Our Lady of Guadalupe to visit Westminster Cathedral

Our Lady of Guadaloupe (detail)

A full scale replica of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe will end its nine-month novena tour of England and Wales at Westminster Cathedral, on the weekend that encompasses the actual anniversary of the appearance of Our Lady in Guadalupe, Mexico, on 12 December 1531.

This digitally reproduced relic image with official seals imprinted upon it is one of only 220 commissioned by Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera in 2004 and entrusted for distribution to nations that welcome them. It has been consecrated against the miraculous image on the original cloak (tilma) of St Juan Diego

The fundamental purpose of distributing 220 consecrated images to all nations is to fulfil the prophecy of the Venerable Pope John Paul II when he proclaimed in 1979: 'The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be the centre from which the light of the gospel of Christ will illuminate the entire world by means of the miraculous image of His mother.'

These images are declared as authorised relics that will extend the graces of evangelization, conversion and truth to those nations which receive them; the same graces as extended in 1531 when some 9 million Aztecs converted to the Catholic Faith over a period of ten years following the apparition, thereby ending the diabolical and deeply embedded cultural practice of human sacrifice.

The novena began in March 2010 at Westminster Cathedral Hall. From there, Archbishop Vincent Nichols granted Edmund Adamus, the designated temporary custodian of the image, authority to seek permission of each diocesan bishop to allow the image to be welcomed in his diocese for devotional purposes for the cause of the Gospel of Life, the protection of the unborn, the sanctity of families and the peace of the nation. The tour ends officially at 11.30am on Monday 13 December 2010 at Westminster Cathedral, Victoria Street, London SW1P 1EP, after having been on display in the Cathedral all that weekend. Archbishop Vincent Nichols will welcome the image and lead devotions in the Cathedral on Saturday 11 December at noon.