christ’s Redemptive Incarnation, recounted in the Book of Revelation."
His Eminence's reflections can be read by clicking here.
He has also sent us the Fourth Reflection dated April 23, 2024. The video link is here. (by Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke):
Let us continue to contemplate the importance of perseverance.
Though Saint Juan Diego failed to convince the Bishop that his claims were true, he did not let his failure be the cause of despair. Instead, he dutifully followed the Virgin Mother of God’s instruction to return to Bishop Zumárraga.
The ability to recognize our failures with honesty and humility is, itself, a gift of grace, and indeed a sign of the healthy operation of our consciences.
Indeed, the saints were keenly aware of their failures.
When we feel guilt, we should thank God that grace has spared us (at least in this moment) from the errors of a lax or dulled conscience, a condition which seems to afflict so many, in a particularly insidious way, in our times.
When we fail, do we let our pride intervene by supposing we can conquer sin?
Or do we turn to God for help?
And when we ask for help, do we demand results immediately?
Or are we willing to persevere in God’s plan for our eternal salvation? Let us honestly reflect on these questions.
As St. Juan Diego learned, the fruits of Our Lady’s intercession are not always immediately apparent. But they are real, and they are powerful. Let us continue to ask Our Mother to obtain for us all the good and holy things we desire, according to God’s plan for us. (Here is the full text).
The Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the Purest Heart of Saint Joseph,
pray for us!