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Consecration Curriculum High School Lesson: The Kerygma and the History of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Lesson: The Kerygma and the High School Teacher Guide p. 1 of 6 History of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Begin class with the Opening Opening Prayer: God our Loving Father, we lift up our Prayer. hearts in gratitude for sending Our Mother of Guadalupe to set hearts on fire in the “New World” with the saving message of the Gospel. She is our compassionate Mother and she desires to remedy our troubles, miseries and pain by bringing us into a saving friendship with her Son Jesus Christ. We turn again with renewed confidence and outstretched arms to our Virgin Mother of Guadalupe to set our hearts on fire in our Diocese of Metuchen as we prepare to be consecrated to her maternal care. Give to each one of us a desire to be a missionary —so that the world may come to know the transformative love of Christ through us. Mother of the Americas and Star of the New Evangelization, pray for us.

Show or distribute “Christ Prompt: Students, I am going to share an image with you Healing the Blind Man” and called “Christ Healing the Blind Man” by Eustache Le Sueur timeline. Then read aloud the and a timeline telling the story of Juan Diego and Our Lady prompt. of Guadalupe. Take a few moments to examine each. Write an answer to this question: Write the question on the board. Then give students 5–10 minutes Question: What do the stories of “Christ Healing the Blind to examine the image and timeline and write down initial Man” and Juan Diego have in common? List any similarities answers to the question. you notice.

When you ready to move to the Prompt: Students, let’s pool together your ideas about what discussion, read aloud the prompt. these two stories have in common.

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Diocese of Metuchen ed Consecration to

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Gwen Adams, Bardstreet.com Adams, Gwen Dr. Dr.

Lesson: The Kerygma and the High School Teacher Guide p. 2 of 6 History of Our Lady of Guadalupe Discussion Lead students in a discussion by 1. Is the kneeling man rich or poor? How can you tell? asking the following questions. He is poor. You can tell from his robe and belt, which are a little ragged Good answers are provided at the edges. His name is Bartimaeus. He is a blind beggar. below each question. 2. What is a beggar? A beggar is someone who has no money and is not able to work, so he Questions on Our Lady of must ask other people to give him money in order to live. Bartimaeus is Guadalupe and Juan Diego can be very poor. answered by referencing the timeline. Sources for good 3. Was Juan Diego poor? answers are indicated in the (See Timeline B) Juan Diego was not economically poor. He was suggested answers. considered middle-class but unimportant socially.

Students may not know the 4. Was Juan Diego poor in other ways? Was there anything answers to questions concerning wrong in his life? the blind man and related scripture. (See Timeline F and I) Yes. His wife had died a few years earlier. His Continue to involve them in the closest relative, uncle Juan Bernardino, was dying. discussion by asking them to guess 5. So what do Bartimaeus and Juan Diego have in common? at the answers and letting them They suffered. Bartimaeus was blind and poor. Juan Diego had his lost share their thoughts and reactions. beloved wife and seemed about to lose his uncle.

Read aloud the prompt to begin Prompt: What else did they have in common? How about in their the next part of the discussion. culture? The entire parable of the Good Samaritan is found in Luke 10:30– Scripture tells us Bartimaeus lived in Jericho. After meeting Bartimaeus, 37. Jesus next meets Zacchaeus, a person hated throughout Jericho. He was a tax collector who cheated, overtaxing people and keeping the extra. People were shocked Jesus spoke to him and shared a meal with him. They stood around talking: “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner!” (Luke 19:7).

For the early Christians and , the city of Jericho was a symbol for everything bad in the world. In fact, Jesus sets one of his most famous stories near Jericho: the parable of the “Good Samaritan.” That parable begins with someone going down to Jericho. On his way, he is attacked by

thieves who take everything and beat him up, leaving him for dead.

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Diocese of Metuchen ed Consecration to

Our Lady of Guadalupe design and Written

Gwen Adams, Bardstreet.com Adams, Gwen Dr. Dr.

Lesson: The Kerygma and the High School Teacher Guide p. 3 of 6 History of Our Lady of Guadalupe Continue to read aloud the Prompt (continued): Later in the parable, two people, including a prompt to begin the next part of , see him dying by the side of the road. Instead of helping him, they the discussion. cross to the other side of the road. That’s Jericho. If you can think of something bad, you will find it in Jericho.

When the first human beings, Adam and Eve, lost their trust in God and sinned, it hurt our friendship with God. Without God, sin, sickness, and all bad things entered our world. Jericho was a symbol of the world without God.

Continue with the discussion. 6. Jericho was the world of Bartimaeus. What do we know about Juan Diego’s world? (See Timeline A) First, Juan Diego grew up in a world ruled by the Aztec Empire. The Aztecs believed they had to nourish their gods with human sacrifices to preserve their civilization. Part of their involved violent killings. Imagine the anxiety of living like your fate depended on keeping the gods happy. Those gods were not interested in helping you.

(See Timeline C, D, and E) Second, when Juan Diego was about 45, between 1519–1521, Hernán Cortes conquered the capital city of the Aztecs. Spain established a new government in Mexico. Human sacrifice was soon outlawed. Missionaries came to teach people about the love of Jesus and the faith. Juan Diego, his wife and his uncle were baptized, but not many others became followers of Christ.

*Note to the teacher: Juan (See Timeline F) Why? One reason might be the fact that the new de Zumárraga was selected to government officials, although Catholic, had no interest in helping the become the , but he was people of Mexico. *Bishop-elect Friar Juan de Zumárraga smuggled a not actually consecrated bishop letter to the emperor of Spain to tell him about the problems of the until 1533, two years after the new government. They were selling people into slavery, kidnapping, stealing, and murdering. “If God does not provide the remedy from His events of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Hand, the land is about to be completely lost,” wrote Zumárraga. For this reason, he is referred to as “Bishop-elect.” With such bad example given by Catholics, it is no surprise that few were interested in hearing about the love of Jesus and the Catholic faith.

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Diocese of Metuchen ed Consecration to

Our Lady of Guadalupe design and Written

Gwen Adams, Bardstreet.com Adams, Gwen Dr. Dr.

Lesson: The Kerygma and the High School Teacher Guide p. 4 of 6 History of Our Lady of Guadalupe Continue with the discussion. 7. So, to summarize, what did Bartimaeus’ world have in common with Juan Diego’s world? Bartimaeus’ world was full of sin: for example, Zacchaeus’ cheating, and in Jesus’ parable set near Jericho, the theft and violence of the thieves, the hypocrisy of the priest who crossed the road. Juan Diego’s world was also full of sin: for example, the violence of the Aztec religion, the slavery, kidnapping, stealing, murdering, and hypocrisy of some of the new Catholic Spanish leaders.

Both Bartimaeus and Juan Diego lived in very sad worlds, where it seemed like God had no interest in human suffering or happiness.

As part of the discussion, read Prompt: Let’s look at a few more similarities between the story of aloud the prompt. Bartimaeus and Juan Diego. How many times has Bartimaeus spoken to Jesus by the part of the story shown in the image “Christ Healing the Blind Man”? Let me share the story with you and then I’ll ask the question again.

Show or distribute the copy of Scripture: ( 10:47–52) When he heard that it was Jesus of the passage from Scripture (Mark Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy 10:47–52). Then read aloud the on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried scripture verse. out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; rise, he is calling you.” And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Master, let me receive my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed him.

Continue with the discussion. 8. How many times has Bartimaeus spoken to Jesus by the part of the story shown in the image “Christ Healing the Blind Man”? Two times. First, Bartimaeus heard Jesus passing by and called him. Second, people told Bartimaeus to stop, but he kept calling. Third, after Jesus asks his disciples to call him, Bartimaeus hurries forward and asks Jesus, “Master, let me receive my sight.” The painting shows Bartimaeus hurrying forward, just before he speaks to Jesus for a third time.

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Diocese of Metuchen ed Consecration to

Our Lady of Guadalupe design and Written

Gwen Adams, Bardstreet.com Adams, Gwen Dr. Dr.

Lesson: The Kerygma and the High School Teacher Guide p. 5 of 6 History of Our Lady of Guadalupe Continue with the discussion. 9. How many times does Juan Diego go to Bishop-elect Friar Juan de Zumárraga to tell him about Our Lady of Guadalupe? (See Timeline G, H, and J) Three times. The first time Juan Diego told his story, Zumárraga did not believe him and sent him away. The second time, Zumárraga sent Juan Diego away and told him to come back with a sign. The third time, Juan Diego returned with a sign, his tilma full of roses in the middle of winter, and, on the tilma, the amazing image of Our Lady herself.

10. How did people react to Bartimaeus calling Jesus for help? How did people react to Juan Diego’s story of Our Lady? (See Timeline G, H, and J). They told Bartimaeus to be quiet. They did not believe Juan Diego. On his third trip, the servants tried to prevent Juan Diego from seeing Zumárraga.

11. Jesus heals Bartimaeus. Look at the image “Christ Healing the Blind Man.” How are people reacting to the miracle? They are amazed. Later, Jesus goes to have dinner with Zacchaeus the sinner and to free him from his sins. That also amazes people.

12. How do Zumárraga and the others react when they see the roses and the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Juan Diego’s tilma? How does Juan Diego react when he discovers his uncle has been healed? (See Timeline J and K). They are amazed.

13. Let’s summarize these other similarities. What do the stories of “Christ Healing the Blind Man” and Juan Diego have in common? People discouraged Bartimaeus and Juan Diego from getting close to God and doing his will, but both persevered with faith. In the end, Bartimaeus was healed, Zacchaeus was forgiven, Juan Diego’s uncle was healed, and Juan Diego was given an incredible sign of God’s love and the love of his mother.

(See Timeline M) Between 1531–1539, nine million people in Mexico received and became followers of Christ. And people were amazed by God’s power and love.

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Diocese of Metuchen ed Consecration to

Our Lady of Guadalupe design and Written Gwen Adams, Bardstreet.com Adams, Gwen

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Lesson: The Kerygma and the High School Teacher Guide p. 6 of 6 History of Our Lady of Guadalupe Continue with the discussion. 14. We’ve discussed similarities between the worlds of “Christ Healing the Blind Man” and Juan Diego. Are there similarities between their worlds and ours? Our world also sees the impact of sin: death, disease, famine, natural disasters, family breakdown, addiction, war, crime, violence, ignoring the suffering, hypocrisy, problems between nations, within nations, and in every home, school, and town.

End the discussion by reading aloud Prompt: What about personally? Are there similarities between the the prompt. You can direct the lives of Bartimaeus, Zacchaeus, Juan Diego and our own lives? students to answer aloud, to write their answer, or to think quietly Let’s take a few moments to think. Is everything in my life perfect? Or about how they would answer the am I like Bartimaeus, Zacchaeus, and Juan Diego? Is there something in question without saying their my life that I want Jesus to heal? It can be anything. A sin: maybe I hurt answers aloud. someone’s feelings and I am ashamed. It could be a problem in my family or at school, sickness, sadness, any kind of problem.

People told Bartimaeus to be quiet. Everyone looked down on Zacchaeus because he sinned; they thought he could never change. Bishop-elect Friar Zumárraga sent Juan Diego away. They had to persist in their faith. And God did not fail them. If we go to Jesus like Bartimaeus, Zacchaeus, and Juan Diego, we can be sure Jesus will heal us. Jesus can forgive any sin and help with any problem.

Take-home activity

Distribute the take-home assignment. Assignment Text: Spend a little time looking at the images on the The assignment asks a question. take-home assignment and considering the quotations. If you want, you ANSWER: B) Jesus’ words to can talk to Christ or Mary in your own words. If there is anything you Bartimaeus. C) Mary’s words to Juan want Jesus to heal, you can ask him and say what Bartimaeus said: Diego. A) Jesus’ words to Zacchaeus. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

End class by reading aloud the Scripture: (Luke 19:10) “For the son of man came to seek and to save following scripture verse. the lost.”

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Diocese of Metuchen ed Consecration to

Our Lady of Guadalupe design and Written

Gwen Adams, Bardstreet.com Adams, Gwen Dr. Dr.

(A) 1200s–1519: The Aztec Empire (G) December 9, 1531: First Apparition: Juan Diego is drawn by mysterious and beautiful singing to Tepeyac hill, comes to dominate Mexico. One aspect where Mary, the Mother of Jesus, appears as Our Lady of Guadalupe and greets Juan Diego. She tells him to of Aztec religion teaches that they must deliver a message to Bishop-elect Friar Juan de Zumárraga: she wishes a church to be built at Tepeyac hill, so she nourish their gods with human can introduce her son Jesus “to all people in all my personal love.” sacrifices to preserve their civilization. Juan Diego explains Mary’s message to Zumárraga, who does not believe him and sends him away. Part of their worship involves violent ritual killings. Second Apparition: Juan Diego returns to Our Lady of Guadalupe who encourages him to try again.

(H) December 10, 1531: Juan Diego returns to Zumárraga, who asks him to bring back a sign. (B) 1474: Juan Diego is born. He Zumárraga sends two servants to follow Juan Diego and see if he is inventing the story. was considered middle-class but socially unimportant. Third apparition: Juan Diego returns to Our Lady of Guadalupe who encourages him to return the next morning to see her and receive the needed sign. (C) 1519–1521: Hernán Cortes conquers the capital city of the (I) December 11, 1531: Uncle Juan Bernardino becomes sick and is dying. The doctor can do Aztecs. Spain establishes a new nothing for uncle Juan Bernardino. Juan Diego spends the day caring for his uncle and does not government in Mexico. Human visit Tepeyac hill. sacrifice is soon outlawed. (J) December 12, 1531: Juan Diego goes to get a priest to give his uncle the Last and prepare him for death. (D) 1522: The first Christian missionaries arrive in Mexico to Fourth Apparition: On his way to get the priest, Our Lady of Guadalupe teach people about the love of Jesus meets Juan Diego and promises him that all will be well. She helps him and the Catholic faith. gather beautiful roses mysteriously blooming in the middle of winter amid the other Tepayac hill cactus and scrubby plants. She arranges and wraps the roses in Juan Diego’s tilma (cloak) to give to Zumárraga. (E) 1524: Juan Diego, his wife María Lucía, and Juan Diego’s uncle Juan Diego returns to see Zumárraga. The servants try to prevent Juan Juan Bernardino are baptized Diego from seeing him, but then they catch a glimpse of the roses. They Christian, but not many others take him to see the bishop-elect. Juan Diego opens his tilma and there is the become followers of Christ. sign: his tilma full of roses and, on the tilma, the amazing image of Our Lady herself. Zumárraga and the others are amazed. Zumárraga orders the church to be built. (F) 1529: María Lucía dies. (K) Meanwhile, Our Lady of Guadalupe also appears to uncle Juan Although Catholic, the new Spanish government officials have no Bernardino, tells him her name and everything that has happened. She heals interest in helping the people of Mexico. Bishop-elect Friar Juan de him completely. When Juan Diego returns home, he is amazed. His uncle is Zumárraga smuggles a letter to the emperor of Spain to tell him better, just as Mary promised. about the problems of the new government, which is selling people (L) December 26, 1531: The new church is dedicated on Tepeyac hill. The into slavery, kidnapping, stealing, and murdering. image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is kept there for people to visit. “If God does not provide the remedy from His Hand, the land is about to be completely lost,” writes Zumárraga. (M) 1531–1539: Nine million people in Mexico receive baptism and become followers of Christ.

Our Lady of Guadalupe and Juan Diego, Copyright © 2002, Daughters of St. Paul | Timeline written and designed by Dr. Gwen Adams, Bardstreet.com

Mark 10:47–52

When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; rise, he is calling you.” And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Master, let me receive my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed him.

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Diocese of Metuchen ed Consecration to

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Written and design and Written

Gwen Adams, Bardstreet.com Adams, Gwen

Dr. Dr.

JESUS CAME TO SAVE US A) “For the son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Are these Jesus’ words to Bartimaeus? Mary’s words to Juan Diego? Or Jesus’ words to Zacchaeus?

Eustache Le Sueur, Christ Healing the Blind Man

B) “What do you want me to do for you?”

Are these Jesus’ words to Bartimaeus? Mary’s words to Juan Diego? Or Jesus’ words to Zacchaeus?

Our Lady of Guadalupe and Juan Diego Copyright © 2002, Daughters of St. Paul

C) “Listen, put it into your heart,

my youngest son, that what frightened you, what afflicted you, is nothing; do not let it disturb your face, your heart; do not fear this sickness nor any other sickness, nor any sharp and hurtful thing. Am I not here?”

Are these Jesus’ words to Bartimaeus? Mary’s words to Juan Diego? Or Jesus’ words to Zacchaeus? Niels Larsen Stevns, Zakæus