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GUADALUPE DEVOTION IS CROSSING INTO PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS
Spirit Daily ^
| December 12, 2003
| Mike Brown
Posted on 12/13/2003 5:30:02 AM PST by NYer
The Los Angeles Times reports that the Virgin of Guadalupe -- whose feast is celebrated today (December 12) -- is growing in popularity not only among Catholics, but among Protestant denominations.
"In some Catholic parishes it's a bigger day than Christmas or Easter: the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe," says the newspaper. "Beginning well before dawn, worshipers today will gather to celebrate the brown-skinned mother of Jesus who, legend says, appeared before a poor Mexican peasant in 1531.
"But the celebration isn't just for Catholics anymore. Increasingly, the pregnant Virgen de Guadalupe is turning up in other Latino-dominated churches as a way to make worshipers feel at home while honoring the mother of Christ and champion of the downtrodden."
The paper quoted a priest, Father Francisco Schulte, a scholar at St. John's University in Minnesota, as saying that any church wanting to attract Latinos "that doesn't take into account how deeply that message [of Our Lady of Guadalupe] is rooted in the Latino identity
is pretty well doomed."
The Virgin of Guadalupe -- who converted millions of pagan Aztecs back in the 16th century -- is now finding her way into denominations that once denounced such devotion. "The trend is particularly noticeable at Episcopal and Lutheran churches, whose liturgical traditions are closest to Catholicism," says the Times. "Parishioners at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in National City, south of San Diego, will gather this evening to sing and bring roses for Our Lady of Guadalupe. During the service, eight children will have their first communion. 'Mexicans identify with her because she looks like them,' said the Rev. Patricia Andrews-Callori, rector of the parish. 'She's been a consolidating force for Mexicans.'"
While not all Mexicans are Catholic (about ten percent are in other denominations), all of them, note scholars, are guadalupano. "So to connect with Latino congregants, especially Mexicans who've strayed from the Catholic Church, Protestant leaders find themselves grappling with what to do with her," says the newspaper.
Of all places, in Berkeley, students at a major West Coast seminary for Episcopalians, the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, honored her Thursday evening with a service that mixed Catholic readings into the standard liturgy. The same was done elsewhere. "Some people don't understand it because these things are Catholic," said Margarita Farias, a 33-year-old parishioner and mother of two who lives in San Clemente. "But I felt that [the Virgin of Guadalupe] is the mother of us all. I feel we can have her, celebrate her and be a part of this church too."
In converting the Aztecs, Mary turned them away from their devotion to the Aztec mother-goddess, Tonantzin. Her appearances there took place, ironically, around the time that Martin Luther split the Church. Concludes the Times: "Our Lady of Guadalupe's appearance in non-Catholic services has scholars and others wondering whether the beloved apparition that has united Mexicans for nearly five centuries can bring together Christian denominations.
TOPICS: Activism; Apologetics; Catholic; Current Events; Ecumenism; General Discusssion; History; Mainline Protestant; Ministry/Outreach; Prayer; Religion & Culture; Worship
KEYWORDS: catholic; devotion; episcopal; guadalupe; lutheran; protestant; virgin
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1
posted on
12/13/2003 5:30:03 AM PST
by
NYer
To: american colleen; sinkspur; Lady In Blue; Salvation; Polycarp; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; ...
In 1531 a "Lady from Heaven" appeared to a poor Indian at Tepeyac, a hill northwest of Mexico City; she identified herself as the Mother of the True God, instructed him to have the bishop build a temple on the site and left an image of herself imprinted miraculously on his tilma, a poor quality cactus-cloth, which should have deteriorated in 20 years but shows no sign of decay 469 years later and still defies all scientific explanations of its origin.
It apparently even reflects in her eyes what was in front of her in 1531!
Her message of love and compassion, and her universal promise of help and protection to all mankind, as well as the story of the apparitions, are described in the "Nican Mopohua", a 16th century document written in the native Nahuatl language.
There is reason to believe that at Tepeyac Mary came in her glorified body, and her actual physical hands rearranged the roses in Juan Diego’s tilma, which makes this apparition very special.
An incredible list of miracles, cures and interventions are attributed to Her. Yearly, an estimated 10 million visit her Basilica, making her Mexico City home the most popular Marian shrine in the world, and the most visited Catholic church in the world next to the Vatican.
Altogether 24 popes have officially honored Our Lady of Guadalupe. His Holiness John Paul II visited her Sanctuary four times: on his first apostolic trip outside Rome as Pope in 1979, and again in 1990, 1999 and 2002.
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on December 12th. In 1999, Pope John Paul II, in his homily from the Solemn Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, during his third visit to the sanctuary, declared the date of December the 12th as a Liturgical Holy Day for the whole continent.
During the same visit Pope John Paul II entrusted the cause of life to her loving protection, and placed under her motherly care the innocent lives of children, especially those who are in danger of not being born.
2
posted on
12/13/2003 5:33:05 AM PST
by
NYer
(Keep CHRIST in Christmas!)
To: NYer
Where can I get a copy of this print? It's beautiful.
3
posted on
12/13/2003 6:01:42 AM PST
by
tob2
(Old Fossil and proud of it!)
To: NYer
Hope I'm around for the 500 year celebration.
To: tob2
You can get a variety of prints and gifts at this site:
www.ourladyofguadalupe.org/
I was lucky enough to have both of these traveling images of Our Lord and Our Lady in my home.
To: NYer
**When the talk ended, she later told me that she had never felt like she was in a stampede before. She said the teens thundered down the gym bleachers towards her and she threw the cards on the table and literally ran out of the way. The teens cleared out the cards and were nagging the administration because there was none left.**
Praying that these former Catholics may return to their home in the Catholic Church.
Amazing story, however!
6
posted on
12/13/2003 9:14:53 AM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: tob2
any Catholic Bookstore will have prints of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Even the $1.00 stores have candles with this image on them.
7
posted on
12/13/2003 9:16:52 AM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: Salvation
**Her appearances there took place, ironically, around the time that Martin Luther split the Church. Concludes the Times: "Our Lady of Guadalupe's appearance in non-Catholic services has scholars and others wondering whether the beloved apparition that has united Mexicans for nearly five centuries can bring together Christian denominations.** A most intriguing thought.
8
posted on
12/13/2003 9:17:42 AM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: tob2
9
posted on
12/13/2003 9:21:26 AM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: tob2
10
posted on
12/13/2003 9:23:06 AM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: Cap'n Crunch
You just may be!
2031
11
posted on
12/13/2003 9:24:20 AM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: Salvation
By that time I'll be 70-something...and hopefully young at heart.
To: NYer
While reverence and adoration of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a great thing, I can't help but feel the Protestant denominations in Mexico are doing it for the wrong reasons, for marketing purposed rather than for theology.
To: tob2
Those are not the actual colors. Check out the Daily Mass Thread for the actual picture.
Her veil is turquoise, not purple as pictured above.
Turquoise signifies the Holy Spirit
Rose garment signifies God the Father
The sash is brown, signifying that she is pregnant with God the Son
Thus, Mary is clothed with the Trinity.
14
posted on
12/13/2003 4:17:59 PM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: NYer
"... instructed him to have the bishop build a temple on the site and left an image of herself imprinted miraculously on his tilma..."
And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him. And Peter answered, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, I will make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. - Mat 17:3-5
God puts the focus on Jesus.
To: Salvation
Sadly, they don't seem to recognize the inherent contradiction of reverencing Our Lady of Guadalupe while abandoning the Holy Catholic Church. For non-Catholics to misappropriate the image to recruit former Catholics is shameful hypocrisy and opportunism.
16
posted on
12/15/2003 2:21:44 PM PST
by
Flying Circus
(As you do pray, so you do believe)
To: Flying Circus
One thing recognized by the Church is that the Mother leads to the son. Maybe it will be the actual denomination that converts. God works in mysterious ways:-}
17
posted on
12/15/2003 2:46:44 PM PST
by
tiki
To: tiki
Son
18
posted on
12/15/2003 2:47:30 PM PST
by
tiki
To: tiki
!
19
posted on
12/15/2003 2:48:54 PM PST
by
drstevej
(Exurge, Calvinisti, et judica causam tuam)
To: PetroniusMaximus
As does the Blessed Mother.
"His mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye." John 2:5
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