One of my favorite Advent activities is my annual #SnapAdvent photo challenge. It primarily takes place on my Instagram account, but this year I’ve been blessed by participants on Facebook and Twitter. 

Here are some of my favorite entries from the first 10 days of Advent:

On the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I had to share this mystical and magnificent story!! It all began during Adoration. I felt this nudge in my heart as if from the Blessed Mother herself, asking me to consecrate my Reconciled To You ministry work to her under the name of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

As I read more about Our Lady of Guadalupe, I realized that it made perfect sense for this germaphobic, hypochondriac, to consecrate yourself and her work to the woman who said:

“Listen, and let it penetrate your heart, my dear little son; do not be troubled or weighted down with grief. Do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need?”  ~ Our Lady of Guadalupe

I still had no idea how one might consecrate themselves to our Blessed Mother. It did not take long for Mary to reveal how it was to be. Less than a month later, I was speaking in Nebraska; there a wonderful group of women presented to me the bag in the picture (above) adorned with Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Inside were a sweet Rosary bracelet and a handwritten card signed by all the women at their table which read (in Spanish), “we are consecrating your ministry under the protection of Our Lady of Guadalupe.”

After an experience as profound as that, choosing to re-Consecrate on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe seemed pretty much a no-brainer!!

---