On December 12 we celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe.  She is the Patroness of the Americas, and is entrusted to us for our protection and safety.  It always amazes me the number of ways we name Mary, celebrating her influence on and over us through the ages.  Mary is referred to us as the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, to name a small few.  This only demonstrates my overall point:  Mary is the principle intercessor for you and me and we should take advantage of such a wonderful treasure and spiritual weapon.

 Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to a small peasant, Juan Diego (who is also a saint), over 500 years ago in Mexico. The country was very pagan, infused with animism, witchcraft, blood sacrifices, child sacrifices, and more.  When Our Lady appeared to Juan, God’s will set in motion the conversion of this beautiful country on the road to a Christian identity, now resting comfortably in the heart of our Catholic Faith!  God’s ways are beyond ours.  One of the first lessons of this vision of Mary is that God knows what He is doing and can bring order to chaos.

 There will be times when our world, our Church, and our very lives, will seem confused and uncertain.  The example of Mary to convert our hearts, repent, go to confession and turn anew to Christ is God’s desire and plan for us.  When the winds blow, only Christ can quell the storm and the winds of chaos.  The Blessed Mother becomes a great friend for us and a source of comfort.  She always points to Christ who always waits for us to safely return to Him and trust Him to bring order to the chaos.

 This Advent season (as all are) is a time to reflect on the power of the TRUE Light that shines in our darkness.  Mary is our eye in the storm and Christ’s light brings us to safety and Home.  Turn to Mary; she will always turn us to Christ!