| back to Guatemala, part 3 of 3... |
[May. 27th, 2008|01:58 pm]
Daniel
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Guatemala is a Catholic country. Regardless of one's denomination, we observe lots of things that can be seen as religious but are so interlaced with everyday life that have become part of the culture. One of these is the veneration of the Black Christ in the Eastern city of Esquipulas. It is common to find images or replicas of the Black Christ at homes.
The veneration for the Black Christ has grown since it was sculpted more than 400 years ago to other countries like Mexico and the rest of Central America. As Guatemalans like myself migrate to other countries, we bring this veneration with us. As a result, for the past 3 years, there has been a mass in honor of the Black Christ at Saint Patrick Cathedral in NYC with building full to its capacity.
Since I knew I could go back to Guatemala, I told my cousin he had to take me to Esquipulas. Even though I don't practice faithfully, I do have respect for the Black Christ, and thought that the least I could do was to pay him a visit.
I made the road trip with my cousin Marvin, Julio and my uncle Che. This pic is when we entered the city of Esquipulas. The white basilica houses the Black Christ. The Christ is the main attraction in town. When John Paul II visited Guatemala in 1997, it was to come here and venerate the Black Christ.
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