December 9th - St. Juan Diego
Juan Diego was born in 1474 in the calpulli or ward of Tlayacac in
Cuauhtitlan,
which was established in 1168 by Nahua tribesmen and conquered by the
Aztec lord
Axayacatl in 1467; and was located 20 kilometers (14 miles) north of
Tenochtitlan (Mexico City).
On December 9, 1531, a native Mexican named Juan Diego rose before dawn to
walk
fifteen miles to daily Mass in what is now Mexico City. Juan lived a
simple life
as a weaver, farmer, and laborer. That morning, as Juan passed Tepeyac
Hill, he
heard music and saw a glowing cloud encircled by a rainbow. A woman's
voice
called him to the top of the hill. There he saw a beautiful young woman
dressed
like an Aztec princess. She said she was the Virgin Mary and asked Juan to
tell
the bishop to build a church on that site. She said, "I vividly desire
that a
church be built on this site, so that in it I can be present and give my
love,
compassion, help, and defense, for I am your most devoted mother . . . to
hear
your laments and to remedy all your miseries, pains, and sufferings."
The bishop was kind but skeptical. He asked Juan to bring proof of the
Lady's
identity. Before Juan could go back to the Lady, he found out his uncle
was
dying. Hurrying to get a priest, Juan missed his meeting with the Lady.
The
Lady, however, met him on his path and told him that his uncle had been
cured.
She then told Juan to climb to the top of the hill where they first met.
Juan
was shocked to find flowers growing in the frozen soil. He gathered them
in his
cloak and took them at once to the bishop.
Juan told the bishop what had happened and opened his cloak. The flowers
that
fell to the ground were Castilian roses (which were not grown in Mexico).
But
the bishop's eyes were on the glowing image of the Lady imprinted inside
Juan's
cloak.
Soon after, a church was built on the site where our Lady appeared, and
thousands converted to Christianity. Our Lady of Guadalupe was declared
the
patroness of the Americas.
He died on May 30, 1548, at the age of 74.
Juan Diego deeply loved the Holy Eucharist, and by special permission of
the
Bishop he received Holy Communion three times a week, a highly unusual
occurrence in those times.
Pope John Paul II praised Juan Diego for his simple faith nourished by
catechesis and pictured him (who said to the Blessed Virgin Mary: "I am a
nobody, I am a small rope, a tiny ladder, the tail end, a leaf") as a
model of
humility for all of us.
In His Footsteps:
Juan walked fifteen miles to attend Mass every day. Participate in Mass
one day
this week that is not a Sunday Mass. If this is impossible, take a long
walk
outside and notice the miracles of God's love during that walk. You may
not see
roses in the snow or hear music, but there is plenty to praise God for!
Prayer: Blessed Juan, you faced the skepticism and rejection of a bishop
and the
crowds to bring Mary's message to Mexico. Pray for us that when we are
faced
with obstacles to our faith we may show that same courage and commitment.
Amen
Pope John Paul II - Homily During Juan Diego's Canonization - 31 July 2002
1. I thank you, Father ... that you have hidden these things from the wise
and
understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was your
gracious will" (Mt 11:25-26).
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
These words of Jesus in today's Gospel are a special invitation to us to
praise
and thank God for the gift of the first indigenous Saint of the American
Continent.
With deep joy I have come on pilgrimage to this Basilica of Our Lady of
Guadalupe, the Marian heart of Mexico and of America, to proclaim the
holiness
of Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, the simple, humble Indian who contemplated
the
sweet and serene face of Our Lady of Tepeyac, so dear to the people of
Mexico.
2. I am grateful for the kind words of Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera,
Archbishop of Mexico City, and for the warm hospitality of the people of
this
Primatial Archdiocese: my cordial greeting goes to everyone. I also greet
with
affection Cardinal Ernesto Corripio Ahumada, Archbishop Emeritus of Mexico
City,
and the other Cardinals, as well as the Bishops of Mexico, of America, of
the
Philippines and of other places in the world. I am likewise particularly
grateful to the President and the civil Authorities for their presence at
this
celebration.
Today I address a very affectionate greeting to the many indigenous people
who
have come from the different regions of the country, representing the
various
ethnic groups and cultures which make up the rich, multifaceted Mexican
reality.
The Pope expresses his closeness to them, his deep respect and admiration,
and
receives them fraternally in the Lord's name.
3. What was Juan Diego like? Why did God look upon him? The Book of
Sirach, as
we have heard, teaches us that God alone "is mighty; he is glorified by
the
humble" (cf. Sir 3:20). Saint Paul's words, also proclaimed at this
celebration,
shed light on the divine way of bringing about salvation: "God chose what
is low
and despised in the world ... so that no human being might boast in the
presence
of God" (1 Cor 1:28,29).
It is moving to read the accounts of Guadalupe, sensitively written and
steeped
in tenderness. In them the Virgin Mary, the handmaid "who glorified the
Lord"
(Lk 1:46), reveals herself to Juan Diego as the Mother of the true God. As
a
sign, she gives him precious roses, and as he shows them to the Bishop, he
discovers the blessed image of Our Lady imprinted on his tilma.
"The Guadalupe Event," as the Mexican Episcopate has pointed out, "meant
the
beginning of evangelization with a vitality that surpassed all
expectations.
Christ's message, through his Mother, took up the central elements of the
indigenous culture, purified them and gave them the definitive sense of
salvation" (14 May 2002, No. 8). Consequently Guadalupe and Juan Diego
have a
deep ecclesial and missionary meaning and are a model of perfectly
inculturated
evangelization.
4. "The Lord looks down from heaven, he sees all the sons of men" (Ps
33:13), we
recited with the Psalmist, once again confessing our faith in God, who
makes no
distinctions of race or culture. In accepting the Christian message
without
forgoing his indigenous identity, Juan Diego discovered the profound truth
of
the new humanity, in which all are called to be children of God. Thus he
facilitated the fruitful meeting of two worlds and became the catalyst for
the
new Mexican identity, closely united to Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose
mestizo
face expresses her spiritual motherhood which embraces all Mexicans. This
is why
the witness of his life must continue to be the inspiration for the
building up
of the Mexican nation, encouraging brotherhood among all its children and
ever
helping to reconcile Mexico with its origins, values, and traditions.
The noble task of building a better Mexico, with greater justice and
solidarity,
demands the cooperation of all. In particular, it is necessary today to
sup****t
the indigenous peoples in their legitimate aspirations, respecting and
defending
the authentic values of each ethnic group. Mexico needs its indigenous
peoples
and these peoples need Mexico!
Beloved bothers and sisters of every ethnic background of Mexico and
America,
today, in praising the Indian Juan Diego, I want to express to all of you
the
closeness of the Church and the Pope, embracing you with love and
encouraging
you to overcome with hope the difficult times you are going through.
5. At this decisive moment in Mexico's history, having already crossed the
threshold of the new millennium, I entrust to the powerful intercession of
Saint
Juan Diego the joys and hopes, the fears and anxieties of the beloved
Mexican
people, whom I carry in my heart.
Blessed Juan Diego, a good, Christian Indian, whom simple people have
always
considered a saint! We ask you to accompany the Church on her pilgrimage
in
Mexico, so that she may be more evangelizing and more missionary each day.
Encourage the Bishops, sup****t the priests, inspire new and holy
vocations, help
all those who give their lives to the cause of Christ and the spread of
his
Kingdom.
Happy Juan Diego, true and faithful man! We entrust to you our lay
brothers and
sisters so that, feeling the call to holiness, they may imbue every area
of
social life with the spirit of the Gospel. Bless families, strengthen
spouses in
their marriage, sustain the efforts of parents to give their children a
Christian upbringing. Look with favor upon the pain of those who are
suffering
in body or in spirit, on those afflicted by poverty, loneliness,
marginalization, or ignorance. May all people, civic leaders and ordinary
citizens, always act in accordance with the demands of justice and with
respect
for the dignity of each person, so that in this way peace may be
reinforced.
Beloved Juan Diego, "the talking eagle"! Show us the way that leads to the
"Dark
Virgin" of Tepeyac, that she may receive us in the depths of her heart,
for she
is the loving, compassionate Mother who guides us to the true God. Amen.
Saint Quote:
If the Church is true, all in her is true; he who admits not the one,
believes
not the other.
-Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich
Bible Quote:
He who causes a sinner to be converted from his misguided way, will save
his
soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:20)
<><><><><>
Prayer to St. Juan Diego
You who were chosen by Our Lady of Guadalupe as an
instrument to show your people and the world that the way of
Christianity is one of love, compassion, understanding,
values, sacrifices, repentance of our sins, appreciation and
respect for God's creation, and most of all one of humility and
obedience;
You whom we know is now in the Kingdom of the Lord and
close to our Mother;
Be our angel and protect us, stay with us as we struggle in
this modern life often not knowing where to set our priorities;
Help us to pray to our God to obtain the gifts of the Holy Spirit
and use them for the good of humanity and the good of our
Church, through the Heart of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the
Heart of Jesus. Amen.
|
