This morning we gathered in the palapa to listen to a presentation by two Benedictine Sisters about the imagery presented in the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The Image of Our Lady is actually an Aztec Pictograph which was read and understood quickly by the Aztec Indians. Below is information taken from the Internet similar to what the sisters presented to us:
1. THE LADY STOOD IN FRONT OF THE SUN
She was greater than the dreaded Huitzilopochtli, their sun-god of war.
2. HER FOOT RESTED ON THE CRESCENT MOON
She had clearly crushed Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent
moon-god.
3. THE STARS STREWN ACROSS THE MANTLE
She was greater than the stars of heaven which they worshipped. She was a
virgin and the Queen of the heavens for Virgo rests over her womb and the
northern crown upon her head. She appeared on December 12, 1531 and the stars
that she wore are the constellations of the stars that appeared in the sky that
day!
4. THE BLUE‑GREEN HUE OF HER MANTLE
She was a Queen because she wears the color of royalty.
5. THE BLACK CROSS ON THE BROOCH AT HER NECK
Her God was that of the Spanish Missionaries, Jesus Christ her son who died on
the cross for all mankind.
6. THE BLACK BELT
She was with child because she wore the Aztec Maternity Belt.
7. THE FOUR PETAL FLOWER OVER THE WOMB
She was the Mother of God because the flower was a special symbol of life,
movement and deity-the center of the universe.
8. HER HANDS ARE JOINED IN PRAYER
She was not God but clearly there was one greater than Her and she pointed her
finger to the cross on her brooch.
9. THE DESIGN ON HER ROSE COLORED GARMENT
She is the Queen of the Earth because she is wearing a contour map of Mexico
telling the Indians exactly where the apparition took place.
The Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Science
1. The image to this date, cannot be explained by science.
2. The image shows no sign of deterioration after 450 years! The tilma or cloak of Saint Juan Diego on which the image of Our Lady has been imprinted, is a coarse fabric made from the threads of the maguey cactus. This fiber disintegrates within 20-60 years!
3. There is no under sketch, no sizing and no protective over-varnish on the image.
4. Microscopic examination revealed that there were no brush strokes.
5. The image seems to increase in size and change colors due to an unknown property of the surface and substance of which it is made.
6. According to Kodak of Mexico, the image is smooth and feels like a modern day photograph. (Produced 300 years before the invention of photography.)
7. The image has consistently defied exact reproduction, whether by brush or camera.
8. Several images can be seen reflected in the eyes of the Virgin. It is believed to be the images of Juan Diego, Bishop Juan de Zumarraga, Juan Gonzales, the interpreter and others.
9. The distortion and place of the images are identical to what is produced in the normal eye which is impossible to obtain on a flat surface.
10. The stars on Our Lady's Mantle coincide with the constellations in the sky on December 12, 1531. All who have scientifically examined the image of Our Lady over the centuries confess that its properties are absolutely unique and so inexplicable in human terms that the image can only be supernatural!
Our next activity focused on the treatment of Mexican migrant seasonal workers in Canada. We watched a video produced by the National Film Board called, "El Contrato" (produced in 2004). El Contrato follows Teodoro Bello Martinez, a poverty-stricken father of four living in Central Mexico, and several of his countrymen as they make an annual migration to southern Ontario. For eight months of the year the town's population absorbs 4000 migrant labourers who pick tomatoes for conditions and wages no local will accept. Under a well-meaning government program that allows growers to monitor themselves, the opportunity to exploit workers is as ripe as the fruit they pick. Grievances are deflected by a long line of others "back home" who are willing to take their place.
Despite a fear of repercussions, the workers voice their desire for dignity and respect, as much as for better working conditions. El Contrato ends as winter closes in and the Mexicans pledge, not for the first time and possibly not the last, that it's their final season in the north.
After the film, we had a discussion about the injustice that some migrant workers to Canada experience. Patti then challenged us to put ourselves in the shoes of either the migrant worker of their family and write a personal letter to our loved ones. Some of the students shared their letter as a Mexican worker writing to their family about the hardships they are facing in Canada, while others choose to write a letter from the family to the Mexican worker in Canada. Our finally activity was to pick a picture or word displayed on the tables in the room and to share with others what message they got from the image or word.
Mrs. Hanson also read part of an article from the Catholic New Times about Mexican migrant workers.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0MKY/is_2_30/ai_n16133224/?tag=content;col1
The article talks about how their are many farms that do treat their migrant employees well but there is still a number that are being unjust. It is difficult to believe that these horror stories happen in Canada in 2009.
After lunch, we meet for a short presentation by Ray, the founder of the CCIDD Centre. Ray told us a bit about his own personal history and the history of the CCIDD Centre. Ray is retired now and has hired Sister Kathy to run the centre.
Late afternoon the wind picked up and we had a little bit of rain, thunder and lightening. It was definitely our coolest day here so far and a bit of a break from the heat. After supper we gathered in the palapa to watch the movie, "Romero". Romero is the true story of the catholic priest Archbishop Oscar Romero who lived in El Salvador during the political unrest in the 1980s. The government has launched a 'terror campaign' against the guerillas in an attempt to crush them. Archbishop Romero's protests against governments' actions is perceived as disloyalty. As an example to others, the government begins to destroy churches and murder priests. Despite persecution, Romero continues to speak out against the atrocities the government is committing against the people of El Salvador, until his untimely death. It was shocking to find out the the United States gave training and financial support to the El Salvador goverment which enabled them to repress the poor people of Mexico. Like present day Mexico, El Salvador was being run by a very small wealthy population.
