Our Lady Of Guadalupe: Celebrating a Joyous Feast Day on Dec. 12

On Dec. 12 we celebrate an important day — the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. After a series of apparitions to Juan Diego, an Aztec, in December 1531, Mary appeared for the last time on Dec. 12 to give Juan Diego a sign of her presence. She told him to pick flowers to bring to his bishop. She also wanted a chapel to be built. When Juan Diego let the flowers fall from his cloak, known as a tilma, an image of Our Lady was imprinted. Many venerate this image, to this day, at a shrine in Mexico City.

This period was a tumultuous time for the Aztec people. Juan Diego was of a low class, and thus, a perfect messenger for Our Lady. Many believe these apparitions are the reason so many converted to Catholicism. Our Lady appeared in present-day Mexico City.

Here in our Catholic Community of Bartlesville, we have an opportunity to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in a big way. Everardo Ramirez invites everyone to participate in a procession beginning at noon, with people beginning to gather at 11:30 a.m., on Dec. 12 at the Bartlesville High School parking lot. Several dancing groups (or matachines), around 50 people on horseback, and about 200 others have traditionally gathered for this procession to St. John’s for Mass at 1:30 p.m. Pork, beef, rice, beans, pico de gallo, drinks and desserts will be served in the St. John’s school gym after Mass.

Everardo looks forward to celebrating this special day when those of Mexican descent were chosen by God with the privilege of an apparition by Our Lady. He says it’s important for all who are devoted to Our Lady to celebrate this day and to thank her for all her blessings.

“Every year, devotees of Our Lady of Guadalupe participate in a pilgrimage, and fulfill their promises to Our Lady,” Everardo says. “Or they simply visit to thank her for her intercession for the miracles obtained from God.”

For many Mexican people, Our Lady of Guadalupe is so important that she’s a part of their identity. She was with the people in the 1500s and is still here today.

“As an immigrant community, we do not feel orphans because our mother has come with us and constantly repeats in our hearts the same words that she said to St. Juan Diego, ‘Am I not here, I who am your Mother?’” Everardo says.

Please join us on Dec. 12 for the Our Lady of Guadalupe procession beginning at noon at the Bartlesville High School parking lot.