3/21/2024 0 Comments Saint lazarus parish hialeah 33012Anything that is superstition is contrary to Catholic doctrine." Michael Curtin, director of the Catholic Information Center in Washington, said, "The only connection between Catholicism and Santeria is in the mind of those who practiced Santeria. On the last day of Santeria's seven-day initiation period, the first place a newly initiated person goes is to a Roman Catholic Mass. Before a person becomes initiated in Santeria, he or she must be baptized in the Catholic Church. Rodriguez says the church may not like it, but the two religions are intertwined. "I've had three."Īlthough Rodriguez and Guadalupe are deeply devoted to Santeria, they still consider themselves Roman Catholic. "The orishas told me in my initiation that I would have three children," she says. "In many cases, the religion has the power to help out when doctors have little hope for them."Īfter she had five miscarriages, Rodriguez says her doctors told her she would never have children. ![]() "There are few who come just for the religion's background," says Jackie Rodriguez, who has converted a room next to her garage into a small temple. The santera who initiated Guadalupe says most practitioners turn to Santeria because of health problems. Before I was initiated I was introverted. "But something happens with possession of the spirit that changed me. But he won't give details of the initiation rites. The accountant clerk for Dade County's Department of Human Resources says something happened to him during his initiation ceremony that made him a different person. Juan Guadalupe, 39, says he turned to Santeria because of health and emotional problems. From your health to your love life, there is a remedy prescribed by the orishas, as the saints are called. The saint worship that developed in Santeria centers on seven deities with responsibility for various forces in nature. Lazarus became Babalu-Aye, patron of the sick. Barbara became Chango, the warrior god of thunder and lightning. West African slaves prayed to their gods from the Yoruba culture brought to the Caribbean from what is now Nigeria, but adopted Roman Catholic saints as equivalents to appease their masters bent on converting them to Christianity. Other Santeros want to keep their rites shrouded in mystery. Some practitioners are trying to convince the general public that Santeria is a true religion and not a cult steeped in devil worship. Santeros now number an estimated 100,000 in South Florida and 1 million nationwide, says anthropologist Rafael Martinez, who has worked with the Dade County (Miami) Medical Examiner's office investigating crime scenes linked to Afro-Caribbean religions. ![]() "There's a collective feeling that the Supreme Court ruling did cause a psychological change in the way people think," says Ernesto Pichardo, the man who took the fight for Santeria to the Supreme Court. ![]() Supreme Court struck down laws banning religious animal sacrifices, the centuries-old Afro-Caribbean religion of Santeria is coming out of the shadows. "You'd be surprised at the people who practice this religion. "We have lawyers, doctors, policemen coming in here," he says. "Business is good," says Lastra, standing amid a crowd of statues representing various deities. Lastra's store, which sells ducks for $10 each and goats for $70 each, even delivers. Shoppers short on cash can use American Express, Visa or MasterCard to charge their animals or purchases of good-luck sprays, colognes that chase away evil spirits, or herbs for Santeria rituals. MIAMI - The sign inside Gerardo Lastra's shop advertises discounted prices on live ducks and female goats for sacrifices to Yemaya, the Santeria god of the seas.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |