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News from the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe |
Dan Lynch Director |
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
December 12, 2011
“I am the merciful Mother of all mankind. Am I not your hope?”
Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego
Dear Friend of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
In contrast to the Culture of Death with its loss of hope, Blessed Pope John Paul II called Our Lady of Guadalupe the Mother of Hope and the Mother and Evangelizer of America, at the first Synod of all of the Bishops of America.
He went on to say, “Now is the time of the New Evangelization to lead the People of God in America to cross the threshold of the third millennium with renewed hope.” Our culture is in darkness, but we know that God’s grace and light pierce the darkness of sin to bring hope and life through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Brings Hope and Life
I received an e-mail from Maria, mother of 13 including six miscarried children. She and her husband offered up all of their sufferings, so that they would be saints, their children would be pure and their family would be fruitful with vocations. After three miscarriages in a row, she was pregnant again and begged Our Lady of Guadalupe, present in her Missionary Image at a conference, to help her to bring forth her new child in a happy delivery. Maria wrote:
I was so happy to see the Missionary Image right there up by the stage. I could not wait to get close to it because I just felt that if I could touch it, a miracle would happen. I touched the ribbon around Our Lady on the Image and asked her to intercede that I would be able to go full term with this little love and have a happy delivery. I told her that I knew she knew my heartache with the losses we sustained, but that I knew if she would just whisper this request into her Son, Jesus' ear, that all would be well. Oh, the joy I had after touching this Image! I felt a calm come over me and a feeling of total resignation to God’s most holy will.
A few short weeks later, I went to Mass and there she was again, the beautiful Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe! I could not believe my eyes! I cried. I was going to have the opportunity again to be before Our Lady of Guadalupe! After Mass, I brought our children before her with the many other parishioners. I cried in gratitude for God’s generosity in putting Our Lady of Guadalupe before me again in this pregnancy. I knelt before the Image and kissed it, and again placed my hand over her womb and the ribbon, asking for her intercession for the life within which I had now seen on ultrasound, and trust me, that image is the most beautiful image ever to an expectant mother! My children were asked if they wanted to use a stethoscope to hear the heartbeat as some people have been able to, and they jumped at this gift. They all said they heard the heartbeat and were very excited.
December 12th came and I had purchased an Our Lady of Guadalupe statue to give my mother to tell her of the news of my pregnancy. I started telling Our Lady that I wanted a baby that I could name Mary, that I could actually hold as I had given her our 6 saints in Heaven without complaint. I already started offering this child for a vocation as I do daily with all my other children at daily Mass. I told her this baby was hers.
Finally, Mary Therese was born. She was 9 pounds and 21 and 3/4 inches long and absolutely beautiful! Our Lady of Guadalupe had answered my prayers! I am forever grateful!
I would love to be considered to host a Visitation of the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. My husband and I and the children are so excited about the possibility after reading the several letters that have come to this house asking if we would like to host. Please consider us for this beautiful opportunity. It would be a gift to our family, but at the same time it would give us the opportunity to thank Our Lady of Guadalupe for her special intercession.
I am happy to report that Maria’s family will now host a Visitation of the Missionary Image. Perhaps Our Lady of Guadalupe is calling you to host her as well! Please call us if you too would like “this beautiful opportunity” as did Maria.
Am I Not Your Hope?
Our Lady of Guadalupe said to St. Juan Diego, “Am I not your hope?” Mary is the Mother of Hope. She is the Mother of Jesus Christ who is our hope and brings life as the conqueror of despair and death. Through her, we should have all confidence in divine blessings. That is hope!
My book Our Lady of Guadalupe, Hope for the World! along with my DVD, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of Hope, tells the whole story of Our Lady of Guadalupe from Columbus until today. They can be found on our online catalog.
People continue to tell us how veneration of the Image has resulted in mother’s having safe deliveries or choosing life for their unborn babies or being healed from abortions or becoming pregnant when all hope was lost. The work that we do is making an impact in peoples’ lives. Your help has made this possible for so many people! You are an important member of our apostolate. Thank you for all the ways in which you support us!
We want you to know that in the upcoming Christmas season, you and your loved ones will be in our daily prayers, novenas, weekly holy hours and monthly Masses. Your intentions are offered to Our Lady of Guadalupe and her Son everyday in our chapel. You are important to us and we want you to know how much we appreciate you, your prayers and your assistance.
As we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, won’t you consider the ways in which you can help continue her mission to end abortions and the Culture of Death and bring conversions and a Culture of Life, as Pope John Paul II prayed? With your help we will be able to continue our evangelization efforts – taking Our Lady into parishes and cities throughout our great nation.
Please help us with a gift today. The heat is on in the office as winter has settled in. The anticipation of Christmas grows in our hearts, but the bills must still be paid. We really need your help. Every gift, no matter the size, is important. We know for certain that Our Mother of Hope will bless your sacrifice and God will bless you, too! You can never outdo Him in generosity.
Thank you for helping us. Thank you for being a messenger of hope. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Sincerely in Christ,
Dan Lynch
PS: Please visit our website to order your copy of my books, Praying with Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of Guadalupe, Hope for the World! And please don’t forget your gift, too!
| REMEMBER - If you are older than 70 and a half, you may now make tax-free transfers of up to $100,000 from an IRA to the Missionary Image for the 2011 tax year. Gifts can be made until December 31, 2011 as part of the Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2010. These fulfill some or all the required minimum distribution without increasing taxable income. Please confirm this with your accountant. |