Solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The apparition of our Lady of Guadalupe is my favorite among
the appearances of Mary in our poor world after her Assumption into heavenly
glory. In every way she is the exemplar
of maternal and maidenly beauty, “the highest honor of our race” particularly
of the feminine variety. Her words are
poetry accompanied by bird song; she is clothed in the garments of the
dawn. Her presence radiates a
transforming light that makes the barren rocks blossom with roses, a miraculous
springtime in winter. She speaks with a
queenly courtesy and a motherly tenderness to a simple Indian peasant.
The image of herself that she left on that Indian’s cloak
was instrumental in converting millions of his Aztec compatriots. We are honored to claim her as the special
patroness of our monastic church and it is our prayer that we who live in her
house may become more like her each day.
It is the Poor Clare’s vocation to be other “Mary’s” in the Church,
bringing forth Christ in the souls of men and women through our liturgical and
private prayer and nurturing that life through our dedication to beauty, truth
and goodness.
Dostoyevsky once wrote that “Beauty will save the world”. It certainly was true for the New World in the
16th century. Through the
intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, may all her children be renewed in hope
by her God-given loveliness and seek to spread her message of divine mercy to
all who suffer in the darkness and ugliness of sin.
St. Nicholas did arrive last week, despite the fact that some of us were still under the weather. Blessed Guadete (Rejoice) Sunday to one and all!
Comments