Actors portray Joseph and Mary as they wind their way through the streets looking for shelter in the Mexican Christmas traction called Las Posadas. Spanish missionaries came to Mexico with the mandate to eradicate idolatry and convert the people to the one true God. The external folklore of the Mexican culture was allowed, as long as the people converted to Christianity, writes Msrg. Pedro Lopez-Gallo.
Piñatas, posadas, mariachis … these are part of the Christmas heritage of the Aztecs, the aboriginal Indians of Old Mexico, whose culture was completely pantheistic. For them, the moon, water, fire, and everything connected with life was god, especially the sun.
The first Spanish missionaries came with the mandate to eradicate the people's idolatry and convert them to the one true God. All the external folklore of the culture was allowed, provided that interiorly their faith became monotheistic and they were spiritually transformed and converted to Christianity.
In August 1521, the great Aztec city of Tenochtitlan was in ruins. Its inhabitants had fled, and the last Aztec ruler Cuauhtemoc was a prisoner of Hernan Cortes. The Spaniards faced the task of rebuilding the destroyed city and establishing a new Christian empire.
The most important task would be to convert the millions of people to the Catholic faith. The popular custom of posadas was retained but with a different meaning. Nine days of preparation would recall the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem of Joseph and the beautiful pregnant Mary. The people visited friends and the newly converted to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, the God made man. There would be hymns of joy and the vibrant music of the mariachis, and great surprises hidden in the piñatas symbolizing the wonder of becoming children of God by baptism.
Two years later, in 1523, two Franciscan priests and a brother, Pedro de Gante, arrived at the then-called New Spain. Gradually, hundreds of Franciscans, Dominicans, and Augustinians followed and, little by little, idolatry disappeared. Then the miracle happened – the presence of our heavenly mother, Our Lady of Guadalupe on the hill of the Tepeyac!
If, for the Aztecs, it was necessary to have a change of worship to embrace the new Catholic faith, what will we need to do to start a new and more faithful spiritual life?
For some weeks, the whole world has been adored with a multitude of lights, carols and music, and fervent prayers to celebrate the birth of Jesus. In our parishes and Catholic schools, the confessionals are full of people clearing their consciences from faults and sins.
Historically, it is difficult to individuate the precise day and year of Jesus’s birth. St. Luke, however, writes that Mary and Joseph set out from Nazareth in Galilee and travelled up to Bethlehem in Judea to follow the imperial decree for a census (Lk 1:1-8).
What is important is to celebrate Christmas not as simply a day off, such as Labour Day. I encourage you to convert it into a mutual exchange of love between you and the Infant Jesus who became flesh to redeem us.
The narratives of St. Matthew and St. Luke are the best way to rediscover the mystery of Jesus who was incarnated for each one of us personally, and to remember “how Jesus came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph …”
Here you should understand the meaning of the Jewish term betrothed, where the fiancé was already called “husband” and could release himself from the engagement by an act of repudiation or adultery. This the young Joseph never did, trusting that Mary, to whom he was betrothed, was pure and chaste.
“…but before they came to live together, Mary was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband, Joseph, being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins. Now all this took place to fulfill the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet: The virgin shall conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Immanuel, a name which means ‘God is with us’” (Mt.1:18-24).
Dear reader, stop a moment and think about the opportunity Jesus is giving you to sanctify yourself. Perhaps it is time to reconcile with God since your last confession. Think how much you have neglected to thank God for so many favours and graces that you have received. Meditate and prepare for your personal Christmas. Close your eyes and with fervent devotion consider that Jesus will prefer your heart to the rough manger where Mary had to lay him when he was a delicate baby.
With great joy, talk to him, listen to his voice. Consider what he is asking you. Is it not time to clean your heart of the rancour you bear for someone who has slandered you? Is it not time to break from a relationship that will endanger your chastity?
Dearest reader, tell yourself: “This is my Christmas with Jesus.”