Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Lady of Guadalupe

Today is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a popular Catholic Feast Day in Mexico and the Southwestern United States. It commemorates the days in 1531 when the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego on a hill northwest of the present location of Mexico City. She appeared as as a beautiful Aztec princess and spoke to him in his own Aztec language.

Agenda:
1. Make paper roses:
When Juan Diego saw Mary, he also found Castilian roses, not native to Mexico, blooming in December on the normally barren hilltop. Because of that miracle, roses are a traditional decoration on this day.

I made these paper roses, following the tutorial here.

One tip: I added a dot of glue at the end to hold the shape, and stuck them onto pieces of bamboo.

2. Prayer:
Catholics have a strong devotion to Mary. Now at Advent, when I wait for grace as Mary waited for the birth of Jesus, I honor Mary as a feminine face of God, and pray-

"Great Spirit, open my heart to love and understanding, so I can be tolerant of those who believe differently. Settle me into the peace of this season, and give me the strength to act on my convictions."