Rain of Insults

Christ Passion Play, Mexico
by Richard Vignola

The Undocumented

by Alberto Blanco•
Translated by Livia Soto
for William Carlos Williams

Once
in El Paso
at dusk
I saw (smelled)
ten thousand undocumented workers.
They came from the Chihuahua desert
to harvest the crops.
They filled the city parks
to sleep.
Their guardian angels,
their wings trembling
fled
after a rain of insults.
They left the field open
for the agents of the Border Patrol.
(trans. by Lila Soto)
•Born in Mexico City on February 18, 1951, Alberto Blanco is considered one of Mexico's most important poets.  

Nearing the end of their four day Pilgrimage, Napa Institute Pilgrims listened to the sobering facts presented by Dr. Francisco Porras Sanchez of the Instituto Mora.  He spoke of the plight of migrants fleeing into Mexico from Central and South American countries, "They are becoming targets of kidnapping, torture, blackmail and exploitation."

Dr. Francisco Porras Sanchez, Instituo Moro
Mexico

Appropriately, after hearing Dr. Sanchez' talk, Pilgrimage attendees themselves journeyed to the feet of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  There, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated at the altar beneath St. Juan Diego's Tilma.
  

Celebration of The Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica, Mexico City

 
The Loving Sacrifice of the Son of Mary, Himself a target of torture, blackmail and exploitation, was remembered.

Christ Passion Play, Mexico
by Richard Vignola

Jesus' words to His disciples recounted by Doctor of the Church, St. Catherine of Siena come to mind,

"It is not hatred but special love that makes Me send you out to be persecuted and martyred by the world.  I love you with the same love with which my Father has loved Me, and because He loved me with a special love He sent Me to suffer the shameful pain of the Most Holy Cross."

O My Jesus, Forgive Us Our Sins!

Crucifixion of Jesus
Nurio, Michoacan Mexico