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 Mexico 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. Tenochtitlan 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 Aztecs’ Spain. In 1524 he obtained the arrival of twelve Franciscans 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 conquistadors. The CCW banner. She painted a picture people began to build churches, but of Our Lady of Guadalupe. 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 Mexico City. Juan Diego self over time into a ferocious god. A Feast day of St. Juan Diego, Dec. 9 walked past Tepeyac 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.