Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Today is my birthday.

My family will remember the event with congratulatory remarks. The Catholic world, however, will focus on my Spiritual mother.

I have two mothers. My Biological mother would have remembered the joy of my birth as her first born son. My Spiritual mother remembers my adoption into her family, when I was born of water and spirit at my baptism, and took her first born Son as my brother.

Beauty of the Catholic Faith

The beauty of the Catholic faith is not simply the faithfulness of our Father in Heaven, the unbelievable sacrifice of Our Lord in redeeming us, or the further illumination of God’s plan through the Holy Spirit. The beauty of the Catholic faith is highlighted by being birthed into a Spiritual family, the family of God. Not simply in a Trinitarian relationship, but one that includes an extended human family that includes all believers past, present and future – who we refer to as the communion of saints.

Agape Love

In my home I have a beautiful Australian Shepherd dog named Mikki. While I grew up in a relationship with my human family, the relationship I have with my dog is different. I have come to understand what true agape love looks like by observing Mikki. She is content to do nothing more than sit near me, or get up from a deep sleep happy to follow me where ever I go. Her countenance becomes sad when she sees me leave. Yet, she remains vigilant for hours in case I might return early. I learn much about Jesus by observing Mikki. Thank You Lord for showing me what your love looks like in such a discernible and tangible manner. I can, thereby, visualize the holiness of Your created mother, a Virgin conceived without sin who remained sinless and loving throughout her life.

My earthly family would be incomplete without a mom. God recognized this reality in the spiritual life and thus provided us with His mother before dying on the cross. At a personal level, I am grateful He chose my birthday to coincide with the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (celebrate as an Optional Memorial in most Catholic world). It is as if Jesus intended me to have a particularly special relationship with His Virgin mother, and that I do.

His Mother, Our Mother

To fully understand the nature of our special relationship with Mary, we need only read Revelation 12:17 – “Then the dragon was angry with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus.” In obeying and testifying about Our Lord, we thereby receive His Mother, as her spiritual offspring.

Let us then keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus. In so doing, we can celebrate this Feast day and other feasts of the Virgin Mary, not only for being Jesus’ mother, but also our own.

[Readings: Zechariah 2:14-17; Luke 1:26-38]