Our Lady of Guadalupe: The Advent Star Guiding Us to Christ
- Guest Contributor
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
By Alfonso Lara
Director of Leadership Formation Archdiocese of Denver
During the Advent season, as the Church awaits the coming of our Savior, it’s easy to forget that the Virgin of Guadalupe is at the heart of our celebrations. Yet her light shines brighter than ever this time of year. Mary, a woman of faith and hope, teaches us to wait in silence, with hearts open to the will of God. In her “yes,” she reminds us that even amid the world’s darkness, faith can make the light of Christ shine forth.
Throughout December, her maternal presence is felt in a special way through the Marian feasts we celebrate: the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec. 12) and Our Lady of the New Advent (Dec. 16). Through these celebrations, the Blessed Virgin Mary personally invites us to live the Gospel with joy, solidarity and a faith enlivened by the Holy Spirit.
Mary is With Us In Our Waiting
During Advent, the Church contemplates the Virgin Mary as a model of faith and expectant hope. As the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy reminds us, the liturgy presents her “as a model” by recalling the women of the Old Covenant who “were figures and prophecies of her mission,” highlighting the way she adhered “totally and immediately” to God’s saving plan and accompanied the “events of grace” that prepared for the birth of Jesus (#101).
In the Americas, this Marian focus is deepened by the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which, according to the same directory (#102), “increases the disposition to receive the Savior” and reveals Mary as the “radiant star” who illuminated the proclamation of Christ to these lands. In both the universal liturgy and the devotion to Guadalupe, Mary becomes a close guide who walks with us through Advent, preparing our hearts for the coming of the Lord.
Guadalupe: A Message of Love and Welcome for Our Time
Reflecting on Mary’s maternal presence in the history of the Americas, Pope Francis, in his general audience on December 11, 2013, described her as the mother and evangelizer of the continent. He explained that her image on the tilma is “a prophetic sign of an embrace,” meant for all who inhabit these lands — those who were already here and those who would come later. Through this embrace, the Virgin shows the tenderness of a mother who shares “the joys and hopes, the sorrows and sufferings of the people of God.”
Pope Francis added that this maternal embrace reveals the deep vocation of our continent: to be a land “where different peoples can live together,” one that “respects human life in all its stages” and welcomes migrants, the poor and the marginalized.
This, he emphasized, is "the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe," and it is also the message of the Church today.
Pope Francis' call remains just as relevant: now more than ever, we are invited to open our hearts and arms “like the Virgin Mary, with love and tenderness,” to welcome others amid today’s challenges and renew our faith in Christ through closeness and mercy.
“Am I not here?”: The Maternal Comfort of Guadalupe Leading Us to Jesus
The Nican Mopohua, a 16th-century account written in Nahuatl that narrates the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego in 1531, offers one of the most beautiful expressions of her maternal love.
In her dialogue with Juan Diego, Mary presents herself as “the perfect ever Virgin Holy Mary” and “Mother of the one true God,” showing that everything in her leads to Christ. Her desire that a “sacred little house” be built reveals her mission: “to show him, to exalt him” and “to offer him to all my people with all my personal love.”
Through these words, Our Lady of Guadalupe shows that her motherhood extends not only to Jesus but also to “all men … those who love me, those who call on me, those who seek me,” promising to hear their cries and heal “their different sufferings.”
At another moment, she consoles Juan Diego with a tenderness that still touches hearts across the continent. She urges him not to fear “any ... distressing or painful thing” and reminds him of her presence: “Am I not here, I who have the honor and joy of being your mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection?” Her other words, “Are you not in the fold of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms?”, reveal a Mother who accompanies, protects and brings peace.
Mary, Model of Generosity, Gives Us Her Son
At Christmas, Mary shows us that the truest gift springs from the heart. She gives Jesus to the world with love and simplicity. Her maternal gesture illuminates our understanding of Christmas giving, not as the exchange of material objects, but as visible signs of the blessings we have received and our call to live generosity and self-gift.
Pope Francis, in his general audience on January 9, 2013, reminded the faithful that at the center of Christmas is “the gift”: God “wanted to make himself a gift for humanity,” showing that in giving, what matters most is not the material value, but offering “a part of oneself.” He also cautioned that we often try to replace the heart “with material things,” losing the true meaning of love freely given.
In this light, we gain a deeper understanding of why Advent highlights both the waiting for Jesus and devotion to Mary: her “yes” embodies total self-giving and opens the way for the Savior to enter the world.
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe serves as the “star” guiding all peoples of the Americas to Christ, while deepening the meaning of Advent, to prepare the heart to receive the Lord. Her message invites us to imitate her generosity, giving ourselves in love to others, expecting nothing in return.
Living Generosity in the Spirit of Mary
To live this season well and express our generosity, we can reflect on a few points inspired by Mary’s example:
A Christmas gift should go beyond the material. It should reflect our participation in the mystery of Jesus’ Incarnation, just as Mary offered him to the world in love.
We are called to give from the heart, with simplicity, imitating the mother who received God’s greatest gift and shared it with everyone.
We are called to solidarity with the poor and sinners. Following Mary’s compassionate heart, we can share our table and our joy with those who have nothing or those we tend to keep at a distance.
Finally, let us live this season in imitation of Christ and Mary, offering our time, our presence, our love and our generosity to those who need it most.
As baptized Christians, we are called to live and celebrate the faith we have received as a gift from God. Following Mary, who received that gift with humility and joy, let us celebrate and share what truly matters: time, companionship and love. And may Mary, our heavenly mother who gave herself completely, accompany us in this mission.
