Folk saints of the borderlands : victims, bandits & healers / James S. Griffith.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Griffith, James S.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mexican-American Border Region--Religious life and customs.

Mexican-American Border Region.

Saints--Cult--Mexican-American Border Region.

Saints.

Saints--Cult.

Physical Description:

175 pages : illustrations, maps ; 22 cm

Edition:

First American paperback edition.

Place of Publication:

Tucson, Ariz. : Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2003.

Summary:

When you can go into a store that sells religious articles along the U.S./Mexico border and purchase a prayer card addressed to the spirit of Pancho Villa, you know something interesting is going on. In this extraordinary exploration of folk spirituality, James S. Griffith introduces us to some unforgettable saints-in-the-making (or not). Meet Juan Soldado ("John Soldier") of Tijuana, miracle worker and unofficial patron saint of undocumented immigrants. But was the real Juan a martyr or a murderer? Or how about the beautiful Teresa Urrea, "La Santa de Cabora," whose healing powers became so legendary in Mexico that revolutionaries of the day claimed her as their leader and the government exiled her to the United States? You'll also meet playful, childlike El Nino Fidencio, gentle Don Pedrito of Texas, the mythical stagecoach robber and saint of the drug dealers Jesus Malverde -- and, yes, even Pancho Villa.

Contents:

The setting and the cast of thousands

Juan Soldado : a victim who won't stay down

Teresita : a co-opted healer

Jesús Malverde : el bandido generoso

Pancho Villa : bandit, revolutionary, hero, villain

& saint?

Don Pedrito : God's humble helper in South Texas

El niño fidencio : a heart filled with compassion

More saints, more stories, more thoughts.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 161-168) and index.

ISBN:

1887896511

9781887896511

OCLC:

52418430