The following comes from a December 15 Angelus post by Archbishop Gomez:
I have long believed that the appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe was the true spiritual foundation of all the nations of the Americas, including the spiritual and moral foundations of the United States.
As we know, the great founding father of the United States, St. Junípero Serra, consecrated his mission to the Virgin, making a pilgrimage of more than 300 miles on foot to the Virgin’s shrine upon arriving in the Americas.
We all live in the tender eyes of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The Virgin’s words to St. Juan Diego are a source of comfort and courage as we make our way in the world: “Am I not your mother? Are you not under my shadow and my gaze? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not sheltered underneath my mantle, under the embrace of my arms?”
This year it struck me also — that is why Our Lady gave us the tilma. Why? So we would have a picture, an image of her face. So we could see the tenderness in her maternal eyes. It is amazing to think about it. Our Lady gave us a picture of her face. She wanted us to see for ourselves — just how much she loves us.
As we know, we are blessed to have a tiny piece of the tilma in our chapel in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. This is the only place in the world outside of Mexico City where you see a part of the tilma that St. Juan Diego wore and that was touched by our Blessed Mother!
For me, this relic is a national treasure, one of the great symbolic artifacts of the history of the Americas. And I pray that devotion to the Virgin will increase and strengthen in our country, among all peoples. I pray that we might all come together as one family and rejoice that we are all children of the Virgin of Tepeyac and that the Christian identity of the Americas — of all the peoples of the Americas — finds its heart in her.
And do you know how this piece of the tilma came to us? It was a gift, a gift of gratitude. It was given to us by the Archbishop of Mexico in thanksgiving, to honor my predecessor, Archbishop John Joseph Cantwell, for his courage and help in sheltering refugees fleeing persecution in Mexico during the time of the Cristeros. This legacy is important in this time of uncertainty for immigrant and refugee families.
This is a wonderful article by Abp. Gomez. Enormous surprise but he is correct, we are honored and blessed by Our Holy Mother’s attention.
One wishes that She would come to us again, now.
Thank you, Archbishop Gomez.
I have great love for the Virgin of Guadalupe, but that doesn’t excuse historical revisionism on the part of the archbishop. St. Junipero Serra is the founding father of California, but had nothing to do with the contemporaneous foundation of the United States from the Thirteen Colonies. Likewise, the English and German Catholics who were the initial Catholics of the early republic honored Mary under other titles.
Viva Guadalupe! Viva Cristo Rey!
Fr. Michael, there are on line websites that say Fr. Serra, who was devoted to Our Lady of Guadalupe, took up a collection from the California missions (about $137) and sent it to General George Washington. If that is true, there must have been a connection there between the two men and their causes.
Wow, was getting ready to post much the same. Have often wondered why Serra boosters never mention it–the combination of which renders me tele-Pathetic :). Attagirl.
When the Serra controversy broke a few years back, I ran across his aid to Washington with slightly more detail, but for the life of me I can’t find it. Still looking.
Second time this month Abp Gomez has politized Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Tranquilo, Arzobispo. Tomalo suave. Todo e’ta bien chevere.
Just put “Did Fr. Junipero Serra send money to General George Washington?” in your search bar, and several websites will come up. I think Fr. George Rutler has mentioned it too, but I could be mistaken about that one since I have not had time to look for it.
General Washington had a positive view of Roman Catholicism, since Catholics served in the Continental Army whereas there were few in the British Army proper. That being said, we were a small minority, about 1% of the American population, of mostly English and Germans ancestry.
Since in pre-seminary times I earned a degree in American History with a focus on the colonies and the early Republic, I was surprised to learn that St. Junipero raised money for the American Revolution. It makes sense, since the Spanish Empire was an ally of the Americans, but I didn’t realize it from my readings of the Revolution and also of the saint. Never stop learning!
Fr, Kudos for pointing out the Abp’s revisionism. I did the same above, only to get edited out, rightfully I guess, for throwing too much fun (sarcasm?) his way.
Still, I ponder Serra’s intentions. Was it merely the alliance, the enemy of my enemy, divide and weaken, insurance; or was it an eye for Liberty? Perhaps there are letters extant. Sure would be nice to think that the Padre of California and the Father of Our Country, both men of virtue, were chums.