In Mexico they present the Guarani translation of Apparitions of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

In a communication with Última Hora, Pa’i Luna, as her parishioners call her, said that she had this idea in her mind a year ago, because she had always loved the story of the Virgin’s apparition to the native Juan Diego. He believed it would sound great on Guarani.

“Last December, when a trip to Mexico was completed in April, there was a tangible opportunity to fulfill this pending wish. From that moment on I started a campaign to translate”, he responded enthusiastically.

The translation of the full text took a month. It began in Santiago de Chile in mid-January, where since 2017 he has been guiding young Jesuits studying theology and preparing for the priesthood at the Catholic University, and ended on February 17 with a visit to the Vatican.

“The text has been checked by Mario Rubén Álvarez, who, like me, is a member of the Guaraní Language Academy. “I hope to present the translated text at the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City on Easter in April and, if possible, in Caacupé in December.”

Translate fauna and flora

Some expressions describing nature have been modified during translation. The names of birds, shrubs and trees do not always coincide with the fauna and flora of Paraguay, so the translator made explicit requests to find the species with which the equivalents best correspond, through social networks, and also by referring to the texts . according to what was originally described.

The official presentation will take place this Easter at the Basilica of Santa María de Guadalupe as part of an invitation event for Paraguay residents living in Mexico City with the support of the Paraguayan embassy.

For the Jesuit priest, his priority is to proclaim the story to Paraguayan Catholics devoted to the Virgin, to use the love of Mary with love for the indigenous people, to elevate and strengthen the dignity of the indigenous communities in our country. to defend.

“I want us to realize that both the Guadalupe story and the Caacupé story have common roots and are rooted in the Virgin Mary’s love for the indigenous people, which is very strongly expressed in both stories. “By combining this devotion to the Virgin Mary with a love for Indigenous peoples, I want us to commit to preserving the dignity of the Indigenous communities under threat in our country today.”

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For Alberto Luna, both stories are “brothers,” so they are currently in dialogue with the custodians of the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City and the custodians of Caacupé in our country, so both stories have been officially declared “sister stories.” “where the Virgin becomes visible as a lovingly protective mother figure”.

Luna will return to the country in April after her visit to Mexico and will continue her mission to assist the Jesuit Provincial Superintendent in Paraguay and mentor the Paraguayan Jesuit students.

Partnership

For Mario Rubén Álvarez, working with this material is very exciting because the text contains “magic, wonders and blessings”.

“I feel transported. Something happens to a man of the people, a native, common in novels of magical realism. And at the behest of the Virgin of Guadalupe, she does what she would never dare to do, except in this wonderful encounter: go to the bishop and hand her the Lady’s message,” said the author and journalist.

“The story written in a very old Castilian language fascinated me. In short, vy’ápe amba’apo hese. I intervened very little to change some sentences or synthesize sentences … but I have worked with thousands of loved ones. help your father.” I’m trying, Jasy,” Alvarez said.