Celebrated more in the United States as a day honoring Mexican culture and traditions, the day known as “Cinco de Mayo,” or the Fifth o May, has its roots in the victory of the Mexican Army in 1862 at Puebla against the Second French Empire established in Mexico by Napoleon III who wanted a foothold for French interests in the Hemisphere.
During the 1850s Mexico endured a bloody civil war between Liberals who wanted the separation of church and state and the Conservatives who wanted a closer union. The French invaded in 1861, set up a Hapsburg prince Maximillian as Emperor, but had trouble consolidating power.
The French, facing both persistent Mexican guerilla resistance and a looming war with Prussia, withdrew its troops in 1866, leaving the fate of Maximilian in the hands of Benito Juarez, reinstalled as President. Abandoned and captured, he was executed by firing squad along with his two generals.
Prayer for the Day
Can a people confront invasion and tyranny, O God,
Without rising up against the forces that would constrain them?
Although we pray for peaceful resolutions of conflicts,
We know that oppression often will not yield its power.
Grant that we may help those who are ground down by evil forces,
So the bonds of oppression may be loosened.
In the name of the One who came to break those chains,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped.
Robert F. Kennedy, Senator and Presidential candidate (1925-1968)
Do remember, though, that sometimes the people you oppress become mightier than you would like.
Veronica Roth, writer from Insurgent
Rise up, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; do not forget the oppressed.
Why do the wicked renounce God, and say in their hearts,
“You will not call us to account”?
But you do see! Indeed you note trouble and grief
That you may take it into your hands; the helpless commit themselves to you
You have been the helper of the orphan.
PSALM 10: 12-14