성 후안 디에고(St.Juan Diego) 증거자
축일 : 12월 9일
성인의 활동지역 : 멕시코(Mexico )
성인의 활동연도 : 1474년 - 1548년
성인과 같은이름 : 환
1531년 l2월 9일 성모 마리아께서 멕시코 원주민 후안 디에고(Juan Diego)에게 나타난 후
모두 4차례에 걸쳐 메시지를 주었습니다.
이때는 콜럼버스가 아메리카 대륙을 발견한 후 스페인이 멕시코를 정복한 지 10년째
되는 해로서 원주민들은 정복자의 폭정에 시달리고 있었습니다.
발현 장소는 원주민들이 신전을 세웠던 테페약 언덕이었고,
성모님은 인디언의 피부를 하고 장밋빛 옷에 푸른 망토를 두르고 두 손을 모은 채
고개를 약간 숙인 모습으로 발현하였습니다.
성모님은 “나는 평생 동정이며, 하느님의 어머니임이 알려지기를 원하고,
어려울 때에 정성을 다해 나를 찾는 이들에게 나의 자비를 드러내도록 이 자리에 성당을
짓기를 바란다”고 하셨습니다.
성모님은 세상이 혼탁할 때 자주 발현하셨다.
자모(慈母)의 심정을 가득 담은 메시지를 통해 우리들의 나약해지거나 왜곡된 신심을
추스를 것을 간곡히 당부하시고 때로는 경고하셨다.
새로운 세기를 눈앞에 둔 지금 결코 평화롭지만은 않은 세상이다.
성모님의 메시지는 혼란한 이 시기를 어떻게 살아야 하는가를 가르쳐줄 것이다.
Juan Diego was born in 1474 in the calpulli or ward of Tlayacac in Cuauhtitlan,
which was established in 1168 by Nahua tribesmen and conquered by the Aztec lord
Axayacatl in 1467; and was located 20 kilometers (14 miles) north of Tenochtitlan
(Mexico City).
on December 9, 1531, a native Mexican named Juan Diego rose before dawn to
walk fifteen miles to daily Mass in what is now Mexico City.
Juan lived a simple life as a weaver, farmer, and laborer. That morning,
as Juan passed Tepeyac Hill, he heard music and saw a glowing cloud encircled by
a rainbow. A woman's voice called him to the top of the hill.
There he saw a beautiful young woman dressed like an Aztec princess.
She said she was the Virgin Mary and asked Juan to tell the bishop to build a
church on that site.
She said, "I vividly desire that a church be built on this site, so that in it
I can be present and give my love, compassion, help, and defense, for I am your most
devoted mother . . . to hear your laments and to remedy all your miseries, pains,
and sufferings."
The bishop was kind but skeptical. He asked Juan to bring proof of the Lady's
identity. Before Juan could go back to the Lady, he found out his uncle was dying.
Hurrying to get a priest, Juan missed his meeting with the Lady. The Lady, however,
met him on his path and told him that his uncle had been cured.
She then told Juan to climb to the top of the hill where they first met.
Juan was shocked to find flowers growing in the frozen soil. He gathered them in
his cloak and took them at once to the bishop.
Juan told the bishop what had happened and opened his cloak. The flowers that fell
to the ground were Castilian roses (which were not grown in Mexico).
But the bishop's eyes were on the glowing image of the Lady imprinted inside Juan's
cloak.
Soon after, a church was built on the site where our Lady appeared, and thousands
converted to Christianity. Our Lady of Guadalupe was declared the patroness of
the Americas.
He died on May 30, 1548, at the age of 74.
Juan Diego deeply loved the Holy Eucharist, and by special permission of the Bishop
he received Holy Communion three times a week, a highly unusual occurrence in those times.
Pope John Paul II praised Juan Diego for his simple faith nourished by catechesis
and pictured him (who said to the Blessed Virgin Mary: “I am a nobody, I am a small
rope, a tiny ladder, the tail end, a leaf”) as a model of humility for all of us.
In His Footsteps:
Juan walked fifteen miles to attend Mass every day. Participate in Mass one day this
week that is not a Sunday Mass.
If this is impossible, take a long walk outside and notice the miracles of God's love
during that walk.
You may not see roses in the snow or hear music, but there is plenty to praise God
for!
Prayer: Blessed Juan, you faced the skepticism and rejection of a bishop and the
crowds to bring Mary's message to Mexico. Pray for us that when we are faced with
obstacles to our faith we may show that same courage and commitment. Amen
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