Mary appears to the humble — the call of St. Juan Diego

From the Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Sacred Scripture: Luke 1:48

Meditation for Day 1

The Guadalupan event begins with God's preference for the lowly. Mary did not appear to the powerful of the new colony but to Juan Diego, a poor indigenous convert, just as she had once proclaimed that God 'has looked upon the humble estate of his servant' (Lk 1:48). The whole message of Tepeyac is addressed first to those whom the world overlooks.

St. John Paul II, in his homily at the Basilica, recalled that Mary accompanies 'the young deprived of opportunity, the old, those who suffer any kind of poverty or marginalization.' Today's prayer asks Our Lady of Guadalupe to look with the same maternal favour on every soul the world forgets, and on the one praying this novena.

Daily Novena Prayer (recited every day)

Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe (St. John Paul II, 1999)

Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, Queen of Peace! Save the nations and peoples of this continent. Teach everyone, political leaders and citizens, to live in true freedom and to act according to the requirements of justice and respect for human rights, so that peace may thus be established once and for all. To you, O Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, belong all the love, honour, glory and endless praise of your American sons and daughters!

From the prayer St. John Paul II addressed to Our Lady of Guadalupe at the conclusion of his homily at the Basilica of Guadalupe, Mexico City, January 23, 1999. Recited each of the nine days.