Introduction

This month marks the beginning of our Nine-Month Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe, culminating in our Consecration to her on December 12^th of this year.

Why, some may ask, make a Novena and Consecration to Our Lady of Guadalupe? What help does the Mother of God bring to our world in these tumultuous times? What help did she bring at Tepeyac in 1531?

Our Lady brings her Divine Son, Christ the Lord Who alone is the salvation of the world. After identifying herself to Saint Juan Diego as the Mother of God, Our Lady declared her mission:

I want very much that they build my sacred little house here, in which I will show Him, I will exalt Him upon making Him manifest, I will give Him to all people in all my personal love, Him that is my compassionate gaze, Him that is my help, Him that is my salvation (Nican Mopohua, nos. 26-28).

This mission for Saint Juan Diego’s time and place is just as much for ours today. Her mission, which is in total union with the saving mission of her Divine Son, is ongoing, until the Last Day. Our Lady does not propose some idea or some political action to address the various crises confronting us. No, she proposes a person, the person of her Divine Son. She proposes the most intimate union of heart with Him, with His Most Sacred Heart, as the only way to obtain mercy and ultimately eternal life. She tells Juan Diego that Christ is in fact her “compassionate gaze,” even as He is her “help,” her “salvation.”

In this way, too, she shows us what is the help which we offer to the world and the Church in a time of great turmoil. We offer Jesus Christ. As much as is possible, we desire that those who look upon us will see the face of Christ and be drawn to Him Who alone can save them.

Second Reflection

Those wishing to read a transcript for the video reflection will find this text and other supplementary reading at the bottom of this page.

How can Cardinal Burke pray for you?

Write in your prayer using the form below. Cardinal Burke will pray for your intentions every day and offer Mass on the 12th of each month for your prayer requests.

Let us pray.

In these early days of the novena, carry the events of the first apparition in your hearts as you pray the following each day:

‍‍‍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.‍

AUDIO | Cardinal Burke reciting the Latin Novena Prayer

Additional Material

Those seeking a transcript of His Eminence's reflection from the above video can find a copy of the text here:

Read the meditation

Those wishing to learn more about the Apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe can find the text of the Nican Mopohua at the link below. The translation that we cite in this novena is found in Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mother of the Civilization of Love (New York: Doubleday, 2009) by Carl A. Anderson and Msgr. Eduardo Chávez..

Nican Mopohua

Those interested in learning even more might enjoy a presentation that His Eminence recently delivered, which examines the the immense literary and spiritual merit of the Nican Mopohua. It is available at the link below.

the Cardinal's Presentation