From December 3 to 11, the novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe is prayed: nine days of prayer to prepare for her feast day on December 12. It is one of the most widely prayed novenas in the world, in Mexico, throughout Latin America, in the United States, and also in Spain. We’ll tell you what is celebrated, how to pray it even if it’s your first time, and share our idea for living each day with her image close to your heart.
What is celebrated on December 12
Between December 9 and 12, 1531, Our Lady appeared to an indigenous man named Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac, north of present-day Mexico City, and asked him to build a temple there. As proof for the bishop, Fray Juan de Zumárraga, Juan Diego carried a bunch of roses in his tilma, even though it was the middle of winter; when he unfolded the cloak, the flowers fell, and the image of Our Lady appeared on the fabric—the same image that is venerated in her basilica today.
The oldest account of those days is the Nican Mopohua, written in Nahuatl in the mid-16th century. It contains Our Lady of Guadalupe’s most beloved words, spoken to a Juan Diego distressed by his uncle’s illness: “Am I not here, your mother?” If you want to learn the full story, you can find it in Our Lady of Guadalupe: history, meaning, and her feast day, and every detail of the image (the star-studded cloak, the rays, the moon) in the symbols of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
When is the novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe prayed
A novena consists of nine consecutive days of prayer for the same intention. The novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe always begins on December 3 and ends on December 11, the day before the feast. In 2026, the dates are as follows:
- Thursday, December 3: the first day.
- From Friday, December 4, to Thursday, December 10: the second through eighth days.
- Friday, December 11: the last day. That evening, “Las Mañanitas” is sung to Our Lady in Mexico.
- Saturday, December 12: the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
If you start late or miss a day, that’s okay: just pick up where you left off. What matters is perseverance and intention.
How to pray it, step by step
There is no single required text: every parish, shrine, and family has its own, and many people join their church’s novena. If you prefer to pray it at home, this simple outline may be helpful:
- Choose a regular time, even if it’s only for five minutes: when you wake up or before you go to sleep.
- Begin with the Sign of the Cross and state your intention: a person, a concern, or a reason for gratitude.
- Read the reflection for the day slowly (our suggestion is below) and spend a moment in silence.
- Pray an Our Father, three Hail Marys, and a Glory Be.
- End with a brief prayer. Many people simply say: “Holy Mary of Guadalupe, pray for us.”
Our suggestion: a reflection for each day
This is not an official text, but our idea for retracing the history of Tepeyac over nine days:
- December 3 · The call. Our Lady calls Juan Diego by name. Ask to know how to listen.
- December 4 · Humility. She chose a humble man. Pray for those who feel small.
- December 5 · Perseverance. The bishop did not believe him at first. Ask for perseverance.
- December 6 · Illness. Juan Diego cared for his sick uncle. Pray for those who are ill and for those who care for them.
- December 7 · Comfort. “Am I not here, your mother?” Place what worries you in her hands.
- December 8 · The roses. Flowers in the middle of winter. Give thanks for the good that arrived when you least expected it. (And for the Immaculate Conception.)
- December 9 · The tilma. Her image appeared on a humble piece of cloth. Pray for your home and your family.
- December 10 · The peoples. Our Lady of Guadalupe unites millions of people on both sides of the Atlantic. Pray for those who are far away.
- December 11 · The eve. Give thanks for these nine days and restate your intention.
A devotion that unites us
Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of Mexico, and Saint John Paul II proclaimed her in 1999 the patroness of all the Americas, with December 12 celebrated as a feast day throughout the continent. The 500th anniversary of the apparitions will be observed in 2031, and the Church in Mexico has been preparing for it since 2022 with a major nine-year “novena.” For us, who have lived in and traveled extensively throughout Latin America, this is especially moving: it is a faith and a history that unite us.
Living the novena with her medal
At Khartes, Our Lady of Guadalupe is always paired with Saint Jude Thaddeus: our medals feature Saint Jude on one side and Our Lady of Guadalupe on the other—two of Mexico’s most beloved devotions in a single piece (find out why in Saint Jude Thaddeus and Our Lady of Guadalupe: the history of a shared devotion). Some people put it on the first day of the novena and never take it off, while others give it on the 12th to a Guadalupe, Lupe, or Lupita: find ideas in gifts for a Guadalupe and in Happy Guadalupe Day, Lupe!.
Khartes Medals
Carry Our Lady of Guadalupe with you
Saint Jude Thaddeus and Our Lady of Guadalupe with Amazonite€69I want it
Saint Jude Thaddeus and Our Lady of Guadalupe with Lapis Lazuli€65I want it
Saint Jude Thaddeus and Our Lady of Guadalupe with Amethyst€65I want it
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They are all handmade in Spain, come with a chain and are packaged as gifts, and we ship throughout the European Union, Latin America, and the United States.
Facts you can check
- The dates of the novena (December 3–11), the apparitions from December 9 to 12, 1531, and the tilma with the roses: ACI Prensa, “Today the Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe Begins”.
- The Nican Mopohua, a Nahuatl account from the mid-16th century: Opus Dei, “December 12, Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe”.
- The nine-year novena (2022–2031) leading up to the fifth centenary: ACI Prensa.
The most beautiful medals in the world are at Khartes.
Marian and Bárbara
The most beautiful medals are at www.khartesmadrid.com. And if you want to see more, follow us on Instagram: @khartesmadrid.