Introduction
This month marks the beginning of our Nine-Month Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe, culminating in our Consecration to her on December 12th 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 love upon us will see the face of Christ and be drawn to Him Who alone can save them.
