• Afflictions

    From Weedy@21:1/5 to All on Tue Dec 8 22:52:36 2020
    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?

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    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.

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