Cordeo™
Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe is prayed during the nine days before her feast on December 12. It is one of the most beloved devotions in Mexico and across the Americas: nine days to place ourselves under the mantle of the Mother who told Juan Diego, “Am I not here, I who am your Mother?” Here is the full text, ready to pray as a family each night.
When it is prayed: From December 3 to December 11, one day each night, ending on the eve of December 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. If you start late, that is fine: pray one day per night and finish when you get there.
How to pray it
- Make the sign of the cross.
- Pray the opening prayer together.
- Read the day's reading and the meditation; with children, the reading and one sentence of the meditation is enough.
- Pray the prayer of the day and the short invocation.
- Close with the closing prayer and, if you wish, a Hail Mary.
The nine days
- Day 1 · Full of Grace
- Day 2 · “Am I not here, I who am your Mother?”
- Day 3 · Juan Diego, the Least of Her Children
- Day 4 · Roses in Winter
- Day 5 · Blessed Among Women
- Day 6 · Beneath Her Mantle
- Day 7 · Mary Sings to the Lord
- Day 8 · The Faith of the Simple
- Day 9 · The Woman Clothed with the Sun
Opening prayer
Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, Mother of the true God through whom we live: just as You said to Juan Diego on Tepeyac, so You also say to us, “Am I not here, I who am your Mother?” With that confidence we begin this novena. Lead us to your Son Jesus and present our intentions to Him. Amen.
Short invocation: Holy Mary of Guadalupe, save our homeland and preserve our faith.
Day 1 · Full of Grace
Reading
Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”
Luke 1:28
Meditation
As we begin this novena, let us contemplate Holy Mary as the one full of grace, wholly visited by the love of God. In her we see what the Lord can do in a humble, open, and pure heart. Her greatness does not come from herself, but from the presence of God dwelling within her and sustaining her. We too, with all our limitations, are called to make room for grace to transform our lives. Our Lady of Guadalupe teaches us to receive the Lord with trust, not to resist His will, and to believe that His favor can renew what is weary, heal what is wounded, and set our steps aright. Let us draw near to her to learn how to say yes, with simplicity and fidelity, to all that God wishes to accomplish in us and in our family.
Prayer of the day
Good and gracious Father, You filled the Virgin Mary with grace from the very beginning of her life. Through the intercession of Holy Mary of Guadalupe, grant us humble hearts, open to Your will. May we learn from her to receive You with faith and to live in Your friendship. Grant us the grace we ask of You in this novena, if it is for Your greater glory and our good. Amen.
Day 2 · “Am I not here, I who am your Mother?”
Reading
Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour, the disciple took her to his own home.
John 19:27
Meditation
Today we contemplate Our Lady of Guadalupe as the Mother given to us by Jesus. At the hour of the Cross, when all seemed darkness, the Lord left us a great consolation: we do not walk alone; we have a Mother. To welcome her into our lives does not mean turning away from Christ, but allowing ourselves to be led by the one who knows Him best and loves Him most perfectly. Mary draws near with tenderness to our cares, our wounds, and our fears, and reminds us that we belong to a family of faith. Under her care we learn to trust, to persevere, and to remain beside Jesus even in times of trial. As disciples, we want to welcome her into our home, into our decisions, and into our prayer, so that her motherly presence may draw us ever closer to the heart of her Son.
Prayer of the day
Lord Jesus, You gave us Your Blessed Mother to be our Mother. Grant that we may welcome her with sincere love into our lives and into our home. Holy Mary of Guadalupe, tender Mother, accompany us, console us, and always lead us to your Son. Obtain for us the grace we ask in this novena and teach us to live as true disciples. Amen.
Day 3 · Juan Diego, the Least of Her Children
Reading
but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;
1 Corinthians 1:27
Meditation
On this day we reflect on how God delights in the little ones and the simple. Salvation history shows us that the Lord does not look first to strength, prestige, or human importance, but to the heart that knows how to listen. Remembering Juan Diego, we come to understand that no one is too poor, too overlooked, or too limited to be an instrument of God. Our Lady of Guadalupe draws especially near to those whom the world ignores, and through them she reveals the tenderness of heaven. We too are called to cast off pride and come before God in truth, without pretense. When we acknowledge our need, His grace acts more freely. Let us trust: the Lord can do great things with our littleness if we place it in His hands with faith.
Prayer of the day
Our God, You look with love upon the lowly and accomplish Your works in simple hearts. Through the intercession of Holy Mary of Guadalupe, free us from pride and grant us humility, docility, and faith. May we, as Your little children, know how to listen to You and serve You with joy. Grant us also the grace we ask of You in this novena, according to Your holy will. Amen.
Day 4 · Roses in Winter
Reading
I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. Lover
Song of Songs 2:1
Meditation
Today we meditate on the sign of the roses in winter, delicate and wondrous, which speaks to us of the gentle way God confirms His love. When everything seems barren, cold, or impossible, the Lord can bring forth beauty where we least expect it. Our Lady of Guadalupe invites us to look beyond our own calculations and trust in God’s timing. Her signs are not meant to dazzle us, but to awaken our hearts to faith, move us to conversion, and remind us that His providence never abandons His children. Even in seasons of spiritual dryness, sorrow, or uncertainty, the Lord can grant consolation and new life. Let us learn to gather with gratitude the roses He places along our path: small gifts, signs of hope, and concrete calls to believe more deeply and love more generously.
Prayer of the day
Lord God, in Your goodness You make hope blossom even in the winter of the soul. Through the intercession of Holy Mary of Guadalupe, open our eyes to recognize Your signs and our hearts to respond with faith. Bring forth in us conversion, patience, and trust. And grant us the grace we humbly ask of You in this novena, if it is in accord with Your will. Amen.
Day 5 · Blessed Among Women
Reading
She called out with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
Luke 1:42
Meditation
The Church proclaims Mary blessed among all women because in her the work of God shone forth in a singular way. Her true blessedness lies not only in the gifts she received, but in the fact that she believed, obeyed, and offered her whole life to the Lord. In honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe, we also bless the holy fruit of her womb, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Mary never keeps glory for herself; everything in her leads us to her Son. Thus, when we call her blessed, we learn to recognize the wonders God works in those who allow themselves to be loved and guided by Him. Let us ask that our family may also live this blessing: not a life without crosses, but a life made fruitful in faith, hope, and charity. With Mary, we desire to bless God and receive Jesus with hearts ready and willing.
Prayer of the day
Holy Father, we thank You for having blessed the Virgin Mary in so wonderful a way and for giving us in her the Mother of the Savior. Holy Mary of Guadalupe, blessed among women, help us to live united to Jesus and to keep His word. Pray for us and obtain for us the grace we ask in this novena. Amen.
Day 6 · Beneath Her Mantle
Reading
He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.
Psalms 91:4
Meditation
Today we rest spiritually beneath the mantle of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Her motherly protection does not draw us away from God, but shelters us so as to lead us more securely to Him. Amid the dangers, temptations, and anxieties of daily life, we feel the need for a refuge where the soul may regain peace. Mary reminds us that true security is found not in our own strength, but in the faithfulness of the Lord. Under her care we learn to fight fear, reject sin, and remain confident in the truth of God. Her mantle speaks to us of nearness, consolation, and belonging: we are beloved children, not abandoned ones. Let us go to her with simplicity, bringing our burdens and those of the people we love, so that, protected by her intercession, we may walk steadfastly toward Christ.
Prayer of the day
Lord, refuge of Your children, we desire to live under Your protection and to let ourselves be guided by the motherly intercession of Holy Mary of Guadalupe. Cover us with Your peace, strengthen our faith, and deliver us from sin and discouragement. Blessed Virgin, keep us beneath your mantle and present us to Jesus. Grant us the grace we ask in this novena. Amen.
Day 7 · Mary Sings to the Lord
Reading
Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.
Luke 1:46
Meditation
On this day we contemplate Mary singing to the Lord. Her praise springs from a heart filled with faith, grateful remembrance, and humble joy. She recognizes that every good comes from God and that His mercy reaches those who fear Him. Our Lady of Guadalupe also teaches us to transform our prayer: not only to ask, but to bless, to give thanks, and to proclaim the greatness of the Lord even in the midst of our struggles. When we praise, our hearts are set in order, sadness loses its hold, and we begin to see life once more through the lens of trust. Mary does not close in upon herself; her song makes room for God to be at the center. We too want to learn that path. May there be less complaining and more gratitude in our family, less self-sufficiency and greater recognition of God’s works among us.
Prayer of the day
Lord, place on our lips and in our hearts a hymn of praise like Mary’s. Through the intercession of Holy Mary of Guadalupe, may we know how to thank You for Your gifts, recognize Your mercy, and live with humble joy. Make our family a home that blesses You. And grant us the grace we ask of You in this novena. Amen.
Day 8 · The Faith of the Simple
Reading
At that time, Jesus answered, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants.
Matthew 11:25
Meditation
Today we reflect on the faith of the simple, that disposition of soul which opens itself to God without complication or pride. The Lord allows Himself to be found by those who have the heart of a child: trusting, poor in spirit, and open. Our Lady of Guadalupe continues to speak with tenderness to the humble, reminding us that to hear God we do not need human greatness, but interior docility. So often our securities, our reasoning, or our haste can make us hard to the things of heaven. For this reason, we must ask for a faith that is simple but not shallow; trusting yet steadfast; humble yet firm. In family life, this simplicity is expressed in sincere prayer, obedience to the Gospel, and concrete charity. Let us draw near to Mary, that she may purify our vision and teach us to believe with a clean heart, capable of recognizing the loving presence of God in everyday life.
Prayer of the day
Good Father, You reveal Your mysteries to the simple of heart. Through the intercession of Holy Mary of Guadalupe, remove pride from us and grant us a humble, clear, and persevering faith. Teach us to trust like children in Your hands and to live the Gospel with simplicity. Grant us also the grace we ask in this novena. Amen.
Day 9 · The Woman Clothed with the Sun
Reading
A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
Revelation 12:1
Meditation
As we conclude this novena, we lift our eyes to the woman clothed with the sun, a sign of victory, beauty, and hope in the midst of the struggle. In Mary we behold the creature fully united to God, radiant with His grace and faithful to the end. Our Lady of Guadalupe reminds us that the final word does not belong to darkness, but to the Lord, who conquers evil and sustains His people. Our own lives are likewise marked by interior battles and the trials of this world, but we do not walk without help. Mary accompanies us as Mother, encourages us to persevere, and always points us toward Christ, our light. Let us end this novena with renewed trust: if we remain with God, no shadow can extinguish His promise. Under Our Lady’s gaze, let us walk with hope, fidelity, and peace toward the fullness of the Kingdom.
Prayer of the day
Almighty God, as we complete this novena, we thank You for the motherly love of Holy Mary of Guadalupe, a sign of hope for Your people. Strengthen us in spiritual battle, make us persevere in faith, and always lead us to Jesus Christ, the true light. Blessed Virgin, intercede for us and obtain for us the grace we have asked in this novena. Amen.
Closing prayer
Mother of Guadalupe, shelter our family, those who suffer, and those who are far away beneath your mantle. May faith blossom in us like the roses of Tepeyac. Holy Mary of Guadalupe, pray for us. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe begin?
It begins on December 3 and ends on December 11, the eve of the feast on December 12. It is prayed one day per night for nine nights in a row.
How long does each day take?
Five to ten minutes. Each day has a short Bible reading, a meditation, the prayer of the day, and the opening and closing prayers, which are the same all nine days.
Can it be prayed with children?
Yes. With small children you can read only the day's reading and the prayer of the day, and leave the meditation for the adults. In the Cordeo app the novena is narrated so you can listen together before bed.
What if I missed a day?
Pick it up the next day without starting over. What matters is the constancy and the intention, not a perfect calendar.
Other prayers
- Christmas Novena
- Advent as a family: a prayer for every night
- Novena to Saint Jude Thaddeus
- The Holy Rosary: how to pray it step by step
- Las Posadas: the litany and the songs, with full lyrics
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, in the public domain.