Our Lady of Guadalupe

Mother of the Americas

Know for certain,

least of my sons,

that I am the perfect and perpetual Virgin Mary,

Mother of the True God

through whom everything lives,

the Lord of all things near and far,

the Master of heaven and earth.

It is my earnest wish that a temple be built here in my honor.

Here I will demonstrate,

I will exhibit,

I will give all my love,

my compassion,

my help and my protection

to the people.

I am your merciful mother,

the merciful mother of all of you

who has united in this land,

and of all mankind,

of all those who love me,

of those who cry to me,

of those who seek me,

of those who have confidence in me.

Here I will hear their weeping,

their sorrow,

and will remedy and alleviate

all their multiple sufferings,

necessities and misfortunes.

- Words of Our Lady of Guadalupe

to St. Juan Diego, Dec 9, 1531.

“Dearest Lady of Guadalupe,

fruitful Mother of Holiness,

teach me your ways of gentleness and strength.

Hear my prayer offered with deepfelt confidence to beg this favor….

O Mary, conceived without sin,

I come to your throne of grace

to share the fervent devotion of your faithful Mexican children

who call to you under the glorious Aztec title of “Guadalupe”

the virgin who crushed the serpent.

Queen of Martyrs,

whose Immaculate heart was pierced by seven wounds of grief,

help me to walk valiantly amid the sharp thorns thrown across my pathway.

Queen of Apostles aid me to win souls for the Sacred Heart of my Savior.

I plead this through the merits of your merciful Son,

Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.”

 
​- from "The Basilica"