Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly renewed the consecration of the Order to Mary under her title of Our Lady of Guadalupe during a recent Board of Directors pilgrimage to Mexico City. The renewal took place Feb. 3 at the conclusion of Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrated by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore. Msgr. Eduardo Chávez, postulator for St. Juan Diego’s cause for canonization and a canon of the basilica, was among the concelebrants.
The initial consecration, which took place at the basilica 22 years ago, on Feb. 3, 2001, was undertaken by Past Supreme Knight Carl Anderson upon his formal installation as the 13th supreme knight. It was inspired in part by Pope John Paul II’s 1999 apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in America (The Church in America), in which the pope called for greater unity across the continent and acclaimed Our Lady of Guadalupe as “Patroness of all America and Star of the first and new evangelization.”
In brief remarks to the Board of Directors and guests, Supreme Knight Kelly affirmed, “Our devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe has continued to grow stronger, in councils and in parishes throughout the Order and in every country where we are present.”
Echoing Mary’s words to St. Juan Diego in 1531, the supreme knight added: “Our Lady inspires us and guides us in all of our efforts — especially those for the sake of the unborn and the most vulnerable — and we take constant solace in knowing that she is here, she who is our mother.”
Following his remarks, Supreme Knight Kelly led the congregants in reciting the Litany of the Blessed Virgin. Archbishop Lori then recited the Prayer of the Reconsecration. The solemn reconsecration concluded with remarks by Msgr. Eduardo Chávez.
The Knights of Columbus has been present in Mexico since 1905, when Supreme Knight Edward Hearn visited Mexico City to install officers of Guadalupe Council 1050.