Father Luna is a Jesuit and a member of the Academy of the Guaraní Language of Paraguay. He translated the story of the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe into Guaraní. While translating, he found a powerful common thread between that story and another popular allegory of the Immaculate Conception in Paraguay: the Virgin of the Miracles of Caacupé.
FR. ALBERTO CRISTÓBAL LUNA
Jesuit
I have noticed that these accounts, that have so many parallels, could be declared sister stories.
For example, Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to an indigenous man, Juan Diego. And although there are no apparations associated with the Virgin of Caacupé, according to legend, she saved the life of a young man, José. To thank her, he made two wooden carvings.
FR. ALBERTO CRISTÓBAL LUNA
Jesuit
He is an indigenous Guaraní artisan, a sculptor, who goes to look for wood in the mountains and finds himself surrounded by an enemy tribe. In desperation, he hides behind a log and makes a promise to the Virgin that he will carve her a sculpture if he makes it out alive.
Neither José nor Juan Diego spoke with the Virgin in Spanish.
FR. ALBERTO CRISTÓBAL LUNA
Jesuit
In both cases they communicated with the Virgin in their own language: José, who was a native of Caacupé, in Guaraní, and Juan Diego in Náhuatl, which is the predominant Aztec language in Mexico to this day.
These two miracles occurred in areas evangelized by the Franciscans. This religious order had great respect for indigenous people and were instrumental in preserving local languages.
Father Luna believes that valuing these two stories can help the indigenous people displaced from their territories today. He also feels that the stories accurately reflect the Virgin's love for the vulnerable.
FR. ALBERTO CRISTÓBAL LUNA
Jesuit
These stories show the selection, the preference, and the defence of the Virgin Mary towards the indigenous people.
On April 16, Father Luna delivered the Guaraní translation of the story of the Virgin of Guadalupe's apparitions to the Basilica of St. Mary of Guadalupe in Mexico City. He hopes that these two sister stories will show the special relationship Mary has with the indigenous people of Paraguay.
RM
TR: OJ
