OFFERING TO SAN JUAN FROM EMMA CABEZAS ALVAREZ, 50 MEIGA MAYOR, IN THE EVENTS OF AUGUST 29, 2020
Good afternoon Your Excellency Mr. Delegate of Defense, President of the Association of Meigas, LI Meiga Mayor, XXXVII Meiga Mayor Infantil, family and friends.
HE NEEDS TO GROW UP AND I DOWN!
This phrase was said by one of the most important people in world history; Prophet and forerunner of who was the most important envoy to deliver a vital message to the world. THE SALVATION OF THE HUMAN BEING!
It cannot be other than Christ, and the predecessor of whom I speak is none other than Saint John the Baptist.
Saint John, son of Elizabeth and Zacharias and a relative of the Virgin Mary, dedicated his life to preparing the way of the Lord. The mystery of Juan who never takes possession of the word; the word is another. And Juan is the one who indicates, who teaches.
Saint John, promulgates a baptism of conversion for the forgiveness of sins, is the voice that cries in the desert. As Saint John said to the Pharisees, “I Baptize with Water, but in your midst there is someone you do not know, he is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal.”
The Catholic Church celebrates the birth of Saint John as something sacred. As Pope Francis says in one of his Homilies. The Church chooses for the feast of San Juan “the longest days of the year; the days that have more light, because in the darkness of that time John was the man of light: not of his own light, but of a reflected light. Like a moon. And when Jesus began to preach, the light of John began to fade, “to diminish, to fade.”
How I started my Offering He himself says it clearly when speaking of his own mission: «He must increase and I must decrease».
The Baptist could boast, feel important, but he did not: he, only indicated, felt voice and not word.
Juan seems to be nobody, but he is the bigger man. As Jesus Christ himself will say: “Truly I tell you that among those born of women there is not one greater than John the Baptist” (Luke, 13, 6).
HISTORY
But apart from the great importance that Saint John has as a spiritual reference, why is his figure in A Coruña so important?
Because since the arrival of Christianity in the outskirts of the city, the population entertained San Juan every June 24 as the most important religious celebration after the birth of Jesus, his death in the cross and its subsequent resurrection.
It was the Coruñés Patron before the Virgen del Rosario, which happened after the siege of Drake in 1589.
Already in Roman times a Christian place of worship existed outdoors. This is how the cult of the figure of the Baptist was born.
But despite having changed the figure of the patron saint of the city, the population of A Coruña continued and continues to faithfully celebrate the birth of San Juan with one of the main festivals dedicated to a religious figure.
The arrival of the summer solstice is celebrated throughout Spain with ancient rites and traditions. The night of San Juan, has acquired the magic of the old pagan festivals, which were organized precisely on the summer solstice.
Why the bonfire is associated with the figure of Saint John, there is a close relationship between the Baptist, water and fire, since in the scriptures it is already read that his father Zacharias lit a bonfire to celebrate the birth of his son, since he and his wife were very old when the angel Gabriel announced that parents were coming.
Fire has always been an element used in ancient times as a medium that represented change or protection.
Nowadays the population of A Coruña turns more than ever in the festivities of San Juan.
It is difficult not to link the feast of San Juan with the city of A Coruña.
MARTIRIO DE SAN JUAN BAUTISTA
On August 29, the death of Saint John by martyrdom is celebrated.
The life of Saint John, as well as the life of Christ, was a continuous journey delivering a message of conscience and truth.
Saint John was imprisoned by Herod at the instigation of Herodias, for recriminating him by saying: “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife for your wife”
Herodias hated him to death and only wanted to find the opportunity to get him out of the way, perhaps fearing that Herod’s conscience would prick him and he would dismiss her following the advice of John.
Without understanding it, she was going to be the occasion of the first martyr who died in defense of the indissolubility of marriage and against divorce.
John died a martyr of his duty, because he had read the recommendation that the prophet Isaiah makes to preachers: “Be careful: do not be dumb dogs that do not bark when the thieves to steal “. The Baptist saw that the enemies of the soul were coming to steal the salvation of Herod and his concubine and spoke loudly. That was his duty. And he had the enormous joy of dying for proclaiming that it is necessary to comply with the laws of God and morality.
He was a true martyr.
REQUESTS
Blessed Saint John the Baptist, who were chosen to announce to men the coming of Christ, we ask you to guide our steps along the paths of justice and peace, reaching out to the Lord for his mercy and your forgiveness.
Glorious Saint John, today in our despair we ask you to help us in these difficult moments in which the world population is suffering an attack on life. We need your valuable help to solve the miseries and sadness and that you intercede with the Lord to grant us our wish.
Do not ignore our request, invincible martyr and for the privileges with which God enriched you, mediate so that our prayer is granted.
THANK YOU
Dear President, Board of Directors of the Association of Meigas, dear friends, I have the immense pleasure and it is my duty to show my gratitude for the honor received by the Board of Directors of the Association of meigas, to grant me the distinctive medal of the Bonfires of San Juan.
It is a complex task to be able to summarize in very few words the sensations and feelings that surround having been a participant in this association in this very referential party.
Few experiences we have throughout our lives as beautiful as this participation.
It would take a long time to be able to express memories, experiences, the spirit and the values that you have instilled in me during this time. Since that afternoon of March 9, 2019, that magical year that we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Meiga Mayor, and in which I had the Great Honor of being its Bastion.
Since that emotional afternoon full of feelings, the Sanjuanero spirit that was already running through my veins, runs and will run even stronger if possible, by granting me such a great honor.
I feel deep in my heart, her spirit, her traditions and the protection and protection of Saint John who with her veil covers me, accompanies me and gives me strength to face all challenges and the obstacles that I find on my way. How blessed are those who believe, for they will see its light.
POEM
I have walked on trails of dust
Feeling the harshness of misunderstanding and ignorance.
I’ve looked through the spikes
the fertile land where to sow the seed of truth
I have screamed and spread my hands longing to find other hands
with which to start the path that allows the true teaching to be awakened and to greet physical death, recognizing the face of the universal sower.
Finally, I can’t do it, without repeating the phrase with which you marked me that Magical Coven afternoon.
TAKE ME WITH YOU MEIGA, MAGA FRIEND OF MY DREAMS, TO THE NIGHT AGUAMARINA OF SAN JUAN DE MY MEMORIES!
Emma Cabezas Alvarez,
50 Meiga Major.