Day 637 Monday, December 13, 2021

She is not the whitewashed Virgin of the institutional Church. She is the radical, powerful, engaged Mother of the People.

Reflection Our Lady of Guadalupe Loving Mother of the Americas

“Listen. Put it into your heart, my youngest and dearest son, that the thing that frightened you, the thing that afflicted you is nothing: Do not let it disturb you. . . . Am I not here, I, 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 mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Do you need something more?”

- Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego, 1513, Nican Mopohua

One of the images of Mary that continues to inspire devotion throughout the Americas is Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose feast we celebrate today. In this passage, CAC friend and author Mirabai Starr writes about the transformation that Our Lady of Guadalupe brought to Mexico and the world:

Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to the Indian Juan Diego [1474–1548] only a few short years after Hernán Cortés conquered Mexico for Spain. The conquistadors had initially presented themselves as friends. The Aztecs believed that Cortés was Quetzalcoatl, the divine savior figure who, legend had promised, would return one day when they needed him most, and so they welcomed him and his entourage with joy.

Once the Spaniards had insinuated themselves among the indigenous people, however, they proceeded to destroy them. In a concerted act of genocide and enslavement, the conquistadors swiftly eradicated an ancient culture. . . .

Into this bloody mix of violent cultures, Our Lady of Guadalupe extended the hand of mercy, comfort, and protection. . . . She drew everyone—European and indigenous—under her blanket of love. . . .

Images of Our Lady of Guadalupe are found throughout Mexico, Central and South America, and the southwestern United States. . . . Roadside grottos every few miles hold her image nestled in rock and concrete, a tall glass candle perpetually burning at her feet. She is emblazoned on tee shirts and tattooed onto biceps. She is borrowed to advertise taxi companies and hardware stores, women’s circles and bikers’ gangs. . . . She extends her unconditional love to all who reach for her merciful hand—believers and atheists, Latinos and Anglos, women and men—and they love her back, with equal intensity.

In a world struggling against senseless violence and growing economic disparity, Our Lady of Guadalupe offers a distinctly feminine antidote to the poisons of poverty and war. Where society demands competition, Guadalupe teaches cooperation. In place of consumerism, she models compassionate service.

She is not the whitewashed Virgin of the institutional Church. She is the radical, powerful, engaged Mother of the People.

Our Lady is not merely a sociopolitical symbol, however. People of all faiths call her Mother. In times of deeply personal grief, they turn to her for comfort. They turn to her for insight. They turn to her for a reminder of what matters most, what endures when all else seems to be lost, what grace may yet be available when we meet fear with love.

Announcements

Thursday, December 16th | 9:30 AM Pacific

Join us for a virtual illustrated exhibit and webinar in memory of the children lost in Gaza and Israel.

During the military operation Guardian of the Walls/The War on Jerusalem, a group of Israeli illustrators joined together to create illustrations commemorating the children of Gaza and Israel who lost their lives. These illustrations express solidarity and call for compassion and change. The exhibition is made up of 68 individual illustrations in memory of the 68 children who were killed during the war – in memory of each children’s life, dreams and unique personality. Some illustrators chose to create a portrait of the child while others react to the status or depict hopes and dreams.

Join us in conversation with the illustrators as well as bereaved mothers who have lost their children to the conflict.

Sign up here (it's free)

https://parentscirclefriends.org/68children/

Check it out on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1NNyeAG07U&t=19s

Advent Concerts with Doug and James Harmon:

Tuesday, December 14th at Resurrection Parish

Time: 7pm for an hour and 15 minutes

And at St Vincent’s Church in Marin at 1 St Vincent Drive

Time: 7pm for @one hour and 15 minutes

Healdsburg at St John The Baptist Catholic Church on Tuesday, December 21st

7pm for @one hour and 15 minutes

Winter Solstice Celebration

From Nancy McFarland Paul Winter’s Winter Solstice Celebration

https://mailchi.mp/16733751daf2/purchase-tickets-for-solsaga?e=3baec5ec4b

on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=551zueW4b7o

Synod Meeting at Star of the Valley Parish

Meet in the Hall

December 16, 1:30PM