12/12/25

Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 12/12

Today, December 12, is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patron Saint of the Americas.  

Take a few moments to consider how often Canada, the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Honduras, Haiti and the Caribbean Sea are in the news these days.  And consider the poverty and political unrest that pervades so much of this half of the world...  There are so many people and so many reasons for us to call on Our Lady of Guadalupe who watches over the Americas through the eyes and heart and the mercy and grace of her son, Jesus...

In 1531 Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared in Mexico to Cuauhtlatohuac, baptized Juan Diego, a peasant, on whose cloak there appeared an image on the Blessed Virgin as he had seen her in the vision.  

Here's a beautiful prayer for today's feast, written by Danilo Mendoza Rugama, SJ at The Jesuit Post.
 
*Mi Morenita…
you who took our flesh 
   by appearing as a Native of the Americas,
you who heed our cry 
   during our darkest of moments,
you who appeared 
  accompanied with the signs of flowers 
   and the singing of birds, 
      announcing yourself as the mother of the Great Truth,
you who praise God through your dance,
you who brought not only a message, 
   but The Message was in your womb,
 
My Merciful Mother… 
thank you for being light in our darkest moments 
   and embracing us with your mantle of tenderness;
thank you for wanting to carry us in your heart, 
   where we can also hear and be close 
      to the heart of your Son;
thank you for accompanying us 
   as we labor in God’s vineyard 
when you tell us 
   as you told Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin: 
      "Am I not here, who am your Mother?
      Are you not under my shadow and protection?
      Am I not the source of your joy?
      Are you not in the hollow of my mandle,
          in the crossing of my arms?
      Do you need something more?"
             (Nican Mopohua, 119)

**Mi Madrecita Querida… 
help us obtain from your Son, 
   the grace to always direct our gaze 
where the dignity of our brothers and sisters
    is being violated;
help us obtain from your Son, 
   the grace to become messengers of The Truth 
      when so many lies try to blind us to suffering;
help our lives become a dance 
   that praises, reverences and serves God 
      with our whole beings. 

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!

*Morenita is a term of endearment for a dark skinned woman 
** Madrecita Querida means "My dearest Mother"
 
And a song!
This lullaby (as beautiful as it is simple!) is sung in Juan Diego's native Nahuatl language.
Xicochi Conetzintle by Gaspar Fernandes (1566–1629)

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Nahuatl language
Xicochi, xicochi,
Xicochi, xicochi
Xicochi conetzintle
Xicochi conetzintle
Ca omizhuihuixoco in angelosme
Ca omizhuihuixoco in angelosme
Ca omizhuihuixoco in angelosme
In angelosme in angelosme
Alleluya alleluya

English translation 
Sleep, sleep
Sleep, sleep
Sleep, precious baby
Sleep, precious baby
Indeed, the angels have come here 
   to rock you to sleep
Indeed, the angels have come here 
   to rock you to sleep
Indeed, the angels have come here 
   to rock you to sleep
Alleluia, alleluia
 

  

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