5 Mexican Folk Saints

Even though in Mexico almost 80% of the population consider themselves as Catholics, when you compare how the religion is followed in other countries like Italy or Germany, you see that we Mexicans have our own way to worship. Not only the saints recognized by the Vatican are worshipped in peculiar ways, but there are holy beings that have risen from the local beliefs. Although they are not accepted by the official religion and sometimes have been fought by them, they have positioned themselves in the popular idiosyncrasy.

La virgen del “Metro” (The Holy Virgin of the subway)

It was on a rainy day in 1997 that a vendor named Carlos Guevara, one of many who sell on the trains and in the stations of the subway system, recognized the image of the Holy Virgin of Guadalupe on the floor, caused by water leaks stains. This discovery was not taken very seriously by the authorities and the image was washed off. However, when the image reappeared (regardless of how this might have happened), its devotees started lighting candles there and offering flowers. Finally, the authorities decided to build an altar with that section of floor which can be seen at one of the entrances of Metro Hidalgo. The entrance at the corner of Reforma and Hidalgo, to one side of San Hipolito Church, famous for the cult of Saint Jude Thaddaeus

La santa muerte (the Holy Death)

“You who are so fair that you do not distinguish the young from the old and the rich from the poor”(part of a rosary prayer).

Despite the fact its iconography comes from the European danse macabre and presumably its cult started in the 90s in Tepito ( a traditional neighborhood of Mexico city), la santa muerte (the holly death) carries the Mexican colorfulness in her dresses and reaffirms her pre-Columbian importance through her worship. Even though its popularity had its origin among marginal groups of society (drug addicts, thieves, etc.), it is now worshipped by all kinds of people. One main difference from other saints is that she doesn’t grants miracles, but instead performes “paros” (from “parar”, stand). A ”paro” is a type of favor that cannot be considered a miracle. For example, a thief who needs to evade the police car that is coming after him may ask the santa muerte for a “paro”.

Malverde

A cause of his robberies, Jesús Malverde was hung to death in Culiacan, Sinaloa. The major forbade that the corpse of this Mexican “Robin Hood” was buried. However, he was so loved that the people of Culiacan without breaking the ban started throwing a rock on the corpse until it was buried by them, that is the reason why one type of the offerings for this Mexican Robin Hood are stones. This “unofficial saint” is considered the patron of the drug dealers. You can see his image in several graves around the country.

Juan Soldado (juan the soldier)

This unofficial saint who is graved in the border city with most crossings in the world, is considered by the migrants their patron saint. His resting place in the municipal cemetery of Tijuana is not only decorated with flowers from their devotees but the walls of this chapel are covered with plates that attest the miracles granted.

It is not clear how this soldier born in Oaxaca in 1914 became a “saint” after he was executed because of the confession (possible under torture) of the rape and killing of an 8 year old child but it is still worshiped as a martyr in the north of Mexico and south of the USA.

El niño Fidencio (The child Fidencio)

The followers of the cult of the healer child Fidencio Constantino Sintora (1898-1938) are still reunited in the “Iglesia fidencista cristiana” (Christian Fidencist Church) and affirm that he grants miracles through other persons that act as channels. Even though his first healings were at the adolescence, his followers affirm that he never developed as a male keeping a soft voice and was always cast.