Afflictions

  Whenever we suffer some affliction, we should regard it both as
punishment and as a correction. Our holy Scriptures themselves do not
promise us peace, security and rest. On the contrary, the Gospel makes
no secret of the troubles and temptations that await us, but it also
says that he who perseveres to the end will be saved. So we must not
grumble, my brothers, and for as the Apostle Paul says: "...some of
them murmured, and perished by the destroyer. " (1 Col. 10:10) Is
there any affliction now endured by mankind that was not endured by
our fathers before us? What sufferings of ours even bear comparison
with what we know of their sufferings? How then can you think that
past ages were better than your own?

<<>><<>><<>>
December 9th - St. Juan Diego
 (1474-1548)

Thousands of people gathered in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
July 31, 2002, for the canonziation of Juan Diego, to whom the Blessed
Mother appeared in the 16th century. Pope John Paul II celebrated the
ceremony at which the poor Indian peasant became the Church's first
indigenous saint.

The Holy Father called the new saint “a simple, humble Indian” who
accepted Christianity without giving up his identity as an Indian. “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,” John Paul said. Among the thousands present for the
event were members of Mexico’s 64 indigenous groups.

First called Cuauhtlatohuac (“The eagle who speaks”), Juan Diego’s
name is forever linked with Our Lady of Guadalupe because it was to
him that she first appeared at Tepeyac hill on December 9, 1531. The
most famous part of his story is told in connection with the Feast of
Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12). After the roses gathered in his
tilma were transformed into the miraculous image of Our Lady of
Guadalupe, however, little more is said about Juan Diego.

In time he lived near the shrine constructed at Tepeyac, revered as a
holy, unselfish and compassionate catechist who taught by word and
especially by example.

During his 1990 pastoral visit to Mexico, Pope John Paul II confirmed
the long-standing liturgical cult in honor of Juan Diego, beatifying
him. Twelve years later he was proclaimed a saint.

Comment:

God counted on Juan Diego to play a humble yet huge role in bringing
the Good News to the peoples of Mexico. Overcoming his own fear and
the doubts of Bishop Juan de Zumarraga, Juan Diego cooperated with
God’s grace in showing his people that the Good News of Jesus is for everyone. Pope John Paul II used the occasion of this beatification to
urge Mexican lay men and women to assume their responsibilities for
passing on the Good News and witnessing to it.

Quote:
“Similar to ancient biblical personages who were collective
representations of all the people, we could say that Juan Diego
represents all the indigenous peoples who accepted the Gospel of
Jesus, thanks to the maternal aid of Mary, who is always inseparable
from the manifestation of her Son and the spread of the Church, as was
her presence among the Apostles on the day of Pentecost” (Pope John
Paul II, beatification homily).


Readings

Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear that sickness, nor any
other sickness or anguish. Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you
not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily
within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed
by anything.
--Our Lady to Juan Diego, 9 December 1531

Bible Quote:
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is
evil in thy sight, so that thou art justified in thy sentence and
blameless in thy judgment.
12 Restore to me the joy of thy salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors thy ways,
and sinners will return to thee.
14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God,
thou God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of thy deliverance.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth
shall show forth thy praise.  [Psalm 51:3-4,12-15]


<><><><>
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.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)