A call to prayer
Cardinal Burke advocates a 9-month novena, encouraging Catholics to pray for the Church amid the challenges of sin. Reflecting on the 1531 apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego in Mexico, Cardinal Burke urges believers to seek the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe for maternal care and protection. The novena, starting on March 12 and concluding on the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12, was introduced in a video address by the American cardinal, founder of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Wisconsin.
In his letter on the Guadalupe shrine website, Cardinal Burke emphasizes that despite the prevailing darkness of the age, believers are not called to fear. He reassures that the truth and love of Christ, along with the faithful care of His mother, are available to people of faith. Cardinal Burke underscores the enduring strength of Our Lady's care and protection, asserting that it remains as robust today as it did 500 years ago.
Read letter by Cardinal Burke.
The novena, a traditional Catholic practice typically spanning nine days, can extend beyond this duration. Participants in Cardinal Burke's novena will receive monthly email updates containing short video reflections, alongside regular written reflections and prayers.
Sign up for Cardinal Burke's 9 Month Novena.
Recalling the historical context of St. Juan Diego's encounter with Our Lady of Guadalupe, Cardinal Burke invites all Catholics, especially those in the Americas, to seek the intercession of Our Lady for maternal care and protection. He points to historical instances where the forces of sin yielded to the presence of Our Lady, leading to the conversion of nearly 9 million souls. Cardinal Burke emphasizes that the same maternal care and protection are available today, urging sincere petitions for these blessings.
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About Cardinal Burke
A native of Wisconsin, Cardinal Burke previously shepherded the Diocese of La Crosse and the Archdiocese of St. Louis before being appointed in 2008 as head of the Church’s highest court, the Apostolic Signatura, until 2014.