Cathedral celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe
SALT LAKE CITY — As night fell on Dec. 11, hundreds of people from all over the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City flooded into the pews of the Cathedral of the Madeleine to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
This year the festivities at the cathedral started with a re-enactment of the Virgin’s apparitions to St. Juan Diego at Tepeyac in Mexico in 1531. The actors were students in the cathedral’s catechism classes, who wore costumes representing the main characters of the story.
After that, the rosary was recited inside the church, while outside the Knights of Columbus were getting every detail ready for the procession, during which an image of Our Lady was carried through the streets. Braving the harsh cold weather, people walked around the blocks surrounding the cathedral, led by Bishop Oscar A. Solis, who at 11 p.m. presided at the Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Greeting everyone and thanking them for their presence in the cathedral, Bishop Solis said that he was happy to participate in the festivity because “it’s my first time celebrating our devotion here in the Diocese of Salt Lake City. My heart is filled with joy,” he said, then shouted, “Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe,Viva San Juan Diego, Viva Cristo Rey.”
In his homily, the bishop gave a brief narration of how Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego at Tepeyac, emphasizing that those in the cathedral that night were united as a community of faith to celebrate in a spirit of thanksgiving for Our Lady.
“Our God gave us the beautiful gift of Christ his Son; the world received this salvation gift through Mary, who gave birth to Jesus our Savior. Christ, before dying, presented his mother as our mother. Tonight we celebrate this special gift from God, Our Mother, under the name of Our Lady of Guadalupe,” Bishop Solis said.
He explained how Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared not as a goddess but rather as a humble woman with dark skin and resembling a native Mexican Indian.
“She came from the people and for the people, especially for the poor and the most defenseless; since then millions of people were converted to the Catholic faith,” Bishop Solis said.
He continued by saying that Our Lady of Guadalupe is considered the mother of evangelization for the Americas. When she appeared at Tepeyac, she spoke of everyone being sons and daughters of God who were created in his image, and “God assures us of his love and his care through Our Lady of Guadalupe. Tonight we pray to ask her for his blessings, for her to teach us to take care of one another,” Bishop Solis said.
Stressing that he believes that everyone is aware of the many struggles that people face in today’s world, Bishop Solis gave a message of hope.
“Poverty, family problems and legal and migration problems – many are experiencing a harsh path in life, worried for the well-being and future of their families and their kids,” he said. “People that do not have documents, that have immigration issues, are challenged with the fear of deportation and the breaking up of their families. And they are constantly living in fear. ... In Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration, God gives us hope. Our Lady of Guadalupe is telling us that God loves us, that he doesn’t forget us, and that he will be always with us.”
The bishop also urged the congregation to never forget Our Lady’s words: “Don’t be afraid. I am with you. I am your mother.”
These words offer consolation and strength in the midst of times of crisis, Bishop Solis said.
“So tonight we ask God, through our Lady’s intercession ... let us help one another, giving our support to the ones that need it, especially to the immigrants and refugees, to the innocent babies killed by abortion, to the sick and the elderly, and to the ones that are in the margins of our society. We also pray for our government leaders so through the Holy Spirit’s intercession what they do is just, humane and reflects the love of God for all,” Bishop Solis said.
The Mass was concelebrated by Fr. Martin Diaz, rector of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, and Fr. Christopher Gray, the parochial vicar.
After the Mass a group of Aztec dancers gave tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe and people went to the basement to enjoy hot chocolate, sweet bread and tamales.
“I am moved beyond words,” said Beatriz Romero, a Cathedral of the Madeleine parishioner who helped prepare and serve the hot chocolate for the people. “This is just a minor thing that I can do to return all that [Our Lady] gives us. ... I am very devoted to her and this celebration is a way to express my thanks.”
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