Memo Regarding Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe 2021
DATE: October 14, 2021
TO: Parishes and Institutions
FROM: Laura Bertone
RE: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe 2021
In response to inquiries by parishes, we wished to clarify the proper celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which falls on a Sunday this year.
December 12, 2021 is the Third Sunday of Advent, and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is omitted. Our Lady of Guadalupe may be appropriately honored in the Homily, Universal Prayer, and hymns during the Sunday liturgy (See USCCB Liturgical Calendar for the Dioceses of the United States of America 2021).
The placement and/or decoration of a shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe (with flowers, etc.) is allowed. Communities may still honor Our Lady of Guadalupe on this day in non-liturgical celebrations (i.e. parishes may have mañanitas and perform the traditional obra/play of the apparitions).
If pastoral advantage calls for it, a Votive Mass of Our Lady of Guadalupe may be celebrated on a weekday before or after December 12, with the proper readings and prayers, as per GIRM 376:
On … a weekday of Advent up to and including December 16… Masses for Various Needs and Occasions and Votive Masses are in principle forbidden. If, however, some real necessity or pastoral advantage calls for it, in the estimation of the rector of the church or the Priest Celebrant himself, a Mass appropriate to the same may be used in a celebration with the people.
Please feel free to contact me via email at [email protected] should you have any questions.