Did you know that the month of December boasts a number of big-name Marian feasts, especially for the parishes and faithful of the Archdiocese of Denver?
First off, there’s the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 — a holy day of obligation not to be missed! — the patron feast of our Cathedral Basilica, as well as all of the dioceses in the United States.
Next we have the optional Dec. 10 memorial of Our Lady of Loreto, patroness of the parish in Foxfield.
Also not to be missed, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe follows on December 12. A popular Marian apparition with devotees all over Latin America, Our Lady of Guadalupe is honored as the patroness of the sanctuary in north Denver as well as of the Americas, especially the episcopal region of the Archdioceses of Denver and Santa Fe, which covers all of Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Arizona.
And, lastly, we in the Archdiocese of Denver celebrate the Memorial of Our Lady of the New Advent, a local liturgical celebration, on Dec. 16.
December sure is a heavy-hitting Mary-honoring month here in the archdiocese!
Over the course of a week, from the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception to the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Archdiocese of Denver commemorates Days of Prayer to Mary, special days of dedication and prayer to the Mother of the Savior.
While other dioceses certainly have days of prayer dedicated to Mary, Denver is unique in placing ours between these feasts in the season of Advent. These days have been commemorated for decades between these massive feasts here in the archdiocese, at least as early as 1984, in an effort to prepare the hearts of the faithful for the coming of the Christ-child through a particular closeness to his mother.
So whether you say an extra Hail Mary or a whole rosary, a Marian novena or a consecration; whether you make a small sacrifice or attend an extra Mass, join us in making some concrete act of devotion and prayer, asking Mary, the Mother of Jesus, to draw near to us and lead us closer to her Son this Advent season, especially in these days of prayer to her!
Mary, Mother of the Redeemer, pray for us!