These are rather comprehensive conferences on the story and science of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. These are rather long talks (I usually try to only post short clips of no more than ten minutes), but these are worth the time. These talks explain the cultural and religious background of the Aztecs and how the image fits with that.
What was most impressive to me is Fr. Castañeda explaining the symbols on Our Lady´s dress and mantle and how she used religious and cultural symbols familiar to the indigenous peoples to evangelize and catechize. The Spaniards thought that there were "mistakes" on the image, because the symbols were so foreign to their way of thinking. As Fr. Castañeda keeps on saying, God makes no mistakes, and the Blessed Mother makes it clear that she herself is human, but is greater than the Aztec's most powerful god. She is sent from heaven, but walks the earth to bring the the all powerful God to them, of whom she is mother. She is our mother too, and wants to bring her us "the one true God for whom all people live." May our hearts be open to this great grace.
Just as a note: Fr. Castañeda makes some statements concerning cultural anthropology that may or may not be accurate. For instance at one point he says that all Native American groups practiced human sacrifice. I'm assuming he means the indigenous groups of Mexico and Central America. I'm not sure even that would be true, but I never heard of Sioux or Cherokees engaging in sacrifices of the kind the Aztecs did. Plus, I'm pretty sure that by the time of Columbus the majority of educated Europeans understood the Earth to be round. Some certainly still held to a belief that the Earth was flat, but science had progressed enough for people to figure it out.
These are quibbles though. This is a very fascinating study. Enjoy!
No comments:
Post a Comment