Devotions & Liturgical Practices in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Byzantine Chants In Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Polyeleos The Theotokos of Guadalupe, who first appeared on Dec. 9, 1591 in Mexico to St. Juan Diego, bestowing on him an icon “not made with human hands,” and requesting that a church be built in her honor on that mountain. Her shrine there is one of the most celebrated places of pilgrimage in the Americas. Pope John Paul II named her the Patroness of the Americas.
Tone 5. Come, O faithful, let us rise early with humble Juan Diego, * and seek Wisdom where she is to be found. * She does not lie buried with the earth's gold and silver, * nor deep beneath the waves of the sea. * But she sits at the gates of our hearts, * as on the hill of Tepeyac, saying: * Praise the Lord of Heaven who gives life to all!
Where you you go at first light, O humble Juan Diego? * Do you seek the Temple of the Mysteries? * Do you look for the one Solomon sought from his youth? * Do you desire to take Her for your bride? * Go no further than your own barren hill * and behold Paradise bowed down in the Maiden's form, as she cries: * Praise the Lord of Heaven who gives life to all!
"Am I arising from my sleep?" asked humble Juan Diego. * "Do I behold what prophets and kings looked for but did not see? * Do I stand in the earthly paradise of which my parents dreamed? * Have I entered the courts of Heaven? * Before me I see, treading the grasses of my own land, * the one who is upborne by angels in her train; * she says to me: * Praise the Lord of Heaven who gives life to all!
Tone 6. Amid the Mexican mesquite, the Rose of Sharon buds; * on a bare hilltop, the Lily of the Valley blooms. * Strengthen our weak hands, O Lady, * make firm our feeble knees, * for our God has come to grant us great mercy.
As a sign of his covenant before the Law, * the Lord set his bow in the clouds. * Now rainbows attend the Lady of Tepeyac, * like maidens in her company; * in her womb she fulfills their ancient promise * bearing the God who grants us great mercy.
The Americas call to their Mother and Queen: * You have ravished our hearts, our sister and bride! * You have ravished our hearts with the glance of your eyes! * Under your tongue is honey and milk, * with which you feed your poor and hard-pressed people; * putting all their deadly foes to flight * by the power of the God who grants them great mercy.
Glory be… – Tone 8. Know, all my smallest and most humble children, * that I am the Virgin who gave birth to God, * the Word through whom everything has the breath of life! * He has given you to me as your Mother, * all you peoples of the Americas! * I will hear all your weeping and your complaints; * I will heal all your sorrows, hardships, and sufferings. * Repent, and believe in the Gospel! * And together we will worship the Lord and Lover of us all.
Tone 4. Sound the trumpet for the festival * and honor the Lady of Guadalupe. * She is the eagle sent from the fiery Throne: * bearing up her beloved children, * crushing the serpent's devouring head, * pouring our her Son's great mercy.
The Lady of Guadalupe cries aloud: * "Do not touch my anointed ones, * those innocent ones who lie in the womb * or stretched out in pain and illness. * For the Lord will avenge his servants' blood * and cleanse the land for his people.
You are, O Mother of Life, * the rib that made whole our wounded side. * You bind up the hurts and pour out the oil * soothing every heartache and sighing soul. * Pierce our flesh with the love of your Son, * you who received in your heart sorrow's mending sword.
Glory be…– Tone 6. Two continents cry out to their Mother and Queen: * "Save your people, and protect your inheritance! * Gather the poor and the hungry, * stay the hand of the oppressors, spread your mantle over coast, mountain, and plain. * Beseech your Son and God * to have great mercy on your people
Tone 2. Wisdom has built her house, * she has hewn its seven pillars; * she has prepared the table and mxed the wine. * She cries out from the city's heights: * You simple ones, turn in here! * Eat the Bread which is the Body of my Son! * Drink the Wine which is his Blood! * Lay aside all cares, and walk in the way of insight * for the Wisdom of the Father draws all to himself!
Listen, O daughter, and see and incline your ear.
Hear all you in the Americas who fear God: * the Queen descends to raise the pauper from the dust * and to lift on high the lowly. * "Do not cheat the poor, not grieve the hungry. * Do not anger anyone in need. * Do not trouble those in despair. * Saved from the wicked the oppressed. * Hear me and become a son of the Most High* and He will surpass in love even your Mother.*
The rich among the people will seek your favor.
How the gold of injustice has grown dim! * We have joined house to house; * and have crowded out the poor and hungry. * We are consumed in drunkenness. * No sin has escaped our grasp. * Hell grinds us in its mouth of fire. * Draw us, O Lady, back to the Father's kingdom, * open wide the narrow gate: * Beseech your Son to show us his great mecry!
The rich among the people will seek your favor.
In wisdom You created all things, * O Word of the Father before all ages; * by your almighty word You arranged all creation. * Bless the beginning of the year by your goodness, * and through the prayers of the Theotokos, overthrow all heresy; * for you are good and the Lover of us all.
Glory be… – Tone 8. "Listen, my most beloved children; * the things that afflict you are nothing! * For I have given birth to the Conqueror of Hades, * the Lord who removes the sting of Death. * Let not your faces be abashed * not your hearts be disturbed. * 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? * Then return to the Lord and He will make all things new!
Troparion, Tone 4. When you appeared in the New World, O Theotokos, * you fixed your image on Juan Diego's rose-laden tilma. * All the poor, hungry, and oppressed seek you, Lady of Guadalupe. * We gaze upon your miraculous icon and find hope, * crying out to your Son concealed in your womb: * Hear our plea for justice, O most merciful Lord.
Novena to the Blessed Virgin of Guadalupe
O most holy Virgin! who wert chosen by the adorable Trinity from all eternity to be the most pure Mother of Jesus, permit me, Thy humble and devoted client, to remind thee of the joy thou didst receive in the instant of the most sacred incarnation of our divine Lord, and during the nine months thou didst carry him in thy chaste womb. I wish most sincerely that I could renew or even increase that joy, by the fervor of my prayers. O tender Mother of the afflicted! grant me, under my present necessities, that peculiar protection thou hast promised to those who devoutly commemorate this ineffable joy. Relying on the infinite mercies of thy divine Son; trusting in that promise which He has made, that those who ask should receive; and penetrated with confidence in thy powerful prayers; I most humbly entreat thee to intercede for me, and to obtain for me the favors which I petition for in this Novena, if it be the holy will of God to grant them; and if not, to ask for me whatever graces I most stand in need of. (Here specify your request.)
I desire by this Novena, which I now offer in thy honor, to prove the lively confidence I have in Thy intercession. Accept it, I beseech Thee, in honor of that supernatural love and joy with which Thy sacred heart was replenished during the abode of Thy dear Son in thy womb; in veneration of which I offer thee the sentiments of my heart, and these nine Hail Marys.
(Repeat the Hail Mary nine times, and then say the following Prayer)
O Mother of God! accept these salutations, in union with the respect and veneration with which the angel Gabriel first hailed thee full of grace. I wish most sincerely, that they may become so many gems in the crown of thy occidental glory, which will increase in brightness to the end of the world. I beseech thee, O comfortress of the afflicted! by the joy thou didst receive in the nine months of thy pregnancy, to obtain for me the grant of the favors which I have now implored through thy powerful intercession. For this end, I offer thee all the good works which have ever been performed in thy honor. I most humbly entreat thee, for the love of the amiable heart of Jesus, with which thine was ever so inflamed, to hear my humble prayer, and to obtain my requests. Amen!
Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, that in thy celestial apparitions on the mount of Tepeyac, thou didst promise to show thy compassion and pity towards all who, loving and trusting thee, seek thy help and call upon thee in their necessities and afflictions.
Thou didst promise to hearken to our supplications, to dry our tears and to give us consolation and relief. Never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, either for the common welfare, or in personal anxieties, was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence, we fly unto thee, O Mary, ever Virgin Mother of the True God! Though grieving under the weight of our sins, we come to prostrate ourselves in thy august presence, certain that thou wilt deign to fulfill thy merciful promises. We are full of hope that, standing beneath thy shadow and protection, nothing will trouble or afflict us, nor need we fear illness, or misfortune, or any other sorrow.
Thou hast decided to remain with us through thy admirable image, thou who art our Mother, our health and our life. Placing ourselves beneath thy maternal gaze and having recourse to thee in all our necessities we need do nothing more. O Holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer us.
[Here mention your petition.]
Five Hail Marys.
(in gratitude for the four apparitions to Juan Diego and the one to Juan Bernardino).
Dedication of A Child To Our Lady of Guadalupe
Dear Mary,
Your Message of love and care on Tepeyac Hill
floated like a lilting lullaby
into the fresh golden dawn.
Softly you called to Juan Diego,
"least of your sons,"
a man of middle years,
but guileless and childlike in spirit.
Through him you invited all your children to come to you,
the ever-virgin Mother of God,
to look to you as a mother
who wanted only to show a mother’s love.
You would give them whatever they needed,
help and protection,
strength and comfort.
As a lasting proof you left us
your own marvelous picture,
unpainted by any human hand.
Today we bring to you
our child N.___________ (as yet Unborn).
May this little one always know
and love you as holy Mary,
Mother of the true God
in whom we live and have our being.
May this new soul,
fresh breathed forth from the creator,
giving life to the body,
be like the soul of Juan Diego,
simple, pure and good.
Dear Lady of Guadulupe,
touch this petal of our hearts
with the wintry roses of Tepeyac,
so that a fragrant joy and peace
may spread along its path of earthly life,
reminding men of you
and sweetly drawing them to your waiting heart.
Take this child as your own.
Lady lovely and demure,
enfolded in the mantle of your care,
until the day when in a new land,
all your children join with you,
their merciful mother,
endlessly giving praise and thanks
to God the Father,
Son and Holy Spirit. Amen!
Tridium In Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe
“I chose this place and made it holy,
in order that my name might be honored,
and my eyes and heart might remain there forever.” - 2 Chr. 7:16
"Who is this that comes forth like the dawn,
as beautiful as the moon, as resplendent as the sun..?" - Song 6:10
Hail Mary...
“I am the Mother of fair love,... and of knowledge, and of holy hope...
My memory is unto everlasting generations” Eccl. 24:24, 28.
Let us pray
O God, You have been pleased to bestow upon us unceasing favors
by having placed us under the special protection
of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.
Grant us, your humble servants,
who rejoice in honoring her today upon earth,
the happiness of seeing her face to face in heaven.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Remember, O most gracious Virgin of Guadalupe,
that in your apparitions on Mount Tepeyac
you promised to show pity and compassion to all who,
loving and trusting you,
seek your help and protection.
Accordingly, listen now to our supplications
and grant us consolation and relief.
We are full of hope that,
relying on your help,
nothing can trouble or affect us.
As you have remained with us through your admirable image,
so now obtain for us the graces we need. Amen.
Litany of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God our Heavenly Father, Creator through whom we live,
have mercy on us.
God the Son, the One who owns what is near and beyond,
have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
have mercy of us.
Holy Mary of Guadalupe, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother of America, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Star of the New Evangelization, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Perfect and Ever Virgin, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother of the True God, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother worthy of honor and veneration, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother most merciful, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother of those who love you and have confidence in you, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother of those who cry to you and search for you, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother who cures all our pains, miseries, and sorrows, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother who remedies and alleviates our sufferings, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother who keeps us within her compassionate and merciful gaze, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother who shows us her help, love and compassion, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother who chooses those who are humble and simple, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother who graciously repays all who serve her, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother who has us under her shadow and protection, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother who carries us in her embrace, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Fountain of our joy, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Almighty and Eternal God, your message of mercy, entrusted to Our Lady of Guadalupe, invites all your children to place all their trust in you. Through the intercession of the mother of your Son, may your message of Merciful Love inflame our hearts that we may be faithful heralds and instruments of this Divine Mercy to the world.
(Mention your intentions)
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
