Within the Archdiocese of Denver, on December 16th, we have the privilege of celebrating a special Mass honoring Mary that is not found anywhere else in the USA. The memorial is known as Our Lady of the New Advent. This memorial was established in 1992 and is based upon an icon that was written in 1991 by a priest within the Archdiocese of Denver, Fr. William McNichols. The icon follows a pattern of traditional Marian icons in which the Christ child is superimposed on Mary rather than held by her. Mary is dressed in purple, the traditional color for Advent, and the icon possesses several features that highlight our state; the infant Jesus is holding a columbine, the Colorado state flower, and in the background one can see the Rocky Mountains.
This icon has a strong association with our patron, St. John Paul II. In 1993, Archbishop Stafford presented Pope John Paul II with this icon when he came for World Youth Day. On August 12, 1993, at the opening of World Youth Day in Denver, Pope St. John Paul II prayed:
“O Mary, Our Lady of the new Advent, who kept all these things, pondering them in your heart, teach these young people to be good listeners to your Son, the Word of Life.”
By God’s providence (not coincidence!) the very first Board meeting of this new high school—before we had even established our name—occurred on December 16, 2019, on the feast of Our Lady of the New Advent! The prayer for this memorial was written by the Benedictine nuns of the Abbey of St. Walburga, and I encourage all student families to pray this prayer at some time during this special day. Pray especially that our school may be a “fiery icon” bringing the light of Christ to a culture in desperate need of salvation!
May God Bless you!
Deacon Rob Lanciotti
Chairman of the Board, Chesterton Academy of St John Paul II
Prayer to Our Lady of the New Advent
O Lady and Mother of the One who was and is and is to come,
dawn of the New Jerusalem, we earnestly beseech you,
bring us by your intercession so to live in love that the Church,
the Body of Christ, may stand in this world’s dark as fiery icon of the New Jerusalem.
We ask you to obtain for us this mercy through Jesus Christ, your Son and Lord,
who lives and reigns with the Father in the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.