While we regularly raise up Mary for special attention in the months of May and October, December is a time when we recognize the Blessed Mother in very specific ways.
December 8 is the holy day of obligation for her Immaculate Conception under which title she is the Patron of the United States. December 12 we honor her as Our Lady of Guadalupe, under which title she is the Patron of all the Americas: North, Central and South America. Of course on December 25 we celebrate the birth of the Lord in which Mary’s role is so moving as we relate to her as the loving mother of the baby Jesus born in less than an ideal environment. On December 30 we recognize the model of the Holy Family. Then as the month comes to an end we acknowledge her on January 1 as Mother of God.
I had the great opportunity on the occasion of my tenth anniversary of ordination as a bishop to go on pilgrimage to Mexico City to the site where Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego and to pray at the site at which this miracle occurred. I chose to do so because when I converted to the Catholic Church I had little understanding of her powerful presence, but over the years she has become my mother in a very personal way for which words fail me.
As I learned more about this miraculous moment in which Our Lady invited now Saint Juan Diego to carry the message of her maternal love for all peoples, that message struck me deeply. She told him as he anguished over the life threatening illness of his uncle: “Listen, put it into your heart, youngest and dearest son, that the thing that frightens you, the thing that afflicts you is nothing: do not let it disturb you; do not fear this sickness, nor any other sickness, nor any sharp or hurtful thing. Am I not here, I, who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Do you need something more?” She then appeared to his uncle and he was healed. Do I, do we, need something more than Our Lady under whose shadow and protection we are?
While the graces on this pilgrimage were many, three are of special remembrance. First is when before the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe I re-consecrated myself and my priesthood to her. I had done so some years ago but this time it was with a spiritual commitment grounded in a deepened devotion.
The traditional prayer of consecration was authored by Saint Louis de Montfort which I did pray. I also prayed the prayer of consecration authored by Saint Maximilian Kolbe, the Polish martyr during World War II, which speaks to me in a special way:
“O Immaculata. Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to you. I, Paul Joseph Swain, a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet humbly imploring you to take me with all that I am and have wholly to yourself as your possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death, and eternity, whatever most pleases you. If it pleases you, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of you: “She will crush your head,” and , “You alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world.”
“Let me be a fit instrument of your immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing your glory to the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever you enter you obtain the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through your hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Allow me to praise you, O Sacred Virgin. Give me strength against your enemies.”
There were many special moments during this pilgrimage; two stand out. I was overwhelmed by the invitation of so many who once knowing that I was a bishop asked for my blessing. Tears of joy and smiles of gratitude we easily expressed. It was a humbling affirmation of their respect and love for the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church which every bishop represents. One beautiful moment was when out in the plaza before the massive Basilica I was asked to bless a young boy who had been baptized only a few moments earlier. What a privilege.
Another special experience was in the chapel built on the top of the hill where Juan Diego met the Blessed Mother and discovered roses blooming out of season. I was privileged to continue the tradition of handing out roses to pilgrims in this chapel. Roses of course are signs of life and of Mary the protector of life. When Our Lord gave us his mother as our mother from the cross with John standing in our stead, Scripture says John then took her into his home. The roses given out on this sacred spot 
are encouraged to be taken with us as we welcome Our Mother into our homes as well.
December is a time for us to joyfully participate in the festivities of Christmas with family and friends. May this month also be a time of reflection on the presence of the Blessed Mother, our mother, who intercedes and watches over us throughout the year and always leads us to her son. As she asks: what more do we need?
