The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin, will mark a milestone week beginning on July 31, with the celebration of the 17th anniversary of its dedication. Cardinal Raymond Burke founded the shrine in 2008 when he was bishop of the diocese. He will celebrate the Mass and welcome Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk, archbishop of Utrecht in the Netherlands, as homilist.

Then, on Aug. 5, Cardinal Burke and Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco will celebrate the Mass of the Americas as a solemn pontifical Mass in the traditional Latin rite as part of Project Guadalupe 2031, an effort by the Benedict XVI Institute to foster greater devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe ahead of the 500th anniversary of her appearance to St. Juan Diego. The Mass was composed by Frank La Rocca, composer-in-residence of the Benedict XVI Institute for Sacred Music and Divine Worship, which was founded by Archbishop Cordileone.

Both Cardinal Burke and Archbishop Cordileone spoke with the Register about this major liturgical event, which will be broadcast by EWTN.

Archbishop Cordileone emphasized the importance of Project Guadalupe 2031. “In 1531, Our Lady of Guadalupe first appeared to St. Juan Diego. The gift of roses and her beautiful image, visibly bearing God’s Son in her womb, hidden in St. Juan Diego’s tilma, launched a revolution of the spirit, a massive wave of conversions, that changed the history of a continent — two continents,” he told the Register in a statement.

“Pope Francis pointed out several years ago that we are fast approaching the 500th anniversary of Our Lady’s appearance, which is the birthday of Christianity in the Americas; we need to prepare spiritually,” he continued. “ProjectGuadalupe2031.org aims to help English-speaking Catholics in the United States become more aware of this momentous event in our own history and to deepen our devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Frank La Rocca’s Mass of the Americas, a unity Mass to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (patroness of the United States) and Our Lady of Guadalupe (patroness of Mexico and all of the Americas), is the perfect prayerful vehicle.”

The San Francisco archbishop also explained why the Mass will be celebrated as a traditional Latin Mass.

“The choice was really the Shrine’s; we more often celebrate this Mass of the Americas in the ordinary form. But it is also true that when Frank La Rocca adapted the original Novus Ordo version for the extraordinary form, he made a beautiful Mass even more exquisite,” he said. “This is sacred music that lifts souls to contemplate the Lord.”

He went on to recall a past TLM celebration of this Mass.

“The last time I celebrated the Mass of the Americas according to the 1962 Missal, it was in 2019, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Thousands crowded the Basilica, and hundreds of thousands have watched it online.” 

Archbishop Cordileone also told the Register that the Mass of the Americas is a unifier. 

“This is another sense in which this Mass serves as a Mass of unity: continuity with the two forms of the Roman Rite, with the same music serving both forms and even the same vestments, uniting Catholics with a devotion to Our Lady under her appearance at Guadalupe with those who have a devotion to more classic forms of Catholic worship and with those who dedicate themselves to serving our Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters.”

The San Francisco archbishop is grateful for the opportunity: “I’m looking forward to experiencing this moment of grace with many of my fellow Catholics once again, this time at the Shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe with Cardinal Burke. And on a personal note, I am happy the lovely full vestments crafted for the Mass of the Americas by Altarworthy will be used again.”

Cardinal Burke, who recently celebrated his priestly golden jubilee, highlighted the link between the shrine and a papal basilica — and the date of the Mass.

“The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, from its inception, has had a strong bond with the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major, the mother church of all churches and chapels dedicated to the Virgin Mother of God under her title of Our Lady of Guadalupe and her many other titles. The Shrine Church’s high altar and its baldacchino are modeled after the high altar and baldacchino of the Basilica of St. Mary Major.”

“The bond of the Shrine at La Crosse with St. Mary Major, the bond of spiritual affinity or union, was solemnized on May 26, 2011, by the official declaration of the Archpriest of St. Mary Major,” he added. “From the time of the Dedication of the Shrine Church on July 31, 2008, the Feast of the Dedication of St. Mary Major, Our Lady of Snows, on Aug. 5, is always celebrated with a Pontifical Mass, if possible.”

Cardinal Burke observed that composer La Rocca, “in composing the Mass of the Americas (Misa de las Américas), has drawn upon the richness of sacred music in honor of Our Lord and His Virgin Mother, Our Lady of Guadalupe, along the centuries since Our Lady appeared to St. Juan Diego, Juan Bernardino, and Bishop Juan de Zumárraga and his staff from Dec. 9 to 12 of 1531.” 

The solemn occasion warrants this version of the Roman Rite, as he explained: “The Mass of the Americas was composed for the More Ancient Usage (Usus Antiquior) of the Roman Rite, and the Church of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at La Crosse has been designated by the Bishop of La Crosse as one of the churches in the Diocese of La Crosse at which the Holy Mass may be celebrated according to the More Ancient Usage or Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. It is thus most natural to celebrate the Pontifical Mass according to that usage on such a solemn occasion.”

The beauty of this liturgy is indeed worthy of appreciation. “The beauty of the More Ancient Usage (Usus Antiquior), when it is celebrated with due care and love, attracts the faithful and lifts up their hearts and minds to Our Lord Who descends to the altars of our chapels and churches from His place in eternal glory at the right hand of the Father to make sacramentally present His Sacrifice on Calvary. Each aspect of the More Ancient Usage of the Roman Rite points to the real encounter of Heaven with earth which takes place each time that the Holy Mass is celebrated.”

He, too, looks ahead to the Aug. 5 liturgical celebration, hoping it will be “the occasion for the faithful to meet Our Lord under the maternal guidance and care of His Mother, Our Lady of Guadalupe, in the most perfect and fullest manner possible for us on earth, that is, through participation in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Surely, the extraordinarily beautiful musical composition of Frank La Rocca and the beauty of the Shrine Church will greatly enrich the encounter with Our Lord.”

“It is also my hope that it will encourage pilgrimages to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe and other sacred places, and engagement in the most important work of the Benedict XVI Institute for Sacred Music and Divine Worship,” he added. “I commend most highly the work of the Institute and am happy that the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at La Crosse is working with the Institute for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.”

He invites the faithful to attend in person, if possible, “having as the highlight of your pilgrimage a good confession and participation in the Pontifical Mass. Our Lady is waiting for you at her holy place and will not fail to bring you closer to her Divine Son Who alone is our salvation.”

PRAY

This Solemn Pontifical Mass will take place at 12:15 p.m. (Central Time) and will be broadcast later in the day by EWTN.