Walking to the Temple of Christ on the Mountain

We must always be attentive to our interior, keep silent for a certain time to meditate, reflect, and pray. This helps us identify the signs that “God sends us in our lives to follow him and find his meaning with the light of the true star.” Straighten out the path we are choosing, accept mistakes with humility, and with generosity we will come out of our selfishness to meet him with enriching love through serving others, to have a permanent conversion with him and finally accept the invitation to accompany him in eternal life. We must find the way to understand what is going on in our lives and decide if we are going in the correct direction to “God”, for this we usually have “Meditation”, “Holly Scriptures”, “Prayers” and “Thoughts”. Where: “Meditation” invites us to think deeply about what “God” tells us in “Sacred Scripture”, besides “Meditation prepares our mind and our heart for prayer.” We can summary as: “Holy Scripture fills our meditation, and with meditation we fill our prayers and our thoughts.” In our definition, “Theological reflection” reclaims the thoughtfully acquired wisdom of “God” formed in a particular situation of life. “Reflection necessarily assumes an interpretative process that seeks meaning and enlightenment through the joint sources of the Word of God, faith, narrative and the situation itself.”

Following an -life example for the “Temple of Christ on the Mountain”, that happen in the city of Guadalupe, Mexico. Initially built with the “spiritual direction” of the priest “Monsignor Jorge Rady Pruneda” known in the community as “Father Rady” (1919-1993), and its “spiritual realization” by “Monsignor Emidgio Alberto Villarreal Bacco” known as “Father Emidgio” (1941- 2016). Both priests with different personalities and methods to grow their spiritual projects, where both complemented each other under the blessing of “Christ the Good Shepherd” to “Evangelize the world”, with the help of many groups, philanthropists, parishioners, and many more to fulfill responsibility and dedication in the great commission of our Lord “Jesus Christ” documented in the “Holy Bible”: “The Savior would come, change the world, and invite us to ascend the mountain of the Lord, all of this was documented in various books in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament our Lord Jesus Christ was confirmed as the Messiah”.

Prophesied in the Old Testament in Isaiah 2:1-5 Vision of Isaiah, son of Amos, concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In future days, the mountain of the house of the Lord will be lifted to the top of the mountains, towering over the mountains, and to it all nations will converge. Numerous peoples will come, saying, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, so that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may march in his ways. Confirmed in the New Testament in Matthew 28:19- 20 where he mentions Jesus’ great commission to his disciples: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. teaching them to observe all things which I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. To achieve our goal, we have need of meditation to prepare ourselves and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, for our walk to the Temple of the Lord on the Mountain. As clearly indicated in Psalm 24:3-4: Who will go up to the mountain of Jehovah? And who will be in his holy place? The clean of hands and pure of heart; He who has not lifted up his soul to vain things, Nor swore with deceit. Introductory Thought as Walking to the Temple of Christ on the Mountain (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Walking to the temple of christ on the mountain.

“500 years before the Messiah was prophesied, the Savior who would be sent by God, who would prepare us to go up the mountain of the Lord”? “He will unite the nations, and all peoples for good, by example and teachings, he will command his disciples to preach.” “What joy it is today to follow the Good Shepherd, he is unique, he is Christ the King.” “Following his walk to the mountain, baptized in the name of God the Father,

his son and the Holy Spirit we will learn.” “What peace of mind to know that our pastor, will accompany us forever in our journey, and with faith we shall lack nothing, neither here nor in eternity.”

Here our story begins; when leaving the place where I live I always see in the distance a mountain, and at the top a sculpture representing our Lord “Jesus Christ”, such a place is in many parts of the world, and many more will be built, where the best known is the “Christ the Redeemer” with outstretched hands on the mountain of Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 30 meters high as shown in Figure 2 right side, or the “Monastery Santa Maria de Monserrat”, on the mountain of Monserrat, region of Bages in Barcelona, Spain as shown in (Figure 2) central part. This Temple has become a point of pilgrimage for believers and a must for tourists to follow the “Marian route” also visiting sanctuaries of Torreciudad (Huesca), El Pilar (Zaragoza), Meritxell (Andorra) and Lourdes (France) which is an itinerary guided by Marian spirituality and devotion.

The “Mountain of Christ the King” near our house is a limestone sculpture of approximately 9 meters, which serves as a Sanctuary, and is seen by thousands of faithful in the area of 2 nations: United States of America (USA) and Mexico, on the borders of 3 states: Sunland Park in New Mexico and El Paso in Texas in USA, and Ciudad Juárez Mexico. This is shown in (Figure 2) on the left. Every time I go out to do my daily duties, I turn my gaze to the “Mountain of Christ the King”, remembering that he is always present with us. And it reminds me to follow his example and teachings, especially the “Sermon on Mount,” described in Matthew 5:1-7:29: “Jesus Christ preached through the exact personality of God to his disciples to a great multitude who, upon receiving his message of the Beatitudes, the salt of the earth, the light of the world, the law of God, the love of enemies and others so profound that all were astonished.”

Figure 2: Some of the temples of christ on the mountain in the world.

One day I asked myself: “How can we cooperate as, ‘laity’ being baptized by the Catholic Church, not being bishops, priests or not belonging to any group of consecrated life?” And in researching I found that we as “lay people” have been assigned an “authentic vocation” since the “Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)” [1] convened by “Pope John XXIII” called “the good Pope” for his work for peace and his charity towards the poor.

“The Second Vatican Council assigned to all lay Catholics an authentic vocation,” where the content of this “vocation is sanctification in the ordinary obligations of the Christian, including family obligations” “to illuminate and organize all temporal matters to which they are closely linked, so that they are continually carried out according to the spirit of Jesus Christ and developed for the glory of the Creator and the Redeemer” (n. 31). We can make our “Authentic vocation of lay people” become “apostolate helping to bring souls closer to God”. In addition, the current successor of “St. Peter”, “Pope Francis” reiterated the important place of the “lay people, in the evangelizing mission of the Church and invited them to put their gifts at the service of families and human promotion working hand in hand with pastors” [2].

For this I invite you through this document to find many answers to our inner questions and how “identify the manifestations of God in our lives (Figure 3).” The procedure is very simple and can be done approximately in as 5 minutes a day of reading, meditating during the day, learn and comment in groups to conclude many answers, for analyze the “ways of the Lord” is present in many people. In this document the paths of the lives of these priests and the people involved lead us to understand our walk to the “Temple of Christ on the Mountain”. My initial questions in documenting the story were: What was the first temple built? What was the purpose of those who built it? And How do we relate them to our Lord Jesus Christ?

Figure 3: The crossed paths of pope john paul ii, father rady and father emidgio.

According to the “Holy Bible” the “first Temple was built in Jerusalem with spiritual symbolism relating the Temple symbolizing the Body,” it was a consecrated place for the worship of almighty “God” that was built by King Solomon, third king of Israel and son of King David. King Solomon is known for his simplicity, his wisdom in making decisions, and his skills in building public works. He built it for the “purpose of replacing the Tabernacle” that “Moses erected in the wilderness and in it they placed the ark the 2 tablets of stone with the 10 commandments (1 Kings 8).”Unfortunately, the Temple was sacked and then destroyed in 586/587 BC at the hands of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II, who also deported the Jews to Babylon. The Jews who had been deported after the conquest of Babylon were finally allowed to return and rebuild their Temple known as the “Second Temple.” But the building no longer housed the “Ark”, for it had disappeared. This led me to meditate and understand the importance of the following messages and their relationship to “Jesus Christ the Messiah and His Temple in the Holy Bible”.

Prophesied in Genesis 12:3, 22:18 and confirmed in Matthew 1:1 and Romans 9:5:
The Messiah would come from the line of Abraham
Prophesied in Genesis 17:19, 21:12 and confirmed in Luke 3:34:
The Messiah would be a descendant of Isaac
Prophesied Numbers 24:17 and confirmed in Matthew 1:2:
The Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob
Prophesied Genesis 49:10 and confirmed in Hebrews 7:14:
Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah

Prophesied in Samuel 7:12-13 and Isaiah 9:7 and confirmed in Luke 1:32-33, Romans 1:3

The Messiah would be heir to the throne of King David

“Jesus Christ who is a descendant of David (1 Kings 8:19; Mt 21:9; 2 Tim 2:8)”, was the only one in whom this prophecy of making an “Eternal Temple for God is fulfilled and who reigns forever (Lk 1:32-33)”.

The genealogy of Luke 3 traces “Jesus’ lineage through his mother, Mary”. “Jesus is descended from David by adoption through Joseph and by blood through Mary”. “As for his earthly life, he was a descendant of David” (Romans 1:3).

The account of Jesus Christ’s response in the temple in Jerusalem in John 2:19-22:

Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then the Jews said, In forty-six years this temple was built, and shall you raise it up in three days? But he spoke of the temple of his body. Therefore, when he rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.” And our body’s relationship to God’s temple (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Or do you ignore that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, who you have of God, and who is not yours? For you have been bought with a price; glorify God therefore in your body and spirit, which are God’s.

After finding the answers, I fell asleep very peacefully meditating on what I learned adding one more question: “How and why are so many temples built in cities if each of our bodies is a temple of the Holy Spirit?”. To my surprise I soon received the opportunity to find the answers to my question, in the following days in a virtual family meeting, our older brother told us that he had been documenting the Temple “Cristo de la Montaña in Guadalupe” located in Guadalupe, Mexico, which is part of the metropolitan area of Monterrey, since there was no documentation of this. He had been asked by the current “Priest Parish” and he requested the help of all the interested brothers. In the days after the meeting, my older brother and our younger brother took on the task of gathering information with testimonies of people involved in the construction of the Temple “Cristo de la Montaña in Guadalupe” All this information was published in the book “The Temple of the Beatitudes” by the “Parish Christ of the Mountain in Guadalupe, A.R.” [3]. We are confident that among all those interested and involved in the history of building and consolidating spiritual services to the community of this Temple can collect and document this work to better understand our walk to the “Temple of Christ on the Mountain” anywhere in the world.

Many times, when one asks “God” what we think is best for our walk at that time and with specific circumstances, we continually forget that he decides what is best for us in the long term, we only have to understand the following message through one of the four major prophets or messengers of God in the old testament; “Isaiah” who in his literal translation from Hebrew is “Yahweh the Savior”, he was the “Prophet of Trust in God” and “fervently proclaimed the coming of Jesus Christ” [4]. As Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not like your thoughts; nor your ways, as my ways, saith the Lord.” One of the most complete messages for our walk to the “Temple of Christ on the Mountain” is that of “St. John Paul II” [5]: “It is worth dedicating to the cause of Christ, who wants courageous and determined hearts; it is worthwhile to consecrate oneself to man for Christ, It is worth making an option for an ideal that will bring you great joys, although it also requires not a few sacrifices. The Lord does not abandon his own.” Studying the Bible, we can find that “God has often used mountains to teach and speak of His will for His children.” In the Scriptures we can read in the accounts of “Moses, and others including the Savior Himself climbing a mountain to commune with our Heavenly Father.” Thought as Walking to the Temple of Christ on the Mountain.

“If a doubt comes to you in your walk, Stop is the opportunity for your spirit to grow.” “It is time to meditate and help others, every action or fact is real and substantial, Working and meditating on them will help us to understand more the ways of the Lord.” “Together we can conclude that nothing is random, And as a group we will find the walk towards God.” “Climb the mountain learning of Christ, he is the way of truth and life to his Father, and in Temple of the Mountain to communion his body you will find.”

In Nuevo Leon, Mexico 2 babies were born at different times, this is their story whose destiny would unite to continue the work of “God”, the first was born on February 18, 1919 “Jorge Rady Pruneda” in Villa de Santiago, N.L. and the second 22 years later on July 17, 1941 “Emidgio Alberto Villareal Baco” in the city of Monterrey, N.L. Both were called by “God” to direct their walk to the “Temple of Christ on the Mountain”:
A. The 2 were educated by their Catholic families, who sowed in them the love of “Christ” and the example of dedication to others.
B. Both were called by “God” to the seminary from their early youth at the approximate age of 12, the young Jorge Rady in 1932, and the young Emidgio Villarreal in 1953, both being excellent and outstanding seminarians.
C. 12 years later respectively, both were ordained as priests at age 24, “Father Rady” in 1944, and “Father Emidgio” in 1965.
D. The 2 priests continued to prepare more, and both took advantage of the opportunity to study in Rome, Italy in “The Vatican”, where they had the opportunity to interact with the Catholic clergy.
E. And many remarkable concurrences of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection that prepared them to continue their work in the Walking to the “Temple of Christ on the Mountain.”

On one of his trips to Rome, “Father Rady” in December 1978 had the opportunity to talk with “Pope John Paul II” known as the “traveling Pope”, to personally invite him to visit Mexico and to include the city of Monterrey Mexico. This invitation was very important for the “Pope John Paul II” because he was a deep devotee of the “Virgin Mary”, these feelings arose from his childhood, in his own home and in his native Poland, where historically the image of the “Virgin of Czestochowa” is venerated, an icon with a deep tradition to the point that it is one of its national symbols. He wanted to visit the “Virgin of Guadalupe” in the “Basilica of Guadalupe” at the foot of Tepeyac hill in Mexico and pray to the “Virgin in the ayate cloth made of 100% dried fiber agave fiber of the Chichimeca Indian Juan Diego, where the image of the Virgin itself is embodied of Guadalupe”, that “it was formed miraculously by putting in the ayate at the request of the Virgin to place some rose flowers of Castile cut by indigenous Juan Diego in the Tepeyac when they were shown to the bishop”. As proof of his appearances in 1531, the last one occurring on December 12 of that same year. The whole city was moved, and they came to see and admire the devout image to pray to him; and they named her the “Virgin of Guadalupe”, according to the desire of “Our Lady Virgin Mary”. “Pope John Paul II” was one of the most influential religious leaders of the twentieth century, and currently named “Saint Pope John Paul II”, who made 129 international visits around the world, and 5 of those to Mexico each with spiritually transcendental religious purposes [6]. 1st visit In 1979, from 26 January to 1 February visiting 5 cities:
A. Mexico City visiting the “Metropolitan Cathedral” and the “Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe”, where he fulfilled his desire to pray to the “Virgin of Guadalupe her favorite prayer The Rosary” [7].
B. Puebla inaugurating the “Third General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate declaring the main the me the truth of Christ, about the Church and about man”.
C. Oaxaca officiating Mass in the Cathedral with homily focused on the “apostolate of the laity, as collaborators of God” [8-10].
D. Guadalajara visiting the “Major Seminary and Shrine of Our Lady of Zapopan [11],” also known as “The Star of Evangelization”. And,
E. City of Monterrey, where he spent only 2 hours on that trip, and on a bridge of the dry river of Santa Catarina he made “reflection on the needs of hardworking immigrants and their families, giving them his blessing and support.” He only stayed a few hours to fulfill the promise requested by “Father Rady” to visit this industrial city in Mexico, but he promised to return to Monterrey [9].

2^nd visit in 1990, from May 6 to May 13, confirming his pontificate as “missionary pilgrim Pope”:
A. On the esplanade of the “Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe” in Mexico city and reflecting on the dignity of indigenous people; “Beatifying the Chichimeca Indian Juan Diego” and others. Where beatifying is an act of the Roman Catholic Church declaring that a deceased person led a holy life.
B. In addition, he visited Mexico City, other cities as Veracruz, Aguascalientes, Durango, Chihuahua, Monterrey, and others. In Monterrey he fulfilled its promise of return to this city on May 10, where he deigned to pray in the “Holy Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Monterrey”, also from a helicopter blessed the “Temple Maximiliano Maria Kolbe” in under construction by “Father Rady”. Temple dedicated to the Polish Saint canonized and declared martyr for his charity by the same “Pope John Paul II”, honoring who was an active promoter of the veneration of the “Immaculate Heart of Mary”, dying voluntarily in place of another prisoner in the concentration camp at Auschwitz, in Poland occupied by the Nazis in World War II [10].

3^rd visit in 1993, it was brief on August 11 and 12: A. Visiting only Yucatan where he had a “meeting with the indigenous communities where in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Izamal where he reflected on the faith of the different indigenous peoples thanks to the Gospel, and I urge them to open their hearts to Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life”, then he went on to inaugurate the “World Youth Day” in Denver, United States.

4^th visit in 1999, from January 22 to 26:
A. Visiting only the capital of Mexico signing the “conclusions of the Synod of Bishops with the theme encounter with Jesus Christ alive, path to conversion, communion and solidarity in America and delivered it in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, also had a meeting with young people officiating a Mass with more than one million attendees”. And he uttered the following sentence: “We entrust to St. Mary of Guadalupe, Patroness of Mexico and of the entire continent, the destiny of the American peoples and of their new evangelization.”

5^th visit in 2002, from July 30 to August 1: A. Visiting only the capital of Mexico and the “Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe”, where he “canonized the Chichimeca Indian St. Juan Diego “, and “beatified the Martyrs of Cajonos” two Zapotec indigenous origin from Oaxaca.

The messages on all visits to Mexico by “Pope John Paul II”, inspired many American and people around the world as industrial workers, immigrants, parishioners, indigenous, priest, seminarians, educators, lay people and many more including the seminarian teachers of this story: “Father Rady” and “Father Emidgio”. The two were masters of the “Seminary of Monterrey” for approximately 40 years of their nearly 50 years of their priestly life. Additionally, “Father Emidgio” continued in his last years giving ecclesiastical advice whenever someone requested it. The two were teaching at “Seminary of Monterrey” for approximately 40 years of their nearly 50 years of their priestly life. Additionally, “Father Emidgio” continued in his last years giving ecclesiastical advice whenever someone requested it. In 1983 the paths of the “Holy Father John Paul II” and those of the 2 priests crossed again, when “Father Rady” received the title of “Monsignor” which comes from the Italian “monsignore”, and on different dates of the same year “Father Emidgio” also received it the same year by the “Supreme Pontiff”. These 2 appointments of the honorary title “Monsignor” can only be granted by the “Pope” as successor of “St. Peter” to certain ecclesiastics, this distinction boosted the dedication of both “Monsignors” in their spiritual growth with works to the community.

As indicated in Figure 4 in the “Chronology* of the Crossed Paths of God between Two Monsignors and a Holy Pope.” Where it is graphically shown where the paths of the 3 cross and impel each other, especially in the trips to Mexico of “Pope John Paul II”, and more specifically in 1983, the year that they receive the honorary title of “Monsignor”:
A. In 1983, “Monsignor Jorge Rady Pruneda” was inspired and laid the first stone of the “Temple Christ of the Mountain”, and many more activities that will be explained in section 4 “Father RADY’s path to the Temple of Christ on the Mountain”.
B. Also in 1983, “Monsignor Emidgio Villarreal Bacco” evolved from being a teacher in the “Seminary of Monterrey” of plant, to being a teacher in other institutions including his beloved and admired “Franciscans” and many other activities as “spiritual advisor” that will be described later in section 5 “Father Emigdio’s Path to the Temple of Christ on the Mountain.”

Figure 4:Thought for paths crossed by god between two monsignors and a holy pope.

*Chronology shows at the bottom the year, next-up level the path of “Father Emidgio”, next-up the path of “Father Rady”, next up level the 3 temples built by “Father Rady” and labels used in each temple’s path, and at the top the Pope Juan Pablo indicated the 5 visits to Mexico and the year he gave the honorary title of monsignor to both priest. It is recommended to make a “chronology of our personal journey” to the “Temple of Christ on the Mountain”, to detect what steps in the times when we are driven by faith, or when we make mistakes and correct them. It is convenient to recognize that every day we make decisions in the direction of path we want, sometimes we make mistakes and think if we had not taken that direction, we would not be in the situation in which we are. As human beings we will be wrong many times, but with humility we can recognize and correct the direction in our path as indicated in Psalm 25:4. Lord, make my ways known; show me your ways.

The biggest problem regularly is to define the path for the sole purpose of our life, we must include not only what we want, but the path that “God” wants us to follow towards him, which many times we do not understand at all, but with much faith we will get “God” by following the teachings of “Christ the good shepherd” this is described in Isaiah 55:9 My ways and my thoughts are higher than yours; higher than the heavens above the earth!Thought for the paths crossed by God between two Monsignors and a Holy Pope.

“If trouble crosses your path, Try to understand the reason, and learn your lesson well.” “If a disciple of God you find in your walk, listens and meditates on his preaching, Coincidence is not, He will advise you on the direction for good.” “Since your gifts and talents are for sharing, direct them to the plan of the Lord for mankind. “Go up step by step the Mountain of Christ in your walk, turning your pride into humility, in order to understand, and accept our pastor, who showed us with his love, his example, and his sacrifice the way to God” “But do not forget to smile as it will accompany you, the Holy Spirit to guide your walk, In your preparation will help you, to get to the top where you will find the Temple of Christ that you will love.

“Father Rady” was born and raised with his brothers in a Catholic family, since childhood he was very restless, mischievous, bold, brave and his mind always showing activity related to the community and the religious environment. When he took his first communion as a child, he was born the desire to go to the seminary and one day become a priest, and he achieved it at the age of 12 at the beginning of 1932. Some years of his priestly preparation were made in Rome, but unfortunately, he became ill with his lungs, and returned to the City of Monterrey where he continued his studies at the Seminary of the city. The brilliant seminarian already mastered the following languages: Italian, English, Spanish, and Latin. After finishing his studies at the “Seminary of Monterrey”, where he was ordained a priest in April 1944, he immediately joined the same seminary as a teacher (1959-1989). In addition to his duties as a teacher, he held several positions: a) At the “Diocese of Monterrey” as auxiliary to the Bishop, bursar administering the assets of the canon of the cathedral, b) “Chaplain*” of the Muguerza Hospital and several schools in the city, c) “Ecclesiastical Assistant” of the Union of Mexican Catholics, and at the “Catholic Association of Mexican Youth”, and many other duties.

*Catholic Chaplains” are persons appointed by the Catholic Church to work in many places located outside the normal life of the congregation.

“Father Rady” was the special kind of people with a lot of energy, very enthusiastic and with very broad pastoral gifts, and with a mental agility with a lot of experience to convince and integrate collaboration of people into their goals of their multiple projects for the community. Something very important is that he did not like to leave things unfinished, if he was asked to do “a”, b” and “c”, he simply did not settle and completed the entire “alphabet” from “a” to “z”. For this he used his gifts as a religious leader and excellent administrator, gathering and organizing groups of people, spreading his enthusiasm and collaboration in all the activities necessary to achieve his goals such as raising funds with kermesses, raffles, etc., looking for donors and many more. Nothing scared him and everything he proposed ended with great faith and joy always following his motto: “I do everything I have to do, and I owe everything I do”. Referring to the fact that “he fulfilled all his obligations, but often economically he did not have all the resources to do them, and with his faith, with the support of many collaborators and donors, he finally obtained them thanks to God.”

We could say “Father Rady” began in 1952 to show his ability to become a “builder of Temples”, when the then “Archbishop of Monterrey Don Alfonso Espino y Silva” commissioned him and another priest “Carlos Álvarez”, to process the donation by the United States of America of an inventory of 12 new hangars or large shed structures and packaged for medium aircraft, made of wood and metal sheet, which for some reason were not used in World War II, in order to use them for the construction of temples in the City of Monterrey. They in this mission were in charge in record time of seeking resources, permits and supervising the transportation from the United States of America to the City of Monterrey, Mexico, these were used in the construction of 12 Temples among them, the first were the “Temple of our Lady of Fatima”, “Virgin Mary helper Temple”, and many others.

“Father Rady” lived with his sister near where the facilities of the “Colegio de Sagrado de Jesus” were before and there were also the offices of the “Archdiocese of Monterrey” where he was a direct collaborator in the “Canon Chapter”, then he lived for a time in a priestly community with several priests including “Father Emidgio” in the “Basilica of Our Lady Del Roble” where he was bursar (treasurer), canon of the Cathedral, and finally moved in early 1983 to a suburb called “Country La Silla” in Guadalupe, Mexico. which is at the foot of a small mountain popular known as “Cerro de la Silla” because its similarity to a horse saddle, it is an emblem of the City of Monterrey, where he would strengthen his path as “Builder of Temples”.

“Father Rady” being well known as a formator of priests in the “Seminary of Monterrey”, “Chaplain” in several places. A group of neighbors of “Country La Silla” asked for his help as a “priestly guide” in building a “chapel” on a small piece of land donated by the municipality. He accepted and became so enthusiastic that he turned the project from “Chapel to a Temple on top of a beautiful park at the foot of Cerro de la Silla”. For achieving this goal, he began to give the “Holy Mass” outdoors every Sunday on a small concrete altar with the image of “Christ” on a tree, and attendees were advised to bring their own chairs and their own drinking water. Every Sunday the number of parishioners who were enthusiastic about the project of building the Temple right there increased, and invited them to organize various activities such as the sale of cakes, cookies, food, etc. In addition, he created the “Pro-Construction Committee” of the now “Temple Christ of the Mountain” who, collecting the signature of all the neighbors, and the insistence of “Father Rady” to the authorities, managed to donate the land of almost 4000 square meters for its construction at the top of the beautiful park.

“Father Rady” and his collaborators integrated many young people into the project, who organized dances and raffles, touring the streets visiting house by house to invite everyone, and raising funds for many needs even the creation of a “church choir”, for this additionally a “Pro-Construction Board of the Christ of the Mountain Temple” was formed to formalize the total responsibility of the work, administration, and control of funds. Soon a team of advisors from various professional branches joined the project including skilled craftsmen and artists for each of the details of the construction to achieve the majesty of the Temple, many more people continued to integrate to promote the pastoral work through support in the construction of the Temple that was finally finished until 1988. In the “Ceremony of Consecration of the Temple” on December 24, 1988, the “Archbishop of Monterrey Adolfo Suarez Rivera”, accompanied by “Monsignor Emidgio A. Villareal Baco” known as “Father Emidgio” and other religious personalities, blessed the impressive exteriors, entered the beautiful temple and officiated the first “Holy Mass in the Temple”, ending with the “Consecration and Dedication of the Altar”, burning incense and a mixture of oils plus balms according to the traditions documented in the Old Testament for the altar consecration of the “Temple of Solomon” (2 chronicles 7, see section 2 Walking to the Temple of Christ on the Mountain in this document). In addition, the same organization led and driven by “Father Rady” collaborated to build two more Temples as shown in the Figure 5. To encourage them all, “Father Rady” continually commented to all his collaborators: “The most difficult thing is not to lay the first stone, but the last stone,” he smiled and saw everyone, and I ended up saying. “with God’s direction we will achieve it together...”.

Figure 5:Father Rady’s way to the temple of christ on the mountain.

“Father Ray” was demanding simplicity in every detail of the Temples, and at the same time always sought to represent: “Our Jesus Christ in His Simple and Humble Form.” When they collaborators introduce him their sketches outside this rule, he would tell them: “It does not yet rest in the Holy Spirit in you, but it is already fluttering you, continues to work...”. In his built Temples, “Father Rady” always wanted to represent “Christ’s message of inviting them to come by, for he is the way to reach his Father”. Remembering that we are part of our creator, Acts 17:28 The God who made the world and all things in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by human hands, nor does He allow Himself to be served by human hands, as if He needed something. On the contrary, he is the one who gives everyone life, breath, and all things. “Since in him we live, we move, and we exist.”

That our walk to “God” is through “Jesus” as documented in John 14:6-7. Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me. If you knew me, you would also know my Father; and from now on you know him, and you have seen him That “Christ” continually invites us to walk with him toward his “Father,” Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all you who are labored and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, that I am meek and humble of heart; and ye shall find rest for your souls; for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

It is important to emphasize as indicated in Figure 4 “Chronology of the crossed paths of God between 2 Monsignors”, “Father Rady” and “Father Emidgio” with “Pope Saint John Paul II”. On his walk to the “Temple of Christ on the Mountain” “Father Rady” received the title of “Canon and Monsignor” in 1983 by Pope “John Paul II” at the age of 64. “Father Rady” inspired and redirected his path in life to leave his priestly legacy as a “Temple Builder” with his Christian vocation that comes from “God” through following “Christ, the Good Shepherd.” Counting on the accumulated experience of 40 years of being a priest, dedicated in large part to teaching in the “Seminary of Monterrey”, in that same year he also received the honorific title of “Monsignor” “Father Emidgio” as will be explained in more detail in the next section.

In each of the temples built by “Father Rady” created solid Christian communities, being very enthusiastic to convince and integrate many people in supporting such a noble task, and thus expand his pastoral work. Starting with the laying of the first stone in the construction of the “Temple Christ of the Mountain” on September 20, 1983, it shown at the top of Figure 5, and to continue its project in construction of two more temples: “Temple Christ the Priest” first stone in 1987 and the “Temple St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe” where its first stone was on December 24, 1988. Both temples are shown at the bottom in Figure 5. In addition, he also helped in the formation of the preschool educational center “Centro Luis Pasteur” and founded the “Association of Virgin of Guadalupe workers”, all this apart from his other ecclesiastical responsibilities.

“Father Rady” was rector of the “Temple Christ of the Mountain” from 1988-1993. At the consecration blessing of the Altar on December 24, 1988, “Father Rady” commented that day to his parishioners: “Building a church costs tears, sweat and blood. But it feels a lot of joy to have for everyone, this Temple of Christ on the Mountain.” He was very pleased with this work accomplished with the cooperation of his collaborators, donors, and parishioners. Very often he was seen praying the rosary, thanking, and reflecting, and at the same time walking, circling around the temple and enjoying the beautiful and spacious gardens that surround the Temple. He always thanked those who had chosen him in his priesthood as described in Jn 15:16: You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and I have destined you to go and bear fruit, and that your fruit may remain...

During that time as a Temple builder from 1983 to 1988, and Rector from 1988 to 1993 he showed complete dedication and dedication with a continuous attitude of his faith, despite his great and multiple responsibilities that over time were reducing his health, to the extent of having a surgical intervention in September 1992. Where unfortunately he did not have an acceptable recovery. This prevented him from continuing to celebrate the “Holy Mass” daily, affecting him emotionally, and finally dying of cardiac arrest the following year on August 1, 1993, to finish his walk to the “Temple of Christ on the Mountain” with dignity. Ending his priestly life of 49 years dedicated to serving the “Cause of Christ, leaving a legacy worthy of the Good Shepherd of his walk for generations.” His planned to celebrate his 50th anniversary of being a priest in his beloved “Temple of Christ on the Mountain” were cut short by “the call of our Lord Jesus Christ to meet the love of his Father eternally”.

In the mass of his body attended by the “Archbishop of Monterrey, Don Adolfo Suarez Rivera” with the presence of more than 70 priests of the “Archdiocese of Monterrey”, he was mentioned as the “Builder of Temples” summarizing his legacy in works for the community: : “Christ of the Mountain”, “St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe”, “Jesus Priest”, “The Chapel of St. Gerard Mary May ela” and his participation in the construction of the Temples “St. George Martyr”, “St. Thomas Moro”, “St. Augustine” and “The Resurrection of the Lord”. His legacy of “Christ the Good Shepherd” continues to be supported by many of his parishioner friends, fellow priests, and alumni as priests to continue his works: “Temple Christ of the Mountain” was converted into a Parish* on January 5, 2001 [12], “Jesus Priest Temple” into Parish* in 1997, The “Temple St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe” was consecration in Temple in 1991 [13].

*Parish: Church in which the sacraments are administered to the faithful of a given territory or district.

We must continually remember that a Priest follows Christ. “Priests unite the entire People of God by following the example of Christ and his teachings with much faith and administering the Sacraments to the community.” Acts 21:26 The next day Paul took the men and cleansed himself with them. Then he entered the temple.

Priests act in “the person of Christ (In Persona Christi Capitis)” as described in Acts 3 One day Peter and John went up to the temple at three o’clock in the afternoon, which is the hour of prayer. Next to the gate called Hermosa was a man crippled from birth, who was left there every day to beg from those who entered the temple. When he saw that Peter and John were about to enter, he asked them for alms. Peter, with John, staring at him, said to him: Look at us! The man fixed his gaze on them, hoping to receive something. “I have neither silver nor gold,” Peter declared, “but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, arise and walk!

Thought on “Father Rady’s Path to Christ’s Temple on the Mountain”. “We all have a destiny to fulfill, with many opportunities to decide, what we want to be and where we want to go, blessed are those who do so by serving others, and they humbly prepare themselves to be disciples of the Lord.” “They invite many more, As he preaches the word in his walk, teaching by example in their path, to get virtuous to the place which is the Temple on the Mountain where the Lord is.” “They in their departure leave the legacy of Christ with works of our spiritual path for others, so that they and many more, continue to work on many more, to follow in his walk the footsteps of “The Good Shepherd”

In August 1993 the new rector of the “Temple Christ of the Mountain” in Guadalupe, Mexico., was received, the “Monsignor Emidgio Alberto Villarreal Bacco” of 48 years, he had received the honorary title of “Prelate of Honor-Monsignor*” relatively young at age 42 by “Pope John Paul II” in 1983. The same year he was received by his predecessor “Father Rady” who was the builder and first “Rector of the Temple Christ of the Mountain” (1988-1993).

*Pope Francis” in January 2014 put the requirement that the title of “Prelate of Honor - Monsignor” not be granted to priests under 65 years of age; however, this rule is not retroactive and persons who are already legitimate “monsignors” can continue to use this distinctive title [14]. “Monsignor Emidgio Alberto Villarreal Bacco” liked to be digested only as “Father Emidgio”, he had been present together with the Archbishop of Monterrey at the consecration ceremony of the “Temple Christ of the Mountain” on December 24, 1983. “Father Emidgio” was the perfect “spiritual guide” to continue the work of “Father Rady”, because of his great curriculum of being “Master of the Seminary of Monterrey” and experience as “ecclesiastical advisor”. And so it was, he with his great intellectuality and his friendly personality united and grew the religious community consolidating the material works of the Temple, applying new criteria and methods to multiply the “spiritual works” in the “Temple Christ of the Mountain”, with his pastoral work managing to integrate more enthusiastic parishioners with their entire families in following the “teachings of Jesus Christ” to make it a Parish in 2001.

“Father Emidgio” was born in Monterrey on July 17, 1941, son of a doctor father with a specialty in Gynecology and Obstetrics, and an admired mother Professor who was born in Villa de Santiago, Mexico. This is the same picturesque place where “Father Rady” was born, “Father Emidgio” always dreamed that when he retired from his priesthood for old age at 75 years could be integrated into the temple near a beautiful farm in the town of Santiago, and will allow him to reflect and document his walk in your last days in the beautiful place where his mother was born who was of Italian descent. He grew up in a Catholic family environment, being a total of 7 brothers, following the example of his parents very religious and committed to needy social causes. He did honor as did “Father Rady” to the well-known phrase: “The seed for priestly vocations, it is sown from the bosom of the family.”

At the age of 9 the young Emidgio and the entire “Villareal Bacco family” moved from the center of the “Ciudad de Monterrey, Mexico” to a house very close to their favorite temple the “Basilica of Our Lady of the Oak” and sometime later they moved to the “Mitras” suburb, where precisely in front of his new house the construction of the of the Temple of “Our Lady of the Refuge of Sinners”, where a “Franciscan Father” celebrated Mass daily, and he was frequently invited by his parents to lunch at their home. In those interesting after-dinner talks with the father member of “foundation of St. Francis of Assisi”, an order founded since 1209.

The young “Emidgio” listened in wonder at the extraordinary human sensitivity of “Saint Francis”, who was the son of a rich merchant in Italy. After a youth dissipated in amusements, he converted, renounced his paternal possessions. Seeing the poverty around them, he decided to live in humility and service following the teachings of “Our Lord Jesus Christ.” Francis being a simple “layman” managed to become a “Cleric of a degree immediately below that of priest”, with this action he was integrated into the service in the “Catholic Church” following the sacramental image of “Christ the servant”, documented in Mark 10,45For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The “Saint Francis of Assisi” left a testimony of humility, in poverty and penance, with a sense of Christian freedom, but submitting to the Catholic clergy giving rise to the “Franciscan Order”. In addition, he founded a second order the “Poor Clare Sisters” and a third order known as “Secular Franciscan” formed by the organic union of all the fraternities scattered throughout the world [15]. As documented in SS Francisco_4. The Church is Temple, living stone: “No human being is the most important in the Church; we are all equal in God’s eyes. Some of you might say: Listen, Mr. Pope, you are not equal to us. Yes: I am like one of you, we are all equal, We are brothers! No one is anonymous: we all form and build the Church.”

The young “Emidgio” was so inspired by the construction of the Temple near his house, that he followed the evolution of each of the details of the construction and symbolized every detail in it. Relating them to the “Franciscan” conversations of the table and his experience as a child as an “acolyte (altar boy)”, he decided to one day become a “priest”, and also to collaborate in the admirable “Franciscan Order”. The opportunity was given to them at the age of 12 when the “Chaplain “ of the College where he studied invited a “Monsignor” who asked in one of his talks to all the attendees: “Do any of you want to be a priest?” and the young “Emidgio” raised his hand and firmly said: “I want to be!”. Everyone was astonished as an early young man showed much confidence and seriousness in his decision to become a priest. He then had a personal interview with the “Chaplain”, several additional interviews with ecclesiastical authorities and several family meetings. He finally obtained the authorization of his parents who, knowing of his intelligence, initially advised him to wait first to finish his middle and high school studies. But he convinced them to enroll him in a “pre-seminary”, where he confirmed his great priestly spiritual vocation to prepare himself to be “Disciple of Christ the Good Shepherd”, and finally he joined the “Seminary of Monterrey” that same year of 1953, and with great dedication following “Jesus Christ”, John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing.

The young seminarian “Emidgio”, stood out for being an excellent student in the subjects of the Seminary that at that time were divided into 3 great and profound themes: “Latin, Philosophy and Theology”:
A. Latin” for four years, where all the fundamental grammar is studied to make translations of sentences and texts from “Latin to Spanish”, according to the traditional method of grammar-translation and single sentences or texts analyzing the complete meaning in them.
B. Philosophy” for three years, where they prepare to be disciples and understand the knowledge of the truth of themselves, the world and “God”. With bases of learning and analyzing with critical and sapiential thinking, dialogue, and give testimony of their faith for priestly life.
C. Theology” for four years, to prepare oneself for presbyterial life through the Trinitarian theological experience: “God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit” to be integrated into the mission of “Christ the Good Shepherd” with self-giving at the service of others. To study “Theology” he was sent to the “Montezuma Seminary in New Mexico, USA”, the reason that the new “Monterey Seminary” at that time did not yet offer it. By then the scholarly and brilliant seminarian already mastered a total of 7 languages: Spanish, English, Latin, German, Greek, French and Italian.

In order to be ordained a priest at 23 years old, he was granted the “age dispensation” since he still did not meet the required 24, and finally he was ordained as a “Priest” on June 29, 1965 in “Basilica of Our Lady of the Oak”, and immediately the “Archbishop of Monterrey Alfonso Espino y Silva” assign him to the “Seminary of Monterrey” as a teacher, where he was taught for 40 years. In that period, he had several assignments in the “Seminary” beginning in the “Minor Seminary” in the “Theologate”; that is, a place where one reads and meditates on the “Holy Bible”, as well as teaching courses for Greek, Universal History, Demonstrated Religion, Liturgy, Latin, Apologetics, introduction to the Conciliar Documents, and other courses. One of his abilities (gifts) of “Father Emidgio” was his “photographic or eidetic memory”, when one of his students or alumni asked him something, he replied very politely: “Remember that we saw taht in the class book citing the name, author and version, he also gave them the exact reference with the page number, and repeated them as if he were reading it in his mind, plus additional comments to explain it better”. The intellectual and tireless “Father Emidgio” continued to study and fulfill other simultaneous assignments inside and outside the Seminary. “Seminar”: Staff Master, Prefect of Discipline and Secretary General of the Seminary.

“External studies”:
a) Degree in Psychology at the University of Monterrey” (1968- 1973). Where he graduated with the support of his proud parents who helped him manage the official validity of the studies of the Seminary. This allowed him to additionally teach courses in General Psychology, Social Psychology, Psychopathology and Psychotherapy.
b) Three Degrees at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy” (1977-1981): Theology, Ethics and Canon Law. When he returned, he also allowed him to teach courses of the regular courses of “Canon Rights” in various places including religious in the “Regina Mundi Institute”.

“Master with the Franciscans” for twenty years, realizing his dream of collaborating in the “Franciscan Order” that he proposed since he was young when his family had conversations with the “Franciscan” father who frequented going to breakfast with them and who offered Holy Mass in the church in front of his parents’ house. Chaplain in various institutions”: Oblates of Jesus Priest, University Center of Monterrey, and First Chaplain of the Basilica of the Oak, with rights of Rector. Remember that the opportunity to be a priest was presented to him at age 12 when a “Chaplain” and “Monsignor” was invited to the school where he studied to give a talk where he asked, “Who among you wants to be a priest?” and there he practically began his goal of one day becoming a priest. “Advisor” at the “Secular Institute Disciples of the Lord”

Figure 6:Father Emigdio’s path in the basilica.

“Notary of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal”. He is an ecclesiastic to whom the civil laws recognize public faith to canonically attest to the acts in which he intervenes or before the celebrated. “Ecclesiastical Vicar General” the one who assists the Bishop in his functions, and who generally governs the Diocese during his absence. “Episcopal of the Ecclesiastical” and “Episcopal Tribunal of the Pastoral Zone”. “Diocesan Judge of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal” an organism of the Church that renders to the ecclesial community the service of the administration of justice. In processes such as marriage ties, waiver of broken marriage, process on the death of the spouse and others “Member of the Secretariat for the Ecclesiastical Doctrine of the Faith”, and “Member of the Presbyterial Council”. “Professor of Canon Law at the Institute of Theology of the Seminary of Villa Juárez”, In addition, other assignments “Father Emidgio” was a person very devoted to the “Virgin of Oak”, he spent 12 years in the “Basilica of Our Lady of the Oak” in downtown Monterrey, as shown in Figure 6 “Father Emigdio’s path in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Oak”.

“Father Emidgio” was a very restless person but very methodical in everything he did, he had “established periods of 12 years being in a place with the same position”:
A. Admission to “Seminary of Monterey” at age 12,
B. His priestly ordination in the “Basilica Of Our Lady of the Oak” was 12 years later,
C. He was on the floor at the “Seminary de Monterrey” for 12 years of plant. However, his 50 years of priestly life remained “spiritual advisor to numerous seminarians and priests.”
D. Chaplain at the Basilica Of Our Lady of the Oak “ for another 12 years. “Father Emidgio” from a young age showed to be a fervent follower of the “Virgin of Oak “ in his task of evangelization. In all his talks and courses, he placed an artisan figure of the “Virgin of Oak”, which is an image of the “Virgin Mary” used during the evangelization of the area in the city of Monterrey.

“Virgin of Oak” Image was placed in a hollow of a lush wild oak in 1592 by the “Friar Andres de Leon” to protect it from the environment, being forgotten there. Sometime later in 1596 in that area was constituted the nucleus of the city of Monterrey, a short time later a shepherdess of goats, heard from an oak tree a sweet voice called her, clearly and insistently mentioning her name, she approached and found in the hollow of the wild oak the image of the “Blessed Virgin”:” What would not be your surprise, to find in the hollow of a wild oak a tiny image of the Blessed Virgin, which had a supernatural brightness and very soft smell, as if it were an unexpected celestial light to which dozens of flowers of gifted perfume were formed!”.

She went to tell her parents, then they went to the Priest of the town, finally everyone went to see her, and the Priest decided to take her to his “Parish Precinct”. The next day she was no longer in the enclosure, and they found her again in the oak hollow, they took her 2 more times to the parish enclosure, and again she returned to the leafy oak hollow. And understanding the message of the “Blessed Virgin” they decided right there to build the “Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Oak” [16].

Rector of the Temple of Christ of the Mountain” from 1993 to 2001 for 8 years, since he wanted this “Temple to be recognized as a Parish” .It is important to mention that “Father Emidgio” while still a teacher in the “Seminary of Monterrey” was assigned to be the “Rector of the Temple of Christ of the Mountain”. Pastor of the Parish of Christ of the Mountain” from 2001 to 2016 (15 years) As Pastor of the Parish of “ Christ of the Mountain” in Guadalupe from 2001 to 2016, “Father Emidgio” continued the work of his predecessor “Father Rady”, strengthening the pastoral work of “Christ the Good Shepherd”. “Registration of the Temple as a Religious Association with the Ministry of the Interior”, to comply with the provisions of the Law on Religious Associations and Public Worship. To legally formalize the “Religious Association of the Temple Christ of the Mountain in Guadalupe”.

“Achievement of Seminary support in assigning seminarians to the Temple” to impart liturgical instruction to marriages under its supervision. Today those seminarians are already priests and almost all marriages continued in other pastoral works. Facilitated the preparation of his Temple co-workers in the study of the Holy Scriptures” with such success that its director became national leader of these marriage groups. With this action years later in 1999 open the “Bible School so that the Temple became a Parish”.

“Made official the Temple Christ of the Mountain in Guadalupe as a Religious Association,” and appointed based on civil legislation as its legal representative and Rector. With the purpose of having civil legal basis of the religious community that empowers all parishioners to attend the temple and receive the words of “Christ the Good Shepherd”. “Updated the pastoral strategy” to be in groups of marriages and not separate groups of women and men, with the purpose of automatically including their children in pastoral activities. With this, the strategy of “including young people as ministers of Communion” evolved, both in spiritual retreats and in “pastoral missions”, to impart the “Word of Christ” in communities outside the city.

“Established the patronal feast of the Temple of the Mountain” on the last Sunday of liturgical time based on the day of “Christ the King”, is celebrated since then around November 20. Almost the last Sunday of November was the patronal feast, a day before the “advent” season, preparation for the birth of “Jesus”. In that celebration, a Mexican community dinner of snacks was held, gifts contributed by the community were collected and raffles were held. “Evolve the Temple to Parish”, visualize, organize, unite the whole community to implement the stages to ensure that the project of “Father Rady” for the “Temple Christ of the Mountain” could evolved into “Parish”. Where “Parish” is a community with a stable organization which, under the authority of the Bishop, is entrusted to a parish priest, as his own Pastor, in this way to gather the People of God to the celebration of the liturgy, to teach the doctrine of Christ and to practice the charity of the Lord in good and fraternal works.

“Build the Community Center” for different parish works with an area of nine classrooms, auditorium, cafeteria, meeting rooms and cubicles. Today it is the “Mary Queen of the Apostles Parish Center,” which is used for many pastoral activities and family spiritual gatherings. “Consolidated apostolic groups” among them: The Pastoral Council, Association of the Blessed Sacrament, and various groups composed of married couples, ladies, lords, young people and children to know and propagate the “word of Christ”. Among them: Catechetical Ministry, Bible School, Apostleship of the Cross, Liturgical Ministry and many more.

“Father Emidgio” always had a very clear vision of his path with humility, simplicity, and ethical rectitude, always following well-specified systematic steps to achieve the goals necessary to fulfill his priestly obligations in accordance with all the necessary ecclesiastical and civil norms. Charismatic personality was always an excellent and pleasant conversationalist, based on his great preparation with experience of decades, and he strives to be always updated. This allowed him to become a great “Spiritual Advisor” throughout the religious community of the Temple, in general throughout Monterrey and in various cities where his alumni were located, also contributing to the number of parishioners growing very fast in the “Temple of Christ on the Mountain.”

“Father Emidgio” enjoyed “family life” very much, and made him very happy to see the “whole families attending the Temple”, and even for this purpose he organized events and activities especially for whole families, for example, the family choirs of up to 40 people, and after the “Holy Mass” he mixed in meetings of families to converse with them in the gardens around it. Additionally, he liked to live in the company of his mother, whom he cared for at home, where he saw very frequently all his relatives who visited them frequently. Her mother always accompanied her daily to the “Holy Mass in the Temple”, unfortunately she passed away in 2001, which affected him emotionally. That same year he was appointed “Pastor of the Parish of Christ of the Mountain in Guadalupe”, and then he was very encouraged by the new call of the “Lord” and decided to change to the “Priestly House of the Parish of the same Temple”. It is important to mention that he frequently received calls to request advice from students of the “Seminary of Monterrey and priests in various parts of Mexico”, continuously offering him more assignments apart from the “Temple Christ of the Mountain” but he rejected them because he loved their growing pastoral work and enjoyed very much the great family formed by all his collaborators and parishioners of approximately 3,000 families representing more or less 15,000 people.

Living in the “House of the Priest in the Temple Christ of the Mountain” allowed him to focus fully on his multiple projects and services that made him very happy, in which he was very responsible, perfectionist and detail-oriented with architects, engineers, artisan sculptors for images, stained glass and many other things, achieving among all his collaborators a very suitable environment for meditation and prayer in the Temple. Among them are: “Monumental exterior Via Crucis” with the 14 stations, beautiful images of the “Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph” in the atrium, “Hall Canon and Monsignor Jorge Rady Pruneda”, “Baptismal font”, “Penitential Chapel”, “Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament”, and many more beautiful improvements. Without forgetting its main objective of “Growing and maturing spiritual themes” and other related activities to document the growth of the parish community that was growing at exponential paces. Creating and consolidating various “apostolic groups”, such as: “Pastoral Council”, “Association of the Blessed Sacrament” and various groups composed of married couples, ladies, lords, young people and children, and many other spiritual activities.

In mid-2013, he began to feel very fatigued, decided to go to his personal doctor, who did studies and analyzes including biomedical imaging, which showed a “small tumor in the brain”, and that was the main cause of his symptoms. He decided to continue working in the Temple with the same impetus as always, but at the same time thinking of alternatives in case the “tumor was malignant and continued to grow, which happened affecting him over time his abilities bestowed by our Lord in his priestly responsibilities”. For this, he relied heavily on “Father Gregorio Martínez Reyes” who was the “Vicar of the Temple” entrusting him with the Congregation and transferring his functions as his illness progressed. He also relied heavily on “Father Manuel García Benavides” second “Chaplain of the Jesus Priest Temple”.

In 2015, “God” allowed him to celebrate his 50 years of priestly life for this he personally unveiled a commemorative plaque in his honor in the “Jesus Priest Temple” where he had been Chaplain for several years at the beginning of his priestly life, and there he began to sow many friendships. At the unveiling of the honorary plaque, he was also accompanied by many parishioners and companions of his generation and many of his former seminary students already ordained priests [17]. In the Monterrey community and in the “Seminary of Monterrey” his priestly generation is remembered as “The Golden Generation”, in honor of his spiritual works carried out. Then there was a celebration with a Mass in the “Basilica of Our Lady of the Oak” celebrated by the “Archbishop of Monterrey Monsignor Rogelio Cabrera Lopez” on June 29, 2015, remembering that, on that date in 1965, he had been ordained a priest there. After the homily, the archbishop addressed a few words: “The Church recognizes the gift received and all that he has done for this very particular church in Monterrey and called him a golden priest.”[18-20]. Here I make a personal parenthesis to include with all my gratitude how much “Father Emidgio” advised me to guide me in my “Walk as a Laity” to the “Temple of Christ on the Mountain”

I was blessed to frequently see “Father Emidgio” who was our uncle brother of my mother, and “Father Emidgio” was brother of his wife, when I was growing up in my parents’ house in Monterrey, Mexico. They invited him sporadically to join us for lunch, where everyone in the family was very enthusiastic about his pleasant talks and hearing about his achievements in the community. On one of those visits he gave me some advice unforgettable in my adolescence, that day I arrived late to eat at home, since at the exit of the technical high school of the parking lot of the school, where I was in high school I did not find my form of transport, my motorcycle (old and very low cylinder capacity) had been stolen, when I told what happened to “Father Emidgio” he replied: “Sooner or later you will realize that we do not own anything in this life, we are here in passing, and many times we consider material things very valuable, but as you mature you will understand that they are not. So, if one day you find out who it was, forgive him and make him your friend.” Honestly at that moment I did not understand in all his message, but I smiled at him and replied, “I will do it”.

For several weeks, I had to go on foot, and it took me approx. 45 minutes to walk to get to the classes in the high school that was a little far away always asking me “Who would be the ungrateful one who took my motorcycle?”. One day driving my dad’s car, i saw what my motorcycle was, it was being driven by a young man from the same high school where he studied. I followed him, and he arrived at his house, before entering it I reached him, greeted him kindly and remembering the words of “Father Emidgio” I commented: “Dispense this is my motorcycle, if you want, I can show you the invoice.” He looked at me and replied: “It is not necessary, take it actually I found it abandoned ...”. I took it and told him “how many times do you need it I can lend it to you again...”.

We smiled at each other, from that day on we greeted each other amicably every time we met. “Forgiveness” according to the “Holy Bible” is a recurring theme throughout the sacred scriptures, all the children of “God” have experienced it at some point, and this has allowed them to grow, following the “Lord’s teachings for the benefit of their relationship with Him and their fellowmen”. It is a “life lesson” that has been evidenced in Ephesians 4:32: Rather, be kind and compassionate to one another, and forgive one another, just as God forgave you in Christ

On another occasion, shortly before getting married in 1977 I emigrated from the City of Monterrey where I was born, grew up and my whole family was on the border to Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua and El Paso Texas, for my interest in continuing to study and prepare myself in the universities of the USA to satisfy my research goal and document scientific advances that I liked so much. Since then, there have been very few occasions when we meet again in our walk with “Father Emidgio”. In 2012, when our mother passed away at the age of 85, we had the honor in our family that our dear uncle “Father Emidgio”, accompanied by a friendship of my parents the “Father Jesus Andrew” who was for us as an adoptive brother for our parents and who at that time was “Pastor in the church of La Salle” in Monterrey, they will officiate the “Holy Mass of the present body” of my mother in the funeral chapel. “Father Emidgio” before the Mass, we greeted each other and conversed with him encouraged me and inspired me to give a familiar message that my older brother requested for all those attending the “Mass of Body Present”.

For this I relied on a reading on my way to the funeral; the attitude of service of our “Lord Jesus Christ in washing the feet of his disciples”, comparing it to the attitude of love and service of our parents who bathed us when babies, served us and guided us in everything within their reach during our lives and they guided us in our journey, and besides my mother was a member of the “Apostleship of the Cross*”. All this and more we must continue with the same love and humility with our families and with our fellow human beings. I base myself on the biblical passage of “Jesus Christ” documented in “St. John” in the “Holy Bible”. John 13-14 got up from dinner, and took off his cloak, and taking a towel, he wrapped it up. Then he put water in a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. And John 13:15-17 For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, you may also do. Truly, truly, I say to you, The servant is not greater than his master, nor is the envoy greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

* “Apostolate of the Cross” is a Catholic group, founded in Mexico on May 3, 1894, which was inspired by Mrs. “Concepción Cabrera de Armida” who was a wife and lay mother of a family, and whose process of “Beatification” was authorized by “Pope Francis” was carried out in May 2019: “Blessed Concepción Cabrera de Armida” [21].

Three years later in 2015, our father died, who in his last years was in a nursing home for the elderly where he lived with a large number of them. When visiting him at the “Sacred Heart of Jesus Rest House” in Monterrey attended by dedicated “nuns”. However, I saw and understood how difficult it is for all of them to reach old age, when many of the “talents” learned are lost and the “gifts” received are diminished that we often receive without thinking how valuable each of them is in our walk-in life. At the funeral home, we were accompanied by many relatives, friends, and elderly companions from our father’s nursing home and, not missing our beloved “Father Emidgio”. Innocently, I asked him the reason why he had not agreed to officiate that day the “Holy Mass of the present body”. And he told me about his illness that limited him in his performance of his priestly duties. I tried to encourage him, but it was the other way around he encouraged me and inspired me to give a message requested again by my older brother, to thank on behalf of all the sons and daughters and our families for all those attending the “Holy Mass of body present in the Chapel” of the funeral home. The message focuses on “old age, and the gradual loss of God-given abilities” in our lives that are lost with age, and the obligation to help all elders, based on the words of our “Lord Jesus Christ” to “St. Peter” documented in the “Holy Bible” by “St. John.” John 21:18 I really assure you that when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but, when you are old, you will extend your hands and someone else will dress you and take you where you do not want to go

“Father Emidgio” passed away from his illness the following year, on April 1, 2016 at age 74, exchanging his planned retirement at age 75 at the family Quinta with green gardens, leafy trees, and flowering plants in Villa de Santiago Nuevo León in Mexico and having the opportunity to celebrate “Holy Mass” every day in the “Temple of Santiago Apostol”, place close to that place, for something infinitely better than the “gardens of eternal life with God”, thank you for being an exemplary evangelizing disciple who guided us on our walk to the “Temple of Christ on the Mountain”. As indicated in Figure 7, always having in front of him his favorite image of the “Blessed Virgin” that of “Our Lady of the Oak” when giving lectures and messages such as the following: “We all need to have the humility not to think that we are perfect and that everything we do is the maximum.” John 17:3 And the way to have eternal life is to know yourself, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent to earth. 2 Peter 1:3 As all things pertaining to life and godliness have been given to us by his divine power, through the knowledge of him who called us by his glory and excellence, by which he has given us precious and great promises, that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature Thought on Father Emigdio’s Path to the Temple of Christ on the Mountain.

Figure 7:Father Emigdio’s path to the temple of christ on the mountain.

“We are all born by love. and grace of our Lord, in every new being His blessing gives us, “Parents by example, Love and prayer will guide you were to walk, then each one will decide his path, to continue our journey following the teachings of Christ the Good Shepherd” “While we evangelize with humility, happier will be, for their sacrifice shall be worth more, and in eternal life God will reward us.” “Value well what you do for others, your actions are the best legacy you will leave, sowing paths that others will follow, in the end God will compensate you with spiritual peace in eternity”

When we are called to this world by love between man and woman, “God” is present in that special miracle from conception, and it is for each one of us. We begin to feel the necessary overprotection from the formation of our body in the womb and at birth we discover, the “pain” at the time of delivery and leaving the maternal womb we experience new things and start our “life” [19]: “No one was born by chance, every being is an eternal project of God’s love.”

The “spirit is related to the immaterial part of the human being to which internal feelings, intelligence and religious concerns are attributed”; It is used as opposed to the material. The “spirit” is the rational soul, the supernatural gift that “God” bestows as the virtue that encourages the “body” to act. From the first expression that is “crying” when receiving movements, blows in our butt that alter us and forces our body to express itself with a response and this is the “cry”. Which in turn activates the process of our “breathing”, which allows us to “oxygenate” the blood, allowing the circulatory system to distribute the necessary oxygen in our “body” and awakening the need to “feed” ourselves to obtain from our mother the external food that will allow us to obtain the “energy” necessary for our “subsistence”. Thus begins the necessary bodily preparations in parallel with the “spirit, here where our spiritual journey begins” to the “Temple of Christ on the Mountain”, with the awakening of “gifts and the development of talents bestowed”. These are guided by our parents and the environment; these will grow and evolve with age. However, all of these: “We take gifts and talents for granted as normal,” With the exception, when they show functioning problems due to deformations and/or diseases. We forget that each of these are awarded by “God’s blessing and expect something special from each of us”.

Each one comes into the world with different characteristics and attributes with which we manage to have certain benefits and perform certain activities with ease. These are the “gifts” and “talents”:
A. “Gifts” are special abilities received by “God”, for that reason they are called “spiritual gifts”.
B. “Talents” are aptitudes and abilities that we have to learn things with ease to develop with great skill certain activities, whether manual or mental.

These influence our lives we go and consequently in walking to the “Temple of Christ on the Mountain”. “God” is very patient and directs us many times in situations where we have to say the right direction, but sooner or later we will receive “his call.”

Some examples of “Christ’s calls”:
C. In a “functioning family”, parents often strive to give the best to their children, with great dedication, giving them school education and example of love including the “sacraments and religious education”. As happened in the families of “Rady Pineda” and “Villareal Bacco” that at an early age the young “Jorge” and “Emidgio” recognized the call to their “religious vocation”.
D. “Young people” usually seek their independence, seeking adventure, risks, speed, and other activities that generate “adrenaline in their brain and make them feel better with a passing satisfaction”. “Many will continue to seek happiness for their walk-in passing things that leave an inner emptiness” that something is missing, and some set out to find the reason. Hence the importance of involving them in physical and also spiritual activities, where the “Church”, that is, all “priests and laity” can always help them to direct them. For example, “St. Francis of Assisi” detected that “inner emptiness” after his youth and lived a life of humility and poverty preaching to all the love of “God,” as described earlier in section 5. He reflects a soul in which “God” was everything without division, a soul that was nourished by the truths of the Catholic faith and that had given itself entirely, not only to “Christ, but to Christ crucified” [22].
E. Some receive the call as “laymen,” even after marrying and having children, realize the great responsibility of parenting, and receive the “call of Christ to sow God’s love”. Like the call received by the Mexican woman “Beata Concepción Cabrera de Armida” who being married and being a mother of nine children was the founder of the work “Spirituality of the Cross”. She found a way to combine her personal experience and apostolic tasks as a “laywoman”, she magnified her vocation by loving and writing without neglecting her duties as an exemplary wife and mother.
F. Others continue to ignore the “calls of God” and go on with their material lives seeking fun, power, wealth, and control until they grow old, and no matter how powerful or rich they will feel that “inner emptiness” will sooner or later stop them. Some alone will approach “God, asking for forgiveness and others will walk away at the risk of missing that opportunity again and perhaps forever...”
G. Other people very busy in their lives, the time comes when old age catches up with them and they feel in their last years that they were providers of the needs of their families, of their children who grew up and who rarely see them, beginning to feel that “inner emptiness as a lack of spiritual direction in their lives”, and some on their deathbed, when they feel that the material is over, they remember all the “calls of God” that they ignored all their lives, and the always close to each one insisting until the end and forgiving.
H. And other just die without the time of going in the direct God’ path.

Life is beautiful when it has a course, and that is to continue in our journey to “Jesus Christ, the Lord of life because he defeated death, and gives us the food of eternal life through the Eucharist.” 1 John 5:11-12 that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life, and he who does not have the Son of God does not have life John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me John 6:27 Labor, not for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you; for God the Father appointed him to him. The walk to the “Temple of Christ on the Mount” was clearly explained by himself, in his “Sermon on the Mount”. Mt 5, 1-12a

At that time, when Jesus saw the crowd, he went up the mountain and sat down. Then his disciples approached him. He immediately began to teach them, speaking thus:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed is those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed is the suffering, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed is those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satiated.
Blessed is the merciful, for they will obtain mercy.
Blessed is the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed is those who work for peace, for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are those persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when you insult them, Persecute you and say false things about you for my sake.
Rejoice and jump for joy, for your prize will be great in heaven.”

Where “temple means his body” and the “mountain is the kingdom of God the Father”. Whoever goes on his walk to the “Temple of Christ on the Mountain”, we have an open dialogue with the “good shepherd”, we talk to him about our problems, our sadness, our evils, always knowing that he has listened to us. But there is nothing closer to taking “Communion, so we feel it in our hearts, and we continue our walk carrying “his Peace”, choosing to have poverty of spirit, striving for justice because we know that he is with us, and will lead us insistently to “his Father, and with our work we are his instrument to help others, to leave a legacy integrated into God’s plan for humanity”. “Let us rejoice and be filled with happiness as we walk to the Temple of Christ on the Mountain, for blessed shall we be there.” Revelation 19:7 Let us rejoice, let us be filled with joy, and let us praise him, for the wedding day of the Lamb has come. His wife, who is the church, is ready.

In the “Sunday Angelus” Vatican City (Monday, 30-01-2017, Gaudium Press) [20], “Pope Francis” meditated on the “Sermon on the Mount”, where Jesus exposes the Beatitudes, which are considered the “Magna Carta” from the New Testament (cf. Mt 5:1- 12a)”. Blessed that is, happy”, indicates the Pope. “The motive of bliss, that is, of happiness, is not in the condition asked for poor in spirit, afflicted, those who hunger and thirst for justice’, persecuted... but in the subsequent promise to receive it with faith as a gift from God.” to receive those conditions with supernatural eyes. Referring to the first beatitude. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for to them belongs the Kingdom of Heaven” (v. 4). The Pontiff commented that “Poor in spirit is one who has assumed the feelings and attitudes of the poor who in their condition do not rebel, but know how to be humble, docile, available to the grace of God.”

“The poor in spirit is the Christian who does not trust in himself.” “The poor, in this evangelical sense, present themselves as those who have awakened the goal of the Kingdom of heaven. “The poor in spirit are humble, think and expect everything from God, and have as their purpose the Kingdom of God. “Pope Francis” concluded his meditation, asking: “May the Virgin Mary, model and first fruits of the poor in spirit, be totally docile to the Lord’s will, help us to abandon ourselves to God, rich in mercy, so that he may fill us with his gifts, especially with the abundance of his forgiveness.” Thought about our walk to the Temple of Christ on the Mountain. “We should all always meditate. What is important when the material will run out? Possessions and power will be lost, And everyone wonders what will follow, It is death many will say.” “But death defeated is already there, with resurrection Christ defeated her, He wants joy in life nothing more, ajoy following his example of humility.” “He is pro-life, For he is God of life, We just have to keep going, our walk in the path of Christ to be with him and his father into eternity.”

1. Second Vatican Council (1962-1965).
2. Papa Francisco, Laicos.
3. R by Arturo Garza Ulloa (2003) "The temple of the beatitudes" by the parish of christ of the mountain in guadalupe.
4. Zulay Colina (2021) Isaiah: Know everything about the major prophet.
5. "Pope John Paul II" speech.
6. Visits of "John Paul II" to Mexico.
7. "Pope John Paul II" in Mexico City visiting the metropolitan cathedral and the "shrine of our lady of guadalupe".
8. Visits of "John Paul II" to Mexico.
9. Remarks at the 1st visit of Pope John Paul II in Monterrey, N.L. Mexico.
10. In Monterrey the "Pope John Paul II" blessed the temple of maximilian kolbe.
11. Pope John Paul II address on priestly vocations in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
12. Temple christ of the mountain.
13. Maximilian Maria Kolbe Templ.
14. “"Pope Francis" January 2014 requirements of the title of "prelate of honor-monsignor.
15. Catechesis mystery of the church.
16. Gutierrez SR (1970) Monograph of the sanctuary of our lady of the oak.
17. Video unveiling commemorative plaque for 50 years of priestly life "Father Emidgio".
18. Biography monsignor emigdio villarreal bacco 1941-2016.
19. Nothing is coincidence with god.
20. Sunday angelus, pope meditates on sermon on the mount. Gaudium Press.
21. Apostleship of the cross, foundress-apostleship of the cross (apostoladodelacruzcr.com).
22. San Francisco de Asis, (aciprensa.com).