Like many “cradle Catholics,” I grew up learning the stories of Our Lady of Guadalupe as well as Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Lourdes, and others. But it wasn’t until I took part in a pilgrimage in February to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City that I fully grasped the power and scope of the miracles that took place at the top of Tepeyac Hill, where Our Lady appeared in 1531 to a poor Indian peasant named Juan Diego.
On the pilgrimage, we not only learned about, but experienced, the culture and civilization of Mexico in the mid-1500s. And we came to under-stand how profoundly and completely Our Lady of Guadalupe literally changed the course of history and brought Catholicism to all of Mexico. I was asked to write about our pilgrimage with a focus on one or more of the three legs of the Cursillo tripod of piety, study, and action. I’m glad I didn’t have to choose just one, because the pilgrimage was a total immersion in all three! Since Mater Dei Tours focuses exclusively on Catholic pilgrimages, an added pleasure of the trip was the joy of traveling with a group consisting entirely of other Catholics, so subjects such as the saints, the sacraments, and devotion to the Blessed Virgin were common ground to everyone. And no one questioned the choice of tilapia as the main course of our welcome dinner on our first night in Mexico, since our trip began on the first Friday in Lent!
Our bus ride every day began with morning prayers and a blessing by Father Joachim Mudd, who accompanied us on the pilgrimage. We celebrat-ed Mass every day, with each one taking place in a different church, chapel, basilica or cathedral—including the New Basilica at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is where Pope Francis celebrated Mass just a few days before we were there. We also learned the stories of each of the saints and martyrs for whom the different churches and chapels were named.
We said a rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet every day, sometimes on the bus and sometimes at other locations. Especially powerful and hum-bling was the rosary we said together as we processed along the avenue leading to the Basilica and the Shrine, and the rosary we recited as we climbed the steps to the top of Tepeyac Hill and the Chapel that stands there now.
I’ve barely scratched the surface of all the inspiring and rewarding events and activities we enjoyed during our week in Mexico on our pilgrim-age to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. And I have to add that what happened as a result of the pilgrimage is just as exciting as the trip itself. I came home with renewed awe and appreciation for the faith that has guided me throughout my life, and with a burning desire to share the amazing story of Our Lady of Guadalupe with my family, my friends, fellow Catholics, casu-al acquaintances, and anyone else who wants to listen. And happily, many people do!
By Betty Liedtke
