Que viva la virgen campesina - Suyapa

Hoy Honduras celebra a su patrona, María, bajo el título de la Virgen de Suyapa. La imagen de la virgen de Suyapap fue encontrada en 1747 por dos campesinos - una estatua de aproximadamente 2.5 pulgadas (6.5 cm).

Hace tres años vi por primera vez una foto de la estatua sin vestido. María es un poco fea, y aparentemente no blanca. Me gusta mucho la imagen.

Me han desanimado un poco las imágenes de la Virgen de Suyapa, a menudo de diez a veinte veces más grandes que la original, adornadas con un hermoso vestido galán. 

María ha sido secuestrada. 

No como las dos veces que robaron la imagen: una vez fue encontrada en el baño de hombres en un restaurante en Tegucigalpa. 

No, ella se ha sido robada de su identidad; ya no es una campesina pobre.

Además, es la patrona de las fuerzas armadas hondureñas, su “capitana”. Y la misa del festival en la basílica de Tegucigalpa a menudo se ha convertido en un festival de amor para el gobierno, con el presidente y otros en los primeros bancos. 

Pero ella es la María que dijo "sí" a la improbable propuesta de convertirse en madre de Dios.

Ella es la María que dio a luz a su hijo y lo acostó en un pesebre.

Ella es la María que estuvo al pie de la Cruz de su hijo.

Ella es la María que, al enterarse de que su pariente Isabel estaba embarazada, la visitó, mientras ella misma se encontraba en los primeros meses de embarazo.

Ella es la María que, reflejando las palabras de Ana en 1 Samuel, cantó un canto revolucionario de alabanza a Dios que derriba a los soberbios, despide a los ricos vacíos, derriba a los poderosos de sus tronos.

Ella es la María que lleva a un Dios que ensalza a los humildes, llena a los hambrientos, despide a los ricos con las manos vacías. 

Me pregunto si su cántico Magnificat será prohibido en Honduras por ser tan revolucionario.

Sin embargo, amo a la Virgencita de Suyapa.

Esta María, la virgen pequeñita de Suyapa, campesina un poco fea, morena, es la sierva del Señor que lleva a Dios hecho carne y me muestra el Dios verdadero. 

Esta María, la virgen pequeñita de Suyapa, campesina un poco fea, morena, es la sierva del Señor que lleva a Dios hecho carne y me muestra cómo es Dios realmente. 

Ella es la Virgen cuya estatua fue encontrada cuando el campesino Alejandro Colindres, durmiendo en el campo, sintió un dolor agudo en la espalda, por tratar de dormir donde fue la imagen. ¡Que todavía sea un dolor agudo, una espina, en la espalda de todos los que oprimen a los pobres, que confían en el poder y la riqueza, que no se dan cuenta de que son siervos del Señor y a su pueblo! 

Gracias, Virgen de Suyapa. Ruega por nosotros. Ruega por Honduras. 

Virgen, fea y revolucionaria, te amo. Ayúdanos y a todo Honduras a convertirnos.

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Una traducción (por Google, pero corregida) de un blog en inglés de 2018.

Mary - homely and revolutionary

Today Honduras celebrates its patron, Mary under the title of the Virgin of Suyapa, after the image found in 1747 by two campesinos – a statue of about 2.5 inches.

It wasn’t until a week or so ago that I saw a photo of the real statue. Mary is homely – and apparently not white. I love the image.

I have been a bit put off by the images of the Virgin of Suyapa – often ten to twenty times large than the original – adorned with a beautiful large dress.

Mary has been kidnapped.

Not like the two times the statue was stolen – once being found in a men’s bathroom in a restaurant in Tegucigalpa.

No she’s been co-opted – no longer a campesino.

In addition, she is the patron of the Honduran armed forces, their “capitan.” And the festival Mass in the basilica in Tegucigalpa has often been turned into a love fest for the government, with the president and others in the front pews.

But this is the Mary who said “yes” to the unlikely proposal of becoming the mother of God.

This is the Mary who gave birth to her child and laid him in a manger.

This is the Mary who stood at the foot of the Cross of her son.

This is the Mary who, finding out she was pregnant, visited her relative Elizabeth, while she herself was in the first months of pregnancy.

This is the Mary who, reflecting the words of Hannah in 1 Samuel, sings a revolutionary song of praise of God who overthrows the proud, send the rich away empty, casts down the mighty from their thrones.

This is the Mary who bears a God who lifts up the lowly, fills the hungry, sends the rich away empty.

I wonder if her Magnificat will be banned in Honduras as revolutionary.

Yet I am beginning to love the Virgencita de Suyapa.

This Mary, the tiny Virgin of Suyapa, homely, dark-skinned, campesina is the servant of the Lord who bears God-made-flesh and shows me what God is really like.

This is the Virgin whose statue was found when Alejandro Colindres felt a sharp pain in his back – from trying to sleep on the statue. May she still be a sharp pain in the back of all those who oppress the poor, who rely on power and wealth, who do not realize that they are servants of the Lord.

Thank you, Virgin of Suyapa. Pray for us. Pray for Honduras. 

Virgin, homely and revolutionary, I love you. Move us and all Honduras to repentance.

Virgin of Suyapa feast in Plan Grande

Mary, under the title of the Virgin of Suyapa, is the patron of Honduras. The tiny image  - 2/3 inch - was found in 1747 by Honduran campesinos but has become a deeply venerated image of Mary here.

I am especially intrigued by the Virgin of Suyapa because it is not a devotion to a grand image or a miraculous vision of Mary, but a veneration of something very small.

I have become convinced that God chooses the small things of the world to confound the powerful. But this doesn’t stop the politicians from using the Virgin of Suyapa to enhance their image. The celebration of the feast in the basilica in Tegucigalpa will be attended by politicians, military, and economic elites.

But I went to the celebration in Plan Grande, Concepción, Copán. The Virgin of Suyapa is their patroness as well as the patroness of the sector of the parish.

I arrived just in time to drive behind the procession to the church.

Before Mass, as Padre German had confessions, two musical groups sang – La Gran Familia from Plan Grande and Los Enviados por Dios of San Agustín. They were outstanding.

La Gran Familia

Enviados por Dios

Then five young girls from the five communities in the sector were introduced. The first and smallest was Rosa from the small community of Los Descombros. She spoke clearly and gave a great message to those gathered in the church.

Rosa de Descombros

The Mass proceeded as usual – with a long sermon by Padre German, emphasizing the direction the parish is heading, asking people, in the spirit of Pope Francis, to take the initiative in living the faith, to become involved, to accompany others, to bear fruit, and to celebrate our faith.

shrine of Suyapa in the Plan Grande Church

At the end of Mass all were invited to a snack prepared by the base communities of Plan Grande. Gloria said it was not really a lunch.

So two hundred or so stood in line for a “snack” of rice, tamale, four tortillas, curtido (“pickled”vegetables), and coffee or pop. I’d call that a meal.

I was very impressed that the community had provided such a substantial “snack” for so many people. It was a real sign of welcome and of caring for others.

Snack

After this I pulled Padre German over to the spot where I’m thinking of building the guest house where I’ll be staying (and welcoming visitors). I will live in the house until I leave here in a plane or a casket – pending other plans from God. Then the house will be handed over to the parish for its use.

The welcome that Plan Grande had provided for all those at Mass reinforced for me why I chose this community.

Now the fun begins – plans for the house, a design, a budget, contracting a maestro de obras and other workers, and overseeing the construction.