Sisters celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Since 1931, the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph have celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12. Since the feast day fell on a Sunday in 2021, the Sisters celebrated the feast day Mass on Saturday, Dec. 11.

In 1531, a man named Juan Diego lived in a small village near what is today Mexico City. He was walking by a hill called Tepeyac when he heard beautiful music like the warbling of birds. Within a cloud appeared an Indian maiden dressed like an Aztec princess. The lady spoke to Juan in his own language and sent him to the bishop of Mexico to build a chapel in the place where the lady appeared.

Eventually the bishop told Juan to have the lady give him a sign. About this same time Juan’s uncle became seriously ill. The lady assured Juan that his uncle would recover, and provided roses for Juan to carry to the bishop in his cape or tilma – roses that would never have bloomed that time of year.

On December 12, 1531, when Juan Diego opened his tilma in the bishop’s presence, the roses fell to the ground, and the bishop sank to his knees. On the tilma where the roses had been appeared an image of Mary exactly as she had appeared at the hill of Tepeyac. Today, Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patron saint of Mexico and the Americas.

Here are some photos shot by Sister Ruth Gehres during the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Maple Mount.