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Email a FriendPosted by Patricia on Thursday, Jan 12, 2012 8:12 AM (EDT):
Where does that lovely image of the miracle Our Lady of Guadalupe above come from? Thanks!
Sweet Victory
taking note
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 10:44 PM
I appreciated Rebecca’s post about finding the bliss of the Christmas season. It always amazes me how I can so clearly remember the meltdowns and epic failures, but sometimes forget to note those moments of perfection, however brief they may be.
But her post did just that for me—it reminded me of one of the highlights of our Christmas celebration. It was actually during Advent, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Of all those feast days in that string of days (Santa Lucia, St. Nicolas, Our Lady) I have learned that there’s no way I can observe them all. With my husband’s connection to Mexico, I decided a few years ago that my efforts would go into doing something, even very little, for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. All those other days are worthy as well, but one is what we can manage and this is the one I feel drawn to.
This year, the day snuck up on me and before I knew it the dinner hour was approaching with no real plan from me. At the last minute, however, there was a burst of grace and I came up with a plan that made dinner a little special. And then, at the end of our meal, with the Advent candles lit, we turned down the lights, retrieved our large, matted and framed print of Our Lady of Guadalupe and my husband told the story of her appearing to Juan Diego and what it meant for the people of Mexico. He knows this story well; his mother is from Mexico City and he spent time there. To hear him tell what Our Lady means to these people, what he has seen first-hand, was the best way we could honor this special day.
It was one of those perfect moments, my children entranced listening to their father, my husband beautifully explaining the events of this miraculous appearance, the beauty of our faith so evident at my dining room table.
It was indeed a sweet victory, and perhaps most of all because I know the Holy Spirit allowed it to happen. With very little effort on my part, beyond a simple prayer that we would be able to honor this occasion, God showed up.
Thank you, Rebecca, for the encouragement to remember.
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