beautiful advent story
ICONS OF OUR LADY OF GAUDALUPE
It was Spring Break of 2020. Our eldest, Anne Marie, was blessed to spend it on a mission trip with the Missionaries of Charity in Mexico City through Ave Maria University. Of the many intentions she brought with her, one remained prominent. Jeff & Rachel Elmore are a beautiful couple with three young children. They were very much desiring to get pregnant with number four.
Some background on Our Lady of Guadalupe (1531). Unlike every other apparition, she appeared pregnant. She appeared in a culture that was sacrificing children. In the aftermath of her appearances, millions were converted. She is the Patroness of the Americas. She's the patroness of our marriage and family revival movement. Rachel has a special devotion to her.
In Mexico, the Lord kept putting the Elmores on Annie's heart, particularly at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. There she prayed for them. Upon return, she sent a special rosary to them along with a beautiful note conveying her sense of God's loving, providential care through Our Blessed Mother.
Fast forward. The Elmores got pregnant. Just in time for a tumultuous season marked by ever-greater racial and political unrest and a pandemic. None of that could touch the ever-greater proclamation of Rachel's belly. Along with all other so-beautiful pregnant women, Rachel became a kind of icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe. A powerful witness to life. A new, eternal soul. God's provision and promise to an entire community.
So appropriate it was then, according to God's perfect plan, that on December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, our world welcomed little Titus Joseph Elmore. A little soul destined for eternity. Made possible by Eternity who came into the world the same way. Our God became like us so we could become like Him!
So blessed to be on the journey with you. Let's proclaim and claim His Kingdom in 2021.
Emmanuel. Our God is with us!
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