Sermon – Feast of Our Lady of Luján – May 8, 2026

Today we celebrate Our Lady of Luján. She is the patron saint of both my religious community and the nuns' community. She is also the patron saint of Argentina. Today's feast day commemorates Our Lady. The different appearances of Mary point to the same Mary, appearing in different forms and in different countries.

The statue of Our Lady of Luján was being transported from Brazil to Argentina. During the journey, upon arriving in Luján, Argentina, the ox cart carrying the image could not continue. When they unloaded the statue, the oxen began to move; but when they put the statue back on the cart, the oxen stopped moving. Thus, they understood that Our Lady had chosen to remain in Luján. Therefore, the inscription on the arch reads: “The Virgin of Luján is the first founder of this town.”

After that, miracles began, and a great shrine was built for Mary of Luján. This love for our Mother of Luján spread far and wide; for wherever we go, we carry this statue with us. The founder of our congregation also always prayed to our Mother of Luján, asking that many young people be called to dedicate themselves to God in a special way. He asked Mary to have many people in the world who wanted to become priests and nuns to teach about Jesus Christ and do good to everyone. Thanks to this request we made to our Mother of Mary, we have many priests and nuns in our congregation.

The truth is, before we chose Mary as our mother, she had already chosen us as her children. Mary is the easiest way to reach Christ. Therefore, our love for Mary makes it faster and easier for us to reach Christ. Our aim should be to imitate Christ in everything. When we pray to Mary, she grants us a very special grace so that we can imitate her Son. Because when Jesus was crucified, he left Mary to us as our mother.

As we read in the Bible today: “When Jesus saw his mother and his beloved disciple standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother.’” Just as Jesus gave his mother to John, he also gave his mother to all of humanity. Therefore, in heaven we have a Father who is God and a Mother who is Mary.

Because we are Mary's children, Mary has the responsibility of looking after us. When we ask Mary for something, she intercedes with God for us. Mary presents our request to God in a much more beautiful and pleasing way. She wraps our request in a delicate form and presents it to God as a gift. Whatever a mother asks, her child listens and fulfills it. That is why when we ask Mary, Jesus answers us; especially when we recite the rosary.

Therefore, if we want to know Jesus better and learn more about his life, the best way is to pray to Mary and become her child. Mary brings us closer to Jesus more quickly. Because Jesus and Mary were always united from conception to the crucifixion. Mother and Son have always been together in the history of salvation.

Today, let us renew our faith in Mary's intercession. We have a mother in heaven who protects us and helps us to draw closer to Jesus. Let us always draw closer to Jesus through Mary.