The last few days Ive been going crazy because of the sirens that roll by every few hours out here in the pueblo where we are staying with Cris family, accompanied by cyclists or a van full of people following a runner with at torch. I never saw this while in the Riviera Maya; out here in Tabasco Ive been getting to explore all sorts of backwoods, rural traditions of the pueblos that are part of our #gonative and #exploremexico initiative with our latest book: Mexico - Gone Native. On sale now at https://gumroad/l/TtBjr So whats up? Well, these guys are part of the Antorchistas Guadalupanos. They are a religious group who, every year in December, carry out a tradition based on the founder, Saint Juan Diego, who had to run back and forth many times to get a church built. The story goes that one morning Juan Diego (the founder of the group) was headed to Mass, because at that time December 9 was the date for the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception throughout the Spanish Empire. As he walked along Tepeyac Hill, he began to hear beautiful strains of music, and he saw a beautiful lady, who called his name: Juanito, Juan Dieguito. He approached, and she said, Know for certain, least of my sons, that I am the perfect and perpetual Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, the true God, through whom everything lives, the Lord of all things near and far, the Master of Heaven and earth. It is my earnest wish that a temple be built here to my honor. Here I will demonstrate, I will manifest, I will give all my love, my compassion, my help and my protection to the people. I am your merciful mother, the merciful mother of all of you who live united in this land, and of all mankind, of all those who love me, of those who cry to me, of those who seek me, and of those who have confidence in me. Here I will hear their weeping, their sorrow, and will remedy and alleviate all their multiple sufferings, necessities, and misfortunes. She told Juan Diego to go tell Bishop Zumarraga of her desire for a church to be built at the site. Tradition holds that Juan Diego asked our Blessed Mother her name. She responded in his native language of Nahuatl, Tlecuatlecupe, which means the one who crushes the head of the serpent (a reference to Genesis 3:15 and perhaps to the prominent symbol of the Aztec religion). Tlecuatlecupe when correctly pronounced, sounds remarkably similar to Guadalupe. Consequently, when Juan Diego told Bishop Zumarraga her name in his native tongue, he probably confused it with the familiar Spanish name Guadalupe, a city with a prominent Marian shrine. Bishop Zumarraga was a saintly man, very just and compassionate. He built the first hospital, library and university in the Americas. He also was the Protector of the Indians, entrusted by Emperor Charles V to enforce his decree issued in August 1530, stating, No person shall dare to make a single Indian a slave whether in war or in peace. Whether by barter, by purchase, by trade, or on any other pretext or cause whatever. (Note that in 1537 Pope Paul III condemned and forbade the enslavement of the Native American Indian.) However, Bishop Zumarraga listened patiently to Juan Diego, and said he would reflect on the matter, understandably doubting such a story. Juan Diego went back to Tepayac and reported the bishops response. Mary instructed him to try again. So the next day, he did. Although this time it was more difficult to see the bishop, Juan Diego prevailed, and the bishop once more listened patiently. However, the bishop asked him to bring back a sign from Mary to prove the story. Again, Juan Diego reported the matter to our Blessed Mother, who told him to return the next day to receive the sign for the bishop. On December 11, Juan Diego spent the day caring for his very sick uncle, Juan Bernardino. He asked Juan Diego to go and bring a priest who would hear his confession and administer the last rites. On December 12, Juan Diego set out again, but avoided Tepeyac Hill because he was ashamed that he had not returned the previous day as our Blessed Mother had requested. While making his detour, the Blessed Mother stopped him and said, Hear and let it penetrate into your heart, my dear little son: let nothing discourage you, nothing depress you. Let nothing alter your heart or your countenance. Also, do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am your mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else that you need? Mary reassured Juan Diego that his uncle would not die; in fact, his health had been restored. As for the sign for the bishop, Mary told Juan Diego to go to the top of the mountain and pick some flowers. He went up to the hill which was dry and barren a place for cactus and found roses like those grown in Castille, but foreign to Mexico. He gathered them in his tilma, a garment like a poncho. He brought them to Mary who arranged them and said to take them to the bishop. Juan Diego proceeded again to Bishop Zumarragas house. After waiting a while for an audience, he repeated the message to the bishop and opened his tilma to present the roses. The bishop saw not only the beautiful flowers but also the beautiful image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Bishop Zumarraga wept at the sight of the Blessed Mother and asked forgiveness for doubting. He took the tilma and laid it at the altar in his chapel. By Christmas of that year, an adobe structure was built atop Tepeyac Hill in honor of our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and it was dedicated on December 26, 1531, the feast of St. Stephen the Martyr. The full story can be found here: catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/saint-juan-diego-and-our-lady.html This is life in the pueblos of Mexico :) For more information on what its like to live and travel here on a long-term basis, check out our latest book: Mexico - Gone Native https://gumroad/l/TtBjr #Mexico #travel #tradition #culture #livingabroad
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 16:21:53 +0000
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