Mary of the Americas Our Lady of the Guadalupe by Christopher Rengers OFM Cap, Capuchin Friars Province of St. Augustine, is a classic to Franciscans. On this feast of the Annunciation, here’s why it is worth finding a copy of the book.
Why is Mary of the Americas Our Lady of the Guadalupe” a unique publication?
This is a book written by a Franciscan. Given the apparition of Mary included a Franciscan bishop, having a writer who also has the same Franciscan charism gives the chapters of this book special significance.
Why do you think the author was drawn to made Americans aware of the apparition?
John Petrikovic OFM Cap who lived with the author makes this comment. “Christopher was certainly an avid promoter. His musical presentation by his Capuchin Troup was certainly attractive in style and quality, but again, I was not living with hm in DC during the years when the following grew. With me living in Rome for 10 years, my memories are of his giving me letters for the Roman Congregations promoting Joseph’s name in the Eucharistic Prayer. I assume that his volume of letters played some part in its eventual acceptance. In any case, I confess it’s an absolute wonder to me that the Christopher I knew would attract so many co-workers and laity. Do you think the indulgences offered played a part? Perhaps the Hispanic quality to the devotion was also cherished by many of our Central Americans.”
Given that Bishop Zumarraga was also Franciscan, we feel this book would be one others would like to pick up. Do you have many copies among your own fraternity?
“We have one copy of his book on the Doctors of the Church, but also one book about our Lady of the Americas. We also has one on Jacinta Marto, the visionary of Fatima. These are books best scoped out in Franciscan Convents founded in the later 1800 or early 1900’s today.”
‘Definitely an ascetic with a dry sense of humor. When he was committed to something, he was all-in – and unstoppable, even if he was frail-looking, very thin and spoke in silent tones. It’s amazing that he accomplished his goals with patience and persistence. I lived in DC with him from 1976-1980. There was, and will always be, only one Christopher Rengers, for sure. . .” -John Petrikovic, OFM Cap
Can you share anything more about the author?
David Nestler OFM Cap wrote a lovely tribute to Brother Christopher Rengers after his death in January of 2010. We share a bit more about Brother Christopher and his love for Our Lady of Guadalupe.
“He began a group of amateur actors, The Capuchin Troupe; which performed dramatic versions of the story of Jesus’ Passion and also the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe. These dramas eventually went on the road and audio versions were recorded on long-playing records. Father Christopher came up with the title, The Capuchin Troupe, because in his vocation promotion work he discovered that the word “Capuchin” was little known. People knew Franciscan, Catholic, Saint Francis, Saint Anthony, and so on; but they did not know “Capuchin.” He wanted the Capuchin Order to have a recognizable identity.
The Capuchin Troupe gave voice to the first expression of a lifelong devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Blessed Mother appeared to a simple villager four times in 1531 with a message of love and care, leaving her image in Juan Diego’s tilma. Our Lady of Guadalupe would be named the patroness of the Americas, and Father Christopher promoted that devotion unabashedly for decades.
From 1980 until his health would not allow him to do so anymore, he led two pilgrimages each year to Tepeyac Hill and Mexico City, the site of the apparitions and the basilica that stands to the glory of God and the honor his son’s humble and caring mother.
Christopher was very instrumental in the organizing and launching of a national apostolate of devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Many, many hours and days of planning went into establishing the guild and organizing a meeting at Mount Saint Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland in 1974 to discuss the project. This effort brought the bishop of Gallup, New Mexico as well as the bishop of Corpus Christi, Texas to Maryland. So eager was he to spread this devotion, that everyone Christopher ever came into contact with — from the visitor to Capuchin College, to the person entering the confessional at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, to the waitress at the restaurant in Breezewood and the toll booth worker on the Pennsylvania Turnpike — was offered a holy card of some kind with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on one side, and a prayer on the other.”
The Lord bless your search for this Franciscan treasure!
The post Mary of the Americas Our Lady of Guadalupe by Christopher Rengers OFM Cap appeared first on Franciscan Sisters.