On December 12, the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas. Her story is one of the most beloved in Catholic history, a story about a humble man who walked to Mass, a Mother who met him on the road, and a request carried to God with persistence and trust.
At the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, this feast is close to our hearts. In our parishes, it is one of the most joyful days of the year, and in our vocation, it reminds us what it means to be men of prayer.
The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe
In December 1531, a widowed Indigenous man named Juan Diego was walking to Mass near Tepeyac Hill, outside present-day Mexico City. There, a radiant young woman appeared to him. She spoke to him in his own language and asked him to tell the bishop to build a church on that spot.
The bishop asked for a sign. When Juan Diego returned to the hill, Our Lady told him to gather the flowers growing there, even though it was winter. He found Castilian roses, wrapped them in his cloak, and brought them to the bishop. When he opened the cloak, the roses fell to the floor, and an image of Our Lady was imprinted on the fabric. That same cloak is still venerated today at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.
During those days, Our Lady offered Juan Diego words that have since comforted millions: “Am I not here, I who am your mother?”
My child, my littlest one, listen to my words
and allow them to penetrate your heart.
Allow nothing to afflict you or cause you anguish.
Let nothing disturb your heart.
Am I not here, I who am your Mother?
Are you not in my shadow and under my protection?
Am I not the source of your life?
Are you not in the folds of my mantle,
in the crossing of my arms?
Do you need anything more?— Our Lady of Guadalupe, 12/12/1531
St. Juan Diego was canonized in 2002. He was not a priest or a scholar, but a faithful man who prayed, listened, and kept returning to his Mother on the hill.
How to Celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
You don’t need to be in Mexico City to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe this year. Here are a few simple ways to make the day prayerful at home:
- Attend Mass, or join us for Mass online.
- Pray the Rosary with your family, and ask Our Lady to carry your intentions to her Son.
- Sing or listen to Las Mañanitas, the traditional morning song offered to Our Lady on her feast day.
- Share your prayer intentions with the Oblates.
- Pray for vocations, asking Our Lady of Guadalupe to raise up new men of prayer for the Church.
Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Peter Chanel Parish
Every December, St. Peter Chanel Parish in Hawaiian Gardens, California, served by the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, hosts its biggest celebration of the year in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The parish fiesta brings thousands together for a procession, music, traditional dancers, games, and food shared among families and neighbors.
Help Raise Up the Next Generation of Men of Prayer
Juan Diego’s story reminds us that God works through people who pray to Him. Today, your generosity helps form men who will spend their lives in prayer, bringing the sacraments, spiritual direction, and God’s mercy to people across the country.
Your gift to the Oblates of the Virgin Mary Annual Fund supports our ministries, the parishes we serve, including St. Peter Chanel, and the seminarians in formation at Our Lady of Grace Seminary in Boston. As we celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe, we invite you to stand with us and help sustain this life of prayer for decades to come.
Our Oblates’ journeys, like Juan Diego’s, are shaped by prayer, by patience, and by the steady presence of a Mother who never leaves her children alone.
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, ruega por nosotros. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Lady of Guadalupe
The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated every year on December 12.
No, in the United States, Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated as a feast day, but it is not a holy day of obligation. Many Catholics still attend Mass to honor her.
Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to St. Juan Diego in 1531 near Mexico City. Her image, miraculously imprinted on his cloak, led to the conversion of millions. She is honored as Patroness of the Americas.
St. Juan Diego was an Indigenous layman who received the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe. He was canonized in 2002 by Pope St. John Paul II.
