By Madalaine Elhabbal
Washington D.C., Dec 12, 2024 / 17:30 pm
Catholic members of Congress and staff gathered inside the U.S. Capitol this morning for a rare event — the celebration of a Mass in honor of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, celebrated the liturgy.
“It’s been a desire for a long time to have Mass at the Capitol for the Catholics who are here,” Broglio told CNA. “And of course, celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe was particularly significant, I think, because she’s the patroness of the whole continent.”
The archbishop called it “an opportunity to really pray as one and to pray also for the work that happens here.”
The Thomas More Society organized a Mass at the Capitol in Statuary Hall on Easter Sunday 2023. In January of this year, a Latin Mass was celebrated inside the Capitol on the anniversary of an FBI memo targeting traditional Catholics. The Washington Archdiocese later told CNA that the organizers of the event had failed to gain permission to celebrate the old Mass as required by its liturgical guidelines and Traditione Custodes, an apostolic letter issued by Pope Francis in 2021.
About 30 members of Congress and congressional staff attended the Mass Thursday, including New Jersey Rep.
The U.S. Capitol recently hosted a special Mass celebrated by Archbishop Timothy Broglio on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Chris Smith, who attended the Mass, described it as a true blessing for all who were present. Smith, a prominent figure in human rights work, shared his devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe by displaying a life-sized replica of her tilma in his office. He noted the impact it has on visitors, especially Latin Americans, who are instantly drawn to it.
For Smith, Our Lady of Guadalupe represents a powerful symbol of conversion and repair of souls. He emphasized the importance of seeking guidance and praying to her in his pro-life and human rights work. Along with his wife, Smith holds a deep personal devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The Mass at the U.S. Capitol was a poignant reminder of the significance of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the hearts of many. The image of congressional staff members receiving Communion during the Mass serves as a powerful visual representation of faith and devotion on this special feast day.
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