January 2013 - The Year of Faith St. Raphael’s Council of Catholic Women Page 4

Visit our Seminarians devouring a serpent, this was in 1369. in a submission bordering on terror. There they founded their town Ten- Cuauhtlatoazin was thirteen years The DCCW is sponsoring a group trip ochtitlan, which would become old when the great temple at Ten- on March 15 to visit our diocesan City. The organization of the ochtitlan was consecrated, over the seminarians at St. Vincent DePaul Aztec kingdom was very structured course of four days the priests sacri- Seminary in Boyton Beach. This is the and hierarchical. The knowledge of ficed 80,000 human victims at the major seminary, where the seminari- their mathematicians, astronomers, temple to their god. After his military ans study theology in the last five philosophers, architects, doctors, service, Cuauhtlatoazin married a years before they become priests. artists, and artisans was excellent for young woman of his social status. The bus leaves Christ the King parking that time. BUT, the laws of the physi- Together they led a modest life as lot that morning returning the same cal world remained scarcely known farmers. day. Space is limited and the $40 to them. drew its power cost includes transportation and and wealth primarily from war. The In 1519, the Spaniard Cortez disem- lunch. Call Lynn Erickson at 813-831- conquered cities had to pay a trib- barked in Mexico leading 500 sol- 3462 to make a reservation and pay- ute of various foodstuffs and men for diers, conquering the country for ment for it. war and sacrifices. The ’ Spain. In 1524 he obtained the arrival of twelve to Mexico. New CCW These missionaries quickly integrated Banner Dedicated into the Indian population, the priests goodness contrasted with the harsh- Special Thanks to CCW member ness of their Aztec priests, as well as Maggie Moren who made the new that of some . The CCW banner. She painted a picture people began to build churches, but of . Our new were reluctant to accept Baptism, CCW banner was blessed this Janu- primarily because it would require ary at our CCW Mass. The following them to abandon polygamy. essay by Maggie recounts the history

and majesty of this image. Cuauhtlatoazin, and his wife were among the first to receive Baptism, under the respected names of Juan Our Lady Of Guadalupe Diego and Maria Lucia. After the by Maggie Moren death of his wife in 1529, Juan Diego In the sixteenth century, the Blessed moved to the home of his uncle, Virgin, moved with pity for the Aztec Juan Bernardino, who had become

people who, living in the darkness of a Christian as well. On December 9, idolatry, offered to their idols multi- 1531, he set out to attend Mass cele-

tudes of human victims. One of the brated in honor of the Blessed Virgin, Aztec gods, originally considered the Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas at the Franciscan fathers’ church god of fertility, had transformed him- Feast day December 12 close to . Juan Diego self over time into a ferocious god. A Feast day of St. Juan Diego, Dec. 9 walked past Hill, suddenly symbol of the sun, this god was in he heard a gentle and resounding continuous battle with the moon and human sacrifices and cannibalism song that seemed to come from a the stars and was believed to need are almost unequaled throughout great multitude of birds. Raising his human blood to restore his strength; the course of history. eyes to the top of the hill, he saw a if he died, life would be extinguished. white and radiant cloud. He was New victims were continually offered In 1474 a child was born who was wondering if he was dreaming but all to him in perpetual sacrifice, which given the name Cuauhtlatoazin of a sudden the song stopped and a the Indians deemed essential. (“speaking eagle”). At the age of woman’s voice, gentle and graceful, three his father died and was then called him: “Juanito, Juan Dieguito!” Aztec priest had prophesied that taken in by his uncle. He was taught He quickly climbed the hill and found their nomadic people would settle in as were all young Aztecs, to join in himself in the presence of a very the place where an eagle would be domestic tasks, to behave in a digni- beautiful young woman whose gar- seen perched on a cactus, devour- fied manner, and at school, he ments shone like the sun. Speaking ing a serpent. Arriving on a swampy learned singing, dancing, and espe- to him in his native language, she island in the middle of Lake Texcoco, cially the worship of many gods. The said to him, “Juanito, my son, where the Aztecs saw the foretold sign: an priests had a very strong influence are you going?” –“Noble Lady, my eagle, perched on a cactus was over the population, whom they kept January 2013 - The Year of Faith St. Raphael’s Council of Catholic Women Page 5

Queen, I am going to the Mass in On Sunday morning after Mass, Juan cle. Our Lady replied,“my dear little

Mexico City to hear the divine things Diego went to the bishop’s house, the one, do not be distressed about your that the priest teaches us there.” “I prelate asked Juan many questions uncle’s illness, because he will not die want you to know for certain, my then asked for a tangible sign of the from it, I assure you that he will get dear son, that I am the perfect and truth of the apparition. When Juan well. Go to the top of the hill, pick always Virgin Mary, Mother of the Diego went home, the bishop had the flowers that you will see there, True God, your Mother full of mercy and bring them to me.” When Juan and love for you and all those who had arrived at the top of the hill, he love me, trust in me, and have re- was stunned, it was the month of course to me. I will hear their com- December, where the cold allows plaints and I will comfort their afflic- nothing to survive, and besides the tion and their sufferings. So that I place was too dry for flowers to might show all my love. Go now to grow there and certainly not roses. the bishop in Mexico City and tell But Juan find a great number of him that I am sending you to make flowers in bloom, Castillian roses known to him the great desire I which could only come from Spain have to see a church dedicated these roses also gave off a very to me built here.” sweet fragrance. Juan Diego gath- ered the roses, enfolded them in his Juan Diego went straight to the tilma which was made of coarse bishop, Bishop Zumaraga, a Fran- fabric and worn both as a working ciscan, the first bishop of Mexico, apron or a cloak, then went down who was a pious man and full of the hill where Mary was waiting for zeal, who had a heart overflowing him. She took the roses and rear- with kindness towards the Indians. ranged them with her own hands, He heard the poor man attentive- then she tied the lower corners of ly, but fearing an illusion, did not the tilma behind Juan Diego’s put much faith in his story. Upon neck, covering the roses. “My dear returning to his home that evening son,” said the Lady, “these flowers Juan Diego saw the apparition again him discreetly followed by two serv- are for the bishop, this is sign he re- at the top of Tepeyac Hill. Juan told ants. At Tepeyac Bridge, Juan Diego quested for him to build the church her about his mission, then added, “I disappeared from their sight, and that he has asked for.” beg you to entrust your message to despite all their searches on the hill More next month…., someone more known and respect- and in the surrounding area, they ed so that the Bishop will believe it. I could not find him again. During this am only a simple Indian whom you time, Juan Diego, told the beautiful have sent as a messenger to an im- Lady, who was waiting for him on the portant person, therefore, he didn’t hill, about his most recent meeting believe me, and I do not want to with the bishop. Mary then replied, greatly disappoint you.” Our Lady “come back tomorrow morning to then replied, “my dearest son, you seek the sign he is asking for.” must understand that there are many more noble men to whom I could Returning home, Juan found his uncle have entrusted my message and yet ill, and the next day he had to stay at it is because his uncle’s bedside to take care of of you that my him. As the illness grew worse, the plan will suc- uncle asked his nephew to go look ceed. Return for a priest. At dawn on December to the bishop 12th, Juan Diego started on the road tomorrow, tell to the city, approaching Tepeyac Hill, him that it is I he thought it best to make a detour myself, the so as not to meet the Lady. But sud- Blessed Virgin denly, he perceived her coming to Mary, Mother meet him. Embarrassed, he ex- of God, who plained his situation and promised to Our New CCW Banner am sending come back when he had found a painted by Maggie Moren you.” priest to administer last rites to his un- February 2013 - The Year of Faith St. Raphael’s CCW Page 4

Part II was completed and consecrat- love, tenderness and simplicity. ed by the bishop. Her beautiful face is that of a Our Lady Of Guadalupe mestizo Indian, perfectly oval, a by Maggie Moren When the Indians had learned slightly dark complexion framed Last month Maggie Moren be- the news of Our Lady’s appari- by a black head of hair that up gan a series about Our Lady of tions, an enthusiasm and joy such close is comprised of silky locks. Guadalupe. Here is part 2… as had never been seen before Her eyes have a profound ex- spread among them. Renounc- Juan immediately ran to the bish- pression of purity, the mouth ing their idols, superstitions, hu- op, when he arrived, the servants seems to smile. man sacrifices, and polygamy, who followed him but lost him, many asked to be baptized. SYMBOLISM OF THE IMAGE made him wait for hours. But, Nine years after the apparitions amazed at his patience, and in- nine million Indians had convert- As well as the obvious Christian trigued by what he was carrying ed to the Christian faith---nearly symbolism in the appearance of in his tilma, they finally informed Our Lady of Guadalupe, there is the bishop, who, although with a deeper, more obscure symbol- several people, had him shown in ism, both for Christians and the immediately. Juan related his Mexican Indians. In the Indian adventure, unfolded his tilma, language, “Guadalupe” means and let the flowers, which were to crush the head of the ser- still shining with dew, scatter to pent,” while in Spanish it means the floor. With tears in his eyes, Light. While Christians will be re- Bishop Zumarrage fell to his minded of the “women clothed knees, admiring the roses from his with the sun” in the Book of Reve- country. All of a sudden, he per- lation (12:1) “who had the moon ceived, on the tilma, the portrait under her feet”, the rays around of Our Lady, Mary’s image was the Virgin would have made the there, as though printed on the Indians think of the sun god cloak, very beautiful and full of whom they worshiped. If the sun gentleness. The bishop’s doubts did not rise each day, they had immediately gave way to a sure offended their god, so they faith and a hope filled with won- Our Lady of Guadalupe, would sacrifice humans to ap- der. He took the tilma and the Patroness of the Americas pease him. This showed she was roses and placed them respect- Feast day December 12 Feast day of St. Juan Diego, Dec. 9 clothed in the sun, that her God fully in his private chapel. Later, was more powerful. The rays are when Juan Diego, returned to his bright near her body then fade 3,000 a day! The details of the uncle’s home he found his uncle away straight like swords from her image of Mary moved the Indi- sitting up, his uncle related his body, undulating flames. The red ans deeply. This woman is great- story that, “I have also seen the border stands for the rising sun – er than the sun-god since she Virgin, she even came here and new life. The crested moon to appears standing before the sun, talked to me, she wants a church the Indians represented one of she surpasses the moon god to be built on Tepeyac Hill and the many gods they worshiped, since she keeps the moon under wants her portrait to be called, the stone serpent. Mary’s feet her feet, she is no longer of this Our Lady of Guadalupe.” are standing firmly on the moon world since she is surrounded by (Rev.12:1) symbolizing she is Work was begun on the construc- clouds and is held above the crushing their pagan god of tion of a small church and a her- world by an angel. night, that she is greater than the mitage for Juan Diego on the hill The tilma, of cactus fibers, bears moon. Her hands are joined to- of Apparitions, and the next De- the holy image of the Virgin, an gether in prayer of supplication, cember 25th, the construction adolescent image around 15, her therefore not a goddess, there is though her face maternal, full of someone greater than her. February 2013 - The Year of Faith St. Raphael’s CCW Page 5

The angel has the face of an eternity. The bright gold edge on glyphs, and which symbolizes for adult, but the forehead of a the mantel and the stars was re- them divinity. Also it has been child, this represents wisdom and served only for those of the nobili- found that by imposing a topo- innocence. Wings half open the ty. The stars on the mantel are graphical map of central Mexico angel is sustaining Our Lady, only the exact same constellation that on the Virgin’s dress, the moun- royalty could be carried on was in the sky the night of De- tains, rivers and principal lakes someone’s shoulder. The angel is cember 12, 1531, when the mira- coincide with the decoration on holding both the pink dress which cle occurred. The Indians lived this dress. The flower just below represents earth and the blue by the stars and here she wore the sash in the center means life green mantel which represents them showing the Indians that and movement. The white fur heaven. Meaning heaven and her God is more powerful than cuffs on the sleeves symbolize earth are witnesses to the truth of the stars. The stars on one side of Mary’s nobility – Jewish nobility the apparition message. her mantle represent the northern not Indian. constellations, while on the other In the Indian culture gods and side of the mantel, the southern The black sash tied around her goddesses looked you straight in constellation is represented. Also waist symbolizes pregnancy in the the eye to show their power and prominent on the Virgin’s mantel, Indian culture and the central were often depicted with large the morning star Venus, Virgo part of the dress there is a bulge. wide open eyes giving them a above her hands, Leo on the Gynecological measurements rather frightening look. Mary, with womb and a crown of stars on have determined that the Virgin her head bowed is looking down her head. in the Image kindly, her hands joined together has the physi- in prayer of supplication showing On her brooch is a black Cross – cal dimensions that she is neither a god nor god- the Cross, a sign of salvation on of a woman dess, that there was a higher the mast of the Spaniards ships who is three power above her. and the circle round the cross, months preg- alpha and omega. nant. To the Indians the blue green mantle was a sign of royalty, a The dress of rose has designs of More to come sign of virginity, also the color the gold thread embroidered, under next goddesses wore. To the Christian the belt a flower with four petals month…… the blue green color of the cloak stands out – the Solar Flower, the is a symbol of immortality and most familiar of Aztec hiero- CCW Banner painted by Maggie Moren

Please Remember In Your Prayers...

Our Sick Our Deceased by Bernadette Bailey Please keep the following in your prayers: baby Please remember the following in your prayers: Roc- Madden Sheridan, DJ Thompson, Ron Knight, Louise co Vasta, Vi Vitale, Heidy Bowser, Gary Fossen and Halsmer, Van Rourke, Karen Cocker, Angela Soucy, Francis Leary. May their souls, and the souls of all Jane Ellis, Janet Strait, Rod Moren, Yvonne Thomp- the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, son, Flor Vidal, and Marie Bello. rest in peace. Our deepest sympathy go out to all who have lost a beloved family Those who are homebound, in assisted living and member or friend. nursing homes: Flo Santi, Mrs. Baber, Carmela Bloodgood, Nellie Bonitati, Lee Conkling, Bill York, Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, Mary Ann and Ernie Elliot, Estrella Estevez, Ernie and let perpetual light shine upon them. Fuste, Paul and Audrey Gise, John Kost, Joan May their souls, and the souls of all the Malone, Bob and Irene Morley, Donald Shearer, Le- faithful departed, through the mercy of onore Cornyn, and Mary Unrue. God, rest in peace. Amen. St. Raphael’s CCW Page 6

Our Lady of Guadalupe by bald, with a white beard, straight constituted itself miraculously. The Maggie Moren nose, bushy eyebrows and a tear temperature of Juan Diego’s til- Final Installment (first two parts found rolling down his right cheek: this ma, made of a material that in Jan. & Feb. CCW Newsletters.) character has been identified as comes from fibers of the maguey Bishop Zumarraga. On his left, cactus, maintains a constant tem- Ophthalmological tests have there is a young man who could perature of 98.6 degrees, the found that Mary’s eyes are a hu- have been Juan Gonzales, a same as that of a living human man eye that is living, and in- translator for the bishop. Further being. One of the doctors who cludes the retina. When the eyes along, there is the profile of an old analyzed the tilma placed his of Mary had been examined the man with a beard and mous- stethoscope below the black doctor’s detected that when the tache, large Roman nose, promi- band at Mary’s waist, and heard eye is exposed to light, the retina nent cheekbones, sunken eyes rhythmic beats at 115 pulses per contracts, and when the light is and half closed lips, who seems to minute, the same as that of a ba- withdrawn, it returns to a dilated be wearing a pointed hood: he is by in the maternal womb. There is state, just as happens with a living a native Indian and he is opening no sign of paint, no brushstrokes, eye. his tilma as he turns to face the old no under sketch, no sizing and no bald man. The scene described protective over-varnish on the Im- Scientists discovered that the eyes thus appears to be Juan Diego age has been discovered on the of Mary have the three refractive bringing the roses to the bishop. tilma. From the distance of 3 – 4 characteristics of a human eye. In The Virgin was present, her eyes inches from the image, one can the eyes of Mary, minuscule hu- took a picture of the scene and its see only cactus fibers of the mate- man figures can be seen reflect- images in the moment she ap- rial, the colors disappear. Scien- ing in the eyes of the Virgin, the peared on the native Indian’s til- tific studies have not been able to distortion and place of the images ma, remaining preserved forever. discover the origin of the colora- are identical to what is produced Dr. Tonsmann, also identified a tion, nor the way the image was in the normal eye which is impossi- young black girl. This caused painted. Vestiges of brush strokes ble to obtain on a flat surface great alarm among academics as or any other known painting tech- something which no artist could at the time of the apparitions in nique cannot be detected. NASA have painted. Mexico, there weren’t any black scientists confirm that the paint Dr. Jose Aste Tonsmann, using the people. Subsequent research material is neither animal or miner- most up to date equipment, the however has since clarified this al, the paint material does not be- like of which is used by NASA to mystery. In the bishop’s will, it is long to any know element on decipher photographs taken by written that he had a black slave earth. When the material was ex- satellites in space, he has thor- girl who he wanted to release be- amined under a laser ray, it was oughly studied the virgin of Gua- fore he died to thank her for her shown that there is no coloration dalupe’s eyes. He has been able invaluable work. on the front or the back of the to enlarge them up to 2,500 times cloth, and that the colors hover at The rough material of the tilma has their original size, using 25000 illu- a distanced of 3/10 of a millimeter a life span of no more than 2 0 – minated points per millimeter (1/1000) over the cloth, without 30 years. During the almost 500 square. The doctor made some touching it. The colors actually years of the , the cloth with astonishing discoveries: not only float above the surface of the til- the image of Mary remains as one person was clearly present in ma. strong as it was on the first day. both eyes, but an entire scene, in Science cannot explain why the On January 22, 1999 Pope John which there were about ten peo- material has not disintegrated. In Paul II, named Our Lady of ple. Clearly pictured there is a the year 1791, muriatic acid acci- Guadalupe patron of the native Mexican seated naked, dentally spilled on the upper right Americas, South, Central with his legs crossed, long hair tied side of the tilma. During the peri- and Northern. On July 31, back in a pony tail, an earring and od of 30 days, without any treat- 2002, he canonized Juan a ring on one finger. Next to him, ment, the affected fabric re- Diego. there is an old man who is quite