“Even the Stones Cry Out!”
Blessed Miguel Pro
Our third day began with a visit to Church of the Sacred Family (Sagrada Familia), a lovely neo-Gothic parish in Mexico City’s Roma Norte neighborhood. We gathered in silent reflection in the sanctuary and spent time venerating the relics of Blessed Miguel Pro.
Viva Cristo Rey!
Padre Pro was Jesuit priest who became a master of disguise to clandestinely serve the faithful in Mexico during a period of brutal government persecution. Regional resistance by groups of armed Catholic citizens (Cristeros) ensued. Miguel was arrested on trumped-up charges and executed without trial in November 1927. He knelt in prayer, then stood and faced the firing squad with arms outstretched in imitation of Jesus. His last words were “Viva Cristo Rey!” “Long live Christ the King!” It was and remains a statement of trust and faith and a rallying cry for Christians worldwide.
Madero Street
We bused to the historic center of Mexico City and strolled Avenida Madero, a pedestrians-only arcade lined with shops, residences, and many examples of early colonial architecture.
We visited the Church of San Francisco, a towering edifice dating to the 16th century and the oldest monastery in Mexico. A magnificent gilded altar is the centerpiece of the sanctuary, and a series of huge murals on each side depict the life of St. Francis.
The Metropolitan Cathedral
The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary dominates the north side of Constitution Plaza. Construction began in the late 16th century around the original church of Juan de Zumarraga, the bishop to whom Juan Diego was sent by Our Lady in 1531. The bishop’s tomb lies below the main altar in the crypt of the church, which we had the opportunity to tour and view. We celebrated our Eucharistic liturgy in the central sanctuary, which is surrounded by fourteen ornate chapels.
Our chaplain Fr. Richard shared during his homily, “I’m always nervous celebrating Mass in such a place. I feel like I’m sitting in a chair on which I don’t belong.” We pilgrims could relate, humbled by the beauty, history, and divine presence that surrounded us in each holy sight we visited. Our priest asked, as Juan Diego did, “Who am I? Who are we?” Because God is our loving Father, he answered, we are God’s beloved children. Though we may be unworthy, we are welcome here and in every Catholic church in the world solely on the basis of that relationship.
Templo Mayor
Bordering the Cathedral to the east is the excavation site of Templo Mayor, the focal center of the early 16th century Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, at which the brutal ritual sacrifices were carried out. It was demolished in 1521 by the Spanish conquerors. Our long tour of the Cathedral left us little time to explore the ruins and its interpretive exhibits.
Even the Stones Cry Out!
Chris Stefanick spoke that evening on the Kerygma, a biblical word meaning “joyous proclamation.” He referenced the holy structures we had seen and said, “Even the stones cry out the Kerygma!,” a quotation from Luke 19:40. “A Kerygma changes lives! I’ll give you an example: ‘You’re pregnant!’”
He went on, “As many people know, a marriage without love can feel a lot like a to-do list. We as Christians are in the midst of a love story – not a to-do list, as religion is perceived by so many in the culture. You are significant! God loves you, and deeply desires to be in relationship with you. Only God gives our life purpose and meaning. That is why we’re in a mental health crisis. The Kerygma is not just a part of your life, it IS your life. Because of the Kerygma, life is good, even when it’s hard.”
After Mass at the Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (Nuestra Senora del Sagrada Corazon) and a testimonial, we walked to dinner at a local restaurant and retired to our hotel to prepare for day four.
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