Diocese of Salt Lake City celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe
SALT LAKE CITY — This year, Catholic parishes and missions throughout the Diocese of Salt Lake City celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with large gatherings that were prohibited last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Many of the congregations began their celebrations with a novena in the nine days prior to the Dec. 12 feast day. Then, as the special day celebration approached the excitement for the feast started boiling in the hearts of the parishioners all over the diocese.
Because the feast day fell on the Third Sunday of Advent this year, the Sunday celebration took precedence over honoring of Our Lady, so many parishes moved the festivities to a time other than Sunday.
On Dec. 10, the Cathedral of the Madeleine, mother Church of the diocese, began the celebration with a rosary and the religious education students re-enacting Our Lady appearing to Saint Juan Diego. Following this was live mariachi music honoring Our Lady.
Despite the cold weather, an outdoor procession took place, led by Father Martin Diaz, rector of the cathedral, and Deacon Guillermo Mendez. The Utah Knights of Columbus provided an honor guard.
The celebration touched the hearts of the faithful.
“I know it’s really cold, but my heart is fill with joy to be able to be here healthy and participating in this procession,” said Florentina Jimenez, who added that for months she was very sick with COVID-19, and she thinks that her prayers to Our Lady helped her heal.
“So now is my turn to be here and celebrate, honor and give thanks to her,” she said.
As the procession returned to the cathedral, its choir and orchestra were waiting to start the Vigil. Then Bishop Oscar A. Solis welcomed everyone to the celebration and blessed the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
“My dear brothers and sisters, we gather here today to bring our intercessions to Our Lady of Guadalupe, who is our mother and patroness of the Americas,” said Bishop Solis, who told the story of the appearance of Our Lady to Juan Diego.
On the morning of Saturday, Dec. 9, 1531, Juan Diego was going from his tome to the church in Tlatelolco, Mexico. As he passed Tepeyac Hill, he suddenly heard a voice calling him by name in his native language. Following the voice, he saw Our Lady, who identified herself and asked Juan Diego to go to the bishop and ask that a shrine dedicated to her be built on that spot.
When Juan Diego delivered the message, the bishop was skeptical. Juan Diego returned to the hill and asked Our Lady to send another messenger, someone the bishop would believe. The Virgin sent Juan Diego back to the bishop, who then asked for a sign from Our Lady.
When Juan Diego returned to the hill, The Blessed Mother had him cut some roses, which were blooming out of season. He wrapped the flowers in his cloak and took them to the bishop. When he unfolded his cloak in front of the bishop, the roses fell to the ground, and they found an image of the Virgin Mary imprinted on the cloak.
At the cathedral’s Dec. 10 celebration, “Our Lady of Guadalupe invites us to day to her home,” the bishop said as he began the 11 p.m. Mass.
Her apparition has brought millions of conversions to the faith, he said, adding that the celebration “is a great moment for all those who suffer violence, hatred, racism, wars, frustrations and other challenges in their lives, since Our Lady gives us hope and calls us to share the Good News with all America and in the world.”
The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe reminds people of her identity and her mission in this world, the bishop said, and explained the symbolism of the image.
Our Lady stands on the moon, symbolizing that she has power over evil. The stars in her blue cloak reveal her as the Queen of Heaven. Her belt shows that she is pregnant, that she carries the Savior of the world. Her hands, placed with palms together as if in prayer, “tell us that she is not God but clearly there was one bigger than her,” he said.
Our Lady of Guadalupe encourages people to open their hearts “so others can get to know Christ,” the bishop said.
“Our Lady wants a church built in our hearts, in our homes and in our lives … where we can receive the Body of Christ through the Holy Eucharist,” he added.
The celebration also “gives us joy and hope in these times of sufferings, trials and uncertainties, so let’s get comfort in the words of Our Lady to Juan Diego: ‘Am I not here who am your mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the fountain of your joy? Are you not in the fold of my mantle, in the cradle of my arms? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything,’” the bishop said.
The community at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Salt Lake City celebrated the feast day of their patron saint by unveiling a new altar dedicated to the Virgin. The altar was presented during the Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration.
At St. Jude Mission in Ephraim, Bishop Solis joined the festivities on Dec. 11, playing the guitar and singing songs with the parishioners honoring Our Lady. The small church was packed to capacity for the special celebration.
In other churches such as at San Felipe Parish in Wendover, hundreds of people participated in a procession honoring Our Lady, dressed in traditional costumes from Mexico, with horses and special floats decorated with images of Our Lady and thousands of roses.
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