A Golden Rose For Our Lady of Guadalupe

Thursday of the Second a Week of Advent
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Gospel of Luke 1:26-38

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God."  Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word."

Yesterday, I was ecstatic to read that Pope Francis was named "Person of the Year" by Time Magazine.  Just only a few months into his pontificate he's inspired, amazed and humbled Catholics around the world. Obviously the secular media has taken notice of this, too.  The last Pope to receive the honor was Pope John Paul II in 1994.  Praise God Pope Francis shined over the ranks of celebrity Miley Cyrus and Senator Ted Cruz.  

Last month, Pope Francis sent his  first golden rose to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica in Mexico City, Mexico.  Cardinal Marc Ouellet, president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, presented the rose as a sign of love, gratitude and enthusiasm. He asked the Virgin Mary to help Catholics convert their hearts and spread the Gospel as part of the new evangelization.  The cardinal exclaimed: May our faith be creative and conquering!   

I believe Pope Francis has helped restore faith to thousands of fallen away Catholics across the globe.  With the help of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Patroness of the Americas) there's a new religious zeal spreading across nations. Even as we are bombarded with a rise in atheism and anti-religious sentiment, faith is surviving!   

The Virgin Mary found favor with God.  Can we do the same thing?  Yes!  It takes following positive role models such as Pope Francis and the lives of the Saints.  It takes prayer, kindness of heart, care for others, and a desire to do good.  Mary trusted in God completely.  She never questioned why she was to deliver a child.  She didn't complain.  She accepted her "gift" with humility and love. 

 In our lives, we are often afraid of the unknown.  God may be calling us to evangelize in a "creative and conquering" way.  Are we able to think out of the box? Are we able to spread the news of the Gospel in a manner that is adaptable to our changing culture?   

Spreading the good news of Jesus Christ takes hard work and perseverance.  We can look to Our Lady of Guadalupe for protection, guidance, and strength.  

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.

-J.