“As is already becoming a happy tradition,” also this coming December 12, Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Holy Father Francis will preside over a Eucharistic Celebration in St. Peter’s Basilica, announced the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
“It is a much-loved feast for the Holy Father and especially evocative for Latin Americans,” reads a press release issued by the Commission on Tuesday, November 27, 2018.
The Holy Mass on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe will take place at 6:00 pm. It will be preceded by the recitation of the Holy Rosary, beginning at 5:30 pm, and will end with the singing of the hymn of the now imminent World Youth Day in Panama. The celebration will be accompanied by canticles sung alternately by the Sistine Chapel Choir and the Choir of the Latin American Pius College.
Invited especially are all residents from Latin American countries who live in Rome (or other Italian localities) for study, family and work reasons, or those who on that day are in Rome as tourists or pilgrims.
Needless to say, this Eucharistic Celebration “isn’t reserved only for Latin Americans,” points out the Latin American Commission. “The Virgin of Guadalupe is Mother of our peoples and also Empress of the whole Continent and Patroness of the Philippines, and devotion to Her is universally spread at present.” Faithful who wish to take part in the Mass must request tickets from the Prefecture of the Papal Household.
“Gospel Incarnated in Our Peoples”
One of the heroes of our history, Mexican priest Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon, wrote the following: “More than in her own strength, America hopes in the power of God and in the intercession of His Most Holy Mother, who in her portentous image of Guadalupe, appeared in the mountain of Tepeyac for our consolation and defense, <and> protects us visibly. “
It’s “the Gospel incarnated in our peoples,” reads the conclusive Document of the 3rd General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate, held in Puebla de Los Angeles (n. 446), which “congregates them in an historical-cultural originality that we call Latin America” and whose “identity is symbolized very luminously in the mestiza face of Mary of Guadalupe, which is situated at the beginning of the Evangelization.”
We still have very present that exchange of looks between the “Morenita” and Pope Francis, which marked his apostolic journey to Mexico. “First of all, the “Morenita” Virgin teaches us that the only force capable of winning men’s heart is God’s tenderness,” the Pope said on that occasion.
Therefore, “we are very pleased to convoke to participation in this coming Holy Mass of December 12 of the current year,” announced the members of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. “It will be a lovely event to put in the Mother’s heart the best yearnings for solidarity and fraternity, for peace, justice, and happiness in the life of our peoples and nations, as well as to entrust to Her the intentions of our beloved Holy Father Francis,” they concluded.
