Bl. Sebastian Montanol
Feastday: December 10
1616
Spanish Dominican missionary and possibly a martyr. He was sent to
Mexico from Spain and there worked among the Indians in Zacateca until
his murder. He was apparently killed by local Indians for castigating
some natives for treating the Eucharist with disrespect, although he
has never been officially declared a martyr.
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Feastday: December 12Patron of the Americas
Our Lady of Guadalupe December 12 (USA) When we reflect on the feast of
Our Lady of Guadalupe we learn two important lessons, one of faith and
one of understanding.
Missionaries who first came to Mexico with the conquistadors had little
success in the beginning. After nearly a generation, only a few hundred
Native Mexicans had converted to the Christian faith. Whether they
simply did not understand what the missionaries had to offer or whether
they resented these people who made them slaves, Christianity was not
popular among the native people.
Then in 1531 miracles began to happen. Jesus' own mother appeared to
humble Juan Diego. The signs -- of the roses, of the uncle miraculously
cured of a deadly illness, and especially of her beautiful image on
Juan's mantle -- convinced the people there was something to be
considered in Christianity. Within a short time, six million Native
Mexicans had themselves baptized as Christians.
The first lesson is that God has chosen Mary to lead us to Jesus. No
matter what critics may say of the devotion of Mexicans (and Mexican
descendants) to Our Lady of Guadalupe, they owe their Christianity to
her influence. If it were not for her, they would not know her son, and
so they are eternally grateful. The second lesson we take from Mary
herself. Mary appeared to Juan Diego not as a European madonna but as a
beautiful Aztec princess speaking to him in his own Aztec language. If
we want to help someone appreciate the gospel we bring, we must
appreciate the culture and the mentality in which they live their
lives. By understanding them, we can help them to understand and know
Christ. Our Lady of Guadalupe is patron of the Americas.
