Javier Sicilia
Encyclopedia
Javier Sicilia is a poet, essayist, novelist, and journalist in Mexico. He contributes to various print media such as the Mexico City daily La Jornada
and Proceso
magazine. He was founder and director of El Telar ("The Loom"), coordinator of several writing workshops, is a film and television writer, editor of Poesía magazine, a member of the editorial board of Los Universitarios y Cartapacios, the National System of Creators of Art since 1995, and is a professor of literature, aesthetics and screenwriting at Universidad La Salle
at Cuernavaca
and was director of the now-defunct magazine Ixtus.
and John of the Cross
, Sicilia is a poet whose themes are linked with Catholicism and Christian mysticism
. Later he met the Austrian philosopher Ivan Illich
, of whose thought Sicilia has become one of the main promoters among Mexican intellectuals.
As a contributor to Proceso and as the editor of the magazine "Conspiratio", Sicilia writes about deals variously current philosophical, artistic and literary topics. In 2009 he was awarded the Aguascalientes National Award in Poetry, one of the most prestigious honors in Mexican literature.
. In response, the poet led protests in Cuernavaca with satellites of support held in numerous other places throughout Mexico. The protesters have called for an end to the Drug War, the retreat of military forces from the streets, the legalization of drugs, and the removal of Mexican President
Felipe Calderón
. Protests have occurred in over 40 Mexican cities, including an estimated 50,000 in Cuernavaca and 20,000 in Mexico City.
On April 3, 2011, Sicilia announced in an open letter "To Mexico's Politicians and Criminals" a second protest, a "National March for Justice and against Impunity," which started on May 5, 2011, in Cuernavaca, Morelos, and arrived on May 8 at the Zócalo
in Mexico City, where over 200,000 people attended. Before the beginning of his speech, Sicilia demanded to the Mexican President to retire Genaro García Luna
from his post as Secretary of Public Security
. A six point national pact that searches for the social fabric's refounding was read at the same protest. Other related protests occurred the same day in over 31 Mexican cities and 17 cities over the globe.
Novels:
Essays:
Biography:
La Jornada
La Jornada is one of Mexico City's leading daily newspapers. It was established in 1984 by Carlos Payán Velver. The current editor is Carmen Lira Saade...
and Proceso
Proceso (magazine)
Proceso is a Mexican magazine published in Mexico City. It was founded on November 6, 1976 by journalist Julio Scherer García, its current president...
magazine. He was founder and director of El Telar ("The Loom"), coordinator of several writing workshops, is a film and television writer, editor of Poesía magazine, a member of the editorial board of Los Universitarios y Cartapacios, the National System of Creators of Art since 1995, and is a professor of literature, aesthetics and screenwriting at Universidad La Salle
Universidad La Salle
Universidad La Salle is a private institution of higher education with 15 campuses in Mexico. It is part of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.-History:...
at Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca is the capital and largest city of the state of Morelos in Mexico. It was established at the archeological site of Gualupita I by the Olmec, "the mother culture" of Mesoamerica, approximately 3200 years ago...
and was director of the now-defunct magazine Ixtus.
Biography
Sicilia inherited his love of literature and poetry from his father, who was also a poet. An avid reader of Saints Teresa of ÁvilaTeresa of Ávila
Saint Teresa of Ávila, also called Saint Teresa of Jesus, baptized as Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada, was a prominent Spanish mystic, Roman Catholic saint, Carmelite nun, and writer of the Counter Reformation, and theologian of contemplative life through mental prayer...
and John of the Cross
John of the Cross
John of the Cross , born Juan de Yepes Álvarez, was a major figure of the Counter-Reformation, a Spanish mystic, Catholic saint, Carmelite friar and priest, born at Fontiveros, Old Castile....
, Sicilia is a poet whose themes are linked with Catholicism and Christian mysticism
Christian mysticism
Christian mysticism refers to the development of mystical practices and theory within Christianity. It has often been connected to mystical theology, especially in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions...
. Later he met the Austrian philosopher Ivan Illich
Ivan Illich
Ivan Illich was an Austrian philosopher, Roman Catholic priest, and "maverick social critic" of the institutions of contemporary western culture and their effects on the provenance and practice of education, medicine, work, energy use, transportation, and economic development.- Personal life...
, of whose thought Sicilia has become one of the main promoters among Mexican intellectuals.
As a contributor to Proceso and as the editor of the magazine "Conspiratio", Sicilia writes about deals variously current philosophical, artistic and literary topics. In 2009 he was awarded the Aguascalientes National Award in Poetry, one of the most prestigious honors in Mexican literature.
Estamos hasta la madre ("We-have-had-it") protests
On March 28, 2011, Sicilia's son Juan Francisco Sicilia Ortega was murdered along with six other victims in Temixco, Morelos, Mexico, by drug gang membersDrug cartel
Drug cartels are criminal organizations developed with the primary purpose of promoting and controlling drug trafficking operations. They range from loosely managed agreements among various drug traffickers to formalized commercial enterprises. The term was applied when the largest trafficking...
. In response, the poet led protests in Cuernavaca with satellites of support held in numerous other places throughout Mexico. The protesters have called for an end to the Drug War, the retreat of military forces from the streets, the legalization of drugs, and the removal of Mexican President
President of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
Felipe Calderón
Felipe Calderón
Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa is the current President of Mexico. He assumed office on December 1, 2006, and was elected for a single six-year term through 2012...
. Protests have occurred in over 40 Mexican cities, including an estimated 50,000 in Cuernavaca and 20,000 in Mexico City.
On April 3, 2011, Sicilia announced in an open letter "To Mexico's Politicians and Criminals" a second protest, a "National March for Justice and against Impunity," which started on May 5, 2011, in Cuernavaca, Morelos, and arrived on May 8 at the Zócalo
Zócalo
The Zócalo is the main plaza or square in the heart of the historic center of Mexico City. The plaza used to be known simply as the "Main Square" or "Arms Square," and today its formal name is Plaza de la Constitución...
in Mexico City, where over 200,000 people attended. Before the beginning of his speech, Sicilia demanded to the Mexican President to retire Genaro García Luna
Genaro García Luna
Genaro García Luna is a Mexican politician and engineer. He serves as Secretary of Public Security in the federal cabinet.He holds a B.Sc...
from his post as Secretary of Public Security
Secretary of Public Security (Mexico)
The Secretary of Public Security of Mexico is the head of the Secretariat of Public Security .The current Secretary of Public Security is Genaro García Luna....
. A six point national pact that searches for the social fabric's refounding was read at the same protest. Other related protests occurred the same day in over 31 Mexican cities and 17 cities over the globe.
Literary works
Poems:- Permanencia en los puertos (1982)
- La presencia desierta (1985)
- Oro (1990)
- Trinidad (1992)
- Vigilias (1994)
- Resurrección (1995)
- Pascua (2000)
- Lectio (2004)
- Tríptico del Desierto (2009)
Novels:
- El bautista (1991)
- El reflejo de lo oscuro F.C.E. (1998)
- Viajeros en la noche (1999)
- A través del silencio (2002)
- La confesión (2008)
Essays:
- Cariátide a destiempo y otros escombros (1980)
- Poesía y espíritu (1998)
Biography:
- Concepción Cabrera de Armida, la amante de Cristo (2001)
- Félix de Jesús Rougier, la seducción de la Virgen (2007)
Journalistic works
Anthology:- La voz y las sombras (2009)
- Estamos hasta la madre (2011)
Additional sources
- Shoichet, Catherine E. ". " CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
. May 5, 2011. - http://www.elcautivo.org/041115/V2/Pag_V2.htm
- http://www.elcautivo.org/041115/V3/Pag_V3.htm
- http://amediavoz.com/sicilia.htm
- http://www.periodicodepoesia.unam.mx/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=48&Itemid=77
- http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/574474.html
- Jiménez Serrano, Martín. El lenguaje místico de Permanencia en los puertos de Javier Sicilia (doctoral thesis). México, 2009