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Just
as angels are guardians and protectors, so too are patron saints. Patron
saints can be specific to the individual, according to date of birth,
occupation, country or city of origin. Some patron saints have multiple
representations. For example, San Francisco is the patron saint of both
Santa Fe and New Mexico. Additionally, San Francisco is the patron saint
of children, animals, and environmentalists. In olden times, Christian
children were named for the patron saint of their day of birth (This was
true even in my grandparents' time.). In the Christian faith, particularly
among Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, saints are used to intercede
between man and God. These intercessors are often patron saints but can
also be favorite saints or even angels.
Today, you too can surround and protect your loved ones and your environment with the age-old spirituality experienced by my ancestors. For a personalized listing of patron saints and intercessors, see www.catholiconline.org in English and www.corazones.org in Spanish. |
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"El
Vero Icono" by Rey
Móntez
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The best source for understanding the popular santos of New Mexico is Santos and Saints: The Religious Folk Art of Hispanic New Mexico by Father Thomas J. Steele, S.J. Santos and Saints was first published in 1974 in hardcover by Calvin Horn Publisher, Inc., and later in paperback by Ancient City Press, and currently by The University of New Mexico Press.
In this classic resource, Father Tom gives us several important facts about New Mexican santos and their makers. We first discover the history of saint-making in New Mexico -- which now is a centuries old tradition (see, Four Hundred Years of Saint Making in New Mexico by LPD Press). Next, we see its relationship to medieval Spain and the Renaissance. It is through this historical consideration -- which includes the isolation of the early European settlers (my ancestors) in a rare and unique land -- that the distinctive look of New Mexican santos is rendered among the most cherished, venerated and collected in the world.
We also learn that making a santo is a holy action for the maker, and, we are reminded of the importance of saints in prayer to Catholics. An important chapter on the hierarchy of santos places God, Christ and the Holy Spirit on the highest plane followed by the Virgin Mary, the Archangels, the Angels and the Saints. The relationship of the early Spanish settlers to the land and the spiritual world emphasizes the deep feeling of family and faith. Dependant on the mercy and aid of the saints, these early settlers overcame the greatest of hardships. So close were these people to the saints, they named their children after the saint whose day it was. Several options existed, of course, since there are several saints for each day. I have been informed by clergy that since the Orthodox Church and the Roman Church have so many saints, no once is quite sure how many there are. As in the case of the Virgin Mary, Father Tom and I have calculated over 5000 unique versions of Her worldwide. In Northern New Mexico alone, Father Tom lists twenty-eight versions of Mary that are very popular. [Note that although the Virgin Mary is more than a saint in the hierarchy, we still refer to her as a saint. The same can be true for Christ, who is sometimes, for example, El Santo Entierro or El Santo Nino.]
To list all of the saints would not only be monumental, it would also be somewhat redundant. Other sites, such as my favorite – www.catholic.org/saints (a section of the Catholic Church’s site), cover hundreds of saints in an easy-to-use format. What is most pertinent here, however, is a listing of saint days in New Mexico that are particularly important as listed in Santos and Saints. For more information, please contact us by e-mail or by phone or check out some of the neat sites such as the aforementioned. Now for the saints:
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