Friday, December 9, 2016

Juan Diego -- unifying left and right

Today is the feast of St. Juan Diego. For four days in 1531, the story goes, he saw Mary on a hilltop in Mexico City. The vision he saw was imprinted on his cactus-fiber cloak. For years, Catholics have recalled this event on December 12, the day the image showed up on the cloak. And since 2002, we have celebrated the feast of Juan Diego on December 9, the day of the first vision – when Mary sent a Mexican peasant to talk to the bishop.

A few years ago, Hillary Clinton saw that beautiful image on the rough cloak, and asked who painted it. That was a great question! When I think of her, I pray with all my heart that she gets a clear and satisfying answer to that question!

I saw the image in 1972. That was the beginning of my pro-life work: I organized a small pilgrimage from Boston to Guadalupe, praying for unborn children and their mothers. Roe v. Wade was already decided, although it was not announced; I had no idea what was about to happen.

There was a period of time when historians wondered whether Juan Diego ever existed, or whether he was just a pious legend. He’s canonized now; the historical debate subsided. But there’s a startling detail in the image itself. It’s about as clear as a cloud that looks like a camel, or an early ultrasound image: maybe you see something, maybe you don’t. But in the image (on rough cactus), in the pupil of Mary’s eye, some people think they see a reflection of a narrow face with two eyes, a nose, and a beard – Mary looking at Juan Diego.

Be clear: if Juan Diego wanted to immigrate, he would bounce right off the border. He was not wealthy, and was not a physician or specialized engineer. He would not be welcome here. We do not have a line, long or short, that he could get into if he wanted to wait patiently. St. Juan Diego would never ever be eligible for immigration into the United States.

Be clear: Juan Diego knew he was second-class (or much lower) in European-controlled Mexico. He had no European ancestors, and he was treated with disdain – not by everyone, but by many proud Spaniards. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Be clear: the miracle in Mexico (assuming, as I do, that there was a miracle) involved a deliberate and unmistakable choice by Mary to take her place with the poor and dispossessed. That’s not Communist revisionism. In the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, she does not look European; she looks like a native of Mexico – and that was deliberate. She is covered in non-European symbols. The missionary to the Irish was Patrick; the missionary to the Germans was Boniface; the missionary to Japan was Francis Xavier; etc, etc. But the missionary to the Mexicans was Mary.

If Catholics are willing to accept it, the Virgin of Guadalupe is a unifying figure. She is the Patroness of all America – not the north, nor the south, but all.

If Catholics are willing to accept it, the Virgin of Guadalupe is a unifying figure. She is considered by many pro-lifers to be the patroness of the unborn. And she is the voice and protector for mestizos, the people of mixed heritage in America.

If Catholics are willing to accept it, the Virgin of Guadalupe is a unifying figure. Migrant farmworkers (frequently undocumented immigrants) and pro-lifers look to her for inspiration and support.