Cozumel News December 8th, 2014: Cozumel to Celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico First in Medicine, The Medical Air Service Association, and in Aurita’s Corner a follow up on The Finca Family.
Cozumel to Celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe
Cozumel will celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe Holiday on December 12th. Mexico and Central America celebrate this holiday in honor of Dia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe). Our Lady of Guadalupe is a tradition that started in the 1600’s.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is also known as the Virgin Mary and is the most popular religious and cultural image in Mexico with titles such as “Queen of Mexico”, “Empress of the Americas” and the “Patroness of the Americas”. “Guadalupe Day” is the most important religious holiday for many, as it honors the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico.
In Cozumel, as in all of Mexico, you will see processions on their way to Church to pray from every colony in the island. It is a beautiful sight to behold. Many pin Milagros or “miracles” and paper or real roses near the statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe to pay homage. These Milagros are small silver or tin objects in the shape of hearts, arms or legs that symbolize the givers’ thanks for the cure of those articles. Festivals include eating along with praying. Mexican television will broadcast the event that takes place in the Basilica of Guadalupe live. Thousands of people travel from all over Mexico to attend the beautiful Service.
How It Started: On the morning of December 9, 1531, Juan Diego, a simple peasant, saw a vision of a young woman in the early morning while walking home on the hill of Tepeyac near Mexico City, Mexico. The young woman was surrounded by light and told Diego that she wanted a church built in her honor at that site. Diego recognized that she was the Virgin Mary. When he told a bishop of his vision the bishop asked Diego to return to the Lady and ask her to show a miraculous sign for proof. Diego returned to the Lady and she told him to gather flowers from the hill. It was winter and the flowers had not bloomed. Yet, that day Diego found flowers of every sort. Upon returning, the Virgin fashioned the flowers into a peasant cloak. Three days later the when Diego opened the cloak for the bishop the flowers fell to the floor and an imprint of the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe showed miraculously on Diego’s cloak. Today the cloak is displayed in the Basilica of Guadalupe.
One of the most inspirational events in my life happened during this holiday. In December of 2010, my family and I happened to be driving from the United States to Cozumel. On December 12th, we drove from the early morning way into the night. We had missed our normal stop and drove until three or four in the morning until we found a hotel. Amazingly, we passed young people running with their torches in the dark over mountains. The entire experience from morning to-night was beautiful and magical. Since it was the only and hopefully last time that we traveled over unknown terrain in the dark, it was very soothing to have this escort; it was almost as if they were guiding us to safety.
Mexico a First in Medicine
I read an article called “Mexico: A Longtime Leader in Medicine” written by Monica Rix Paxson about Hospital de Jesus in Mexico City. Quoting the article directly, she writes, “The first hospital in North America was undoubtedly built in Mexico City, and most agree that it was Hospital de la Purísima Concepción, later renamed Hospital de Jesús Nazareno and frequently referred to as simply Hospital de Jesús, (although there are two other hospitals that were built around the same time in Mexico). It is still standing and in operation today as it has been since 1524—more than a century before that Canadian upstart and nearly a century before the Pilgrims arrived aboard the Mayflower in 1620.”
Wow! While the first hospital was ordered built by Hernán Cortés, the history of medical practice in Mexico was highly evolved before the arrival of the Spaniards; they even had medical books before the invention of the printing press! Pictured is the courtyard of Hospital de Jesús Nazareno shown in the article.
Medical Air Services Association
A friend of mine, Pat Hamp, brought this association to my attention; this might be one of my most important finds this year.
MASA is not an insurance company. MASA is an association of over 1 million members providing critical, lifesaving and costly air ambulance and emergency services to our members since 1974. With a dozen offices throughout the Northern Hemisphere MASA’s reach is worldwide and help is only a phone call away. Vital for those who live, work, travel or play away from the major hospital centers.
AT HOME OR AWAY FROM HOME – WORLD WIDE COVERAGE NO DEDUCTIBLES OR CO-PAYS – NO CLAIM FORMS – NO DOLLAR MAXIMUMS NO PHYSICALS OR HEALTH QUESTIONS TO JOINGround Ambulances – to and between hospitals Helicopter Ambulances – to and between hospitals Fixed Wing Air Ambulances – between hospitals Transports to Specialized Care Spouse/Companion Transportation Return Transport Home – or a hospital close to home Vehicle Returned to your home Mortal Remains Return Minor Children/Grandchildren Return Coverage for Minors Pet Return … And More Website: http://www.medicalairservicesassociation.com/ Call toll free: 1-800-809-5745 Email: askmasa@masaus.com Fax: 1-866-435-8109 Mailing Address: MASA P.O. Box 1288 Veradale, WA 99037
Aurita’s Corner
My Finca family consists of Jesus Antonio Paredes Castillo, his wife Angelica Maria Cuxium Yami, Daughter Luz Aurora Paredes Cuxium, and son Jose Ismael Paredes Cuxium.
Please read their story in the last issue of The Cozumel Sun if you have not already done so.
I am hoping to get their one room home livable by Christmas. The supplies that they need (pictured) will total $8,657 pesos.
Two wonderful families have donated $2,000 pesos so far and I am waiting for a donation of a used door and floor tiles. The tiles are not enough to complete the entire room so we need to purchase more.
PLEASE HELP US RAISE THE REMAINING FUNDS SO THIS FAMILY CAN HAVE A DECENT SHELTER BY CHRISTMAS!
