Maria and Emma

Emma Tenayuca, labor leader, teacher, intellectual, and activist, died on July23, 1999, in San Antonio, Texas. At the wake for Emma, the Tenuyca family invited María Antonietta Berriozábal to lead the community in praying the rosary, that the voices of her family and community may accompany her soul's journey to the other side. María Antonietta reworked the liturgy of the traditional "Five Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary," to reveal, reflect, and celebrate Emma Tenayuca's life.

Susan Armitage, Editor

At Emma Tenayuca's wake I incorporated Emma's gifts to humanity during the traditional rosary that is recited at such an occasion.

María Antonietta Berriozábal

1. The Annunciation

Mary : An angel came to Mary and told her she would bear a son and that he would be the long-awaited Messiah. Mary did not question how this would happen. She simply said yes.

Emma : Emma said yes to difficult challenges many times. A woman of great faith, she did not question how things would be accomplished or who would listen or if her work would be fruitful. She simply did what she felt had to be done. She did it with courage, tenacity and a great love for her people.

2. The Visitation

Mary : While pregnant, Mary traveled a long distance to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who at an advanced age was going to have a child.

Emma : Emma did not let obstacles stop her from doing what she felt needed to be done. Confronted with powerful business interests in the pecan shelling business, for example, she helped the workers by giving them information, organizing them and helping them use their own voices. Most of the workers were women, some old and some young. Emma, like Mary, understood that women are powerful instruments for the peace that can only be achieved through justice.

3. Mary Gave Birth to a Son and It Was Her Gift to the World.

Emma : Emma gave the world her own gifts of understanding and unselfishness. She could have had a comfortable life as a very young woman, yet she chose to use the inquisitive mind that God gave her to analyze the world around her. She saw injustices and she spoke out against them. Emma birthed hope.

4. The Presentation in the Temple

Mary : Mary followed Jewish law and took her little son to present him to the elders in the temple. This was a structure of power and Mary entered it and dedicated her son's life to service.

Emma : Emma at a very young age was unafraid to enter structures of power and advocate on behalf of those who could not use their own voices. Her intelligence, her gifted use of words, and her passion were given in service to those who were most in need.

5. The Finding in the Temple

Mary : One day Mary and Joseph were in a public place and they lost Jesus, only to later find him in the temple speaking his truth to the priests who were there. As any mother, Mary rejoiced when she found him. But when she saw him she understood that this young man was destined to use his voice, and she knew that he would suffer for this. The Bible tells us that she kept these things in her heart.

Emma : Emma prepared herself not only with a formal education but she also was self-taught through her extensive reading. Emma was wise. We can wonder if Emma knew as a young woman what the future held for her? Did she know that in many ways she, too, would be crucified with ridicule, prejudice, racism, and violence? We do not know.

What we do know is that it is obvious that she found joy in her work. She found that joy that comes only from giving from one's deepest self. She found the joy that the world does not understand. She found...