Caring for the Indigenous Ill

Saint John of God (Juan de Dios) was a Portuguese-born soldier turned health-care worker at 42 following a nervous breakdown.  The order he formed in Spain, the Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God, continues today dedicated to the care of the poor sick and those suffering from mental …

Lord of the Column

Beginning at midnight in a procession of thousands of people, this life-sized figure of the beaten and bloody Christ is carried from Atotonilco to San Miguel on the shoulders of the faithful. The statue is very old and molded from traditional Chichimeca materials—corn stalks, corn starch and …

Popsicles!

The Friday before Good Friday is for Our Lady of Sorrows.  It acknowledges Mary’s seven sorrows stretching from Jesus’ presentation at the temple and culminate in her pain at losing her only child. Altars throughout town contain symbolic elements of mourning such as sour oranges, chamomile, wheat and purple …

Palm Sunday

For Palm Sunday (El Domingo de Ramos) vendors will be selling beautiful items made of hand woven palm fronds in front of all the main churches today. Some of the best are sold at the Oratorio. For over 20 years at around 10 am at …

Stations of the Cross

During Holy Week are countless processions devoted to depicting Jesus’ death.  One of the oldest, that started in Colonial times, follows the route of the Stations of the Cross built into the buildings of San Miguel.  The stations start from the Santa Escuela (next to …

Vespers

Wednesday of Holy Week recalls the abandonment of Jesus with early evening services called “los matines de las tinieblas” or Vespers of Darkness. A special mass with a candelabra on the altar holds 15 candles. One candle is extinguished for each Psalm sung until finally, …

St. Joseph

March 19th is St. Joseph’s Day. San José, the husband of the Virgin Mary, is one of the patron saints of San Miguel and the patron saint of the Catholic church. Today is marked by a late afternoon parade featuring many depictions of St. Joseph, fireworks and …

The Holy Cross

Santa Cruz (The Holy Cross) began when Constantine the Great ‘s mother, Saint Helena of Constantinople, made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land returning with the original Holy Cross and other relics. The month starts in Puerto de Calderon, on the road to Celeya, the …

Infant of Prague

When I was a child the Infant of Prague sat upon my upright piano I spent many years practicing on.  The only time I saw the statue move was during our Hershey, PA church’s annual summer parish picnic.  My Irish mother moved him towards facing …

Valle de Maiz

Valle Del Maiz is one of San Miguel’s oldest neighborhoods and has strong indigenous roots. The festival honors the Holy Cross (Santa Cruz), and goes on for days reflecting when the Spanish gave three days off work to resident Otomis and Chichimeccas. It’s one my …