Riddle of America, The - Waldorf Research Institute

The Sacred in Latino Experience:lo sagrado en la experiencia latinabyVirgilio ElizondoFrom the earliest day of my life, my people introduced me to PapacitoDios, Jesús, María y los santos. They were very much a part of our immediateand extended family. They were not dogmas to be believed in but personalfriends to visit, converse and even argue with. In our mestizo Christianity—wedo not just know about God but rather we know God personally.No solamente sabemos cosas de Dios sino que conocemos a Dios personalmente.We converse easily with God and appreciate the many simple, visible, andtangible representations of the spiritual world, like estampitas, estatuas, medallitas,y veladoras, as much as we appreciate pictures of our Mamacita andloved ones. They help to put us in the conscious presence of our invisiblefriends, guides, and protectors.Latinos understand that life is a pilgrimage and when the pilgrimagestops, life comes to an end. This truth seems to be ingrained in our genes.From our most ancient memories, we remember being on pilgrimage. FromAztlan we marched toward the south until we arrived at the valley of Anahuac.Like the Hebrews of old, we became a great people for a brief periodof time. Today, we continue our pilgrimage toward the north. Regardless ofthe direction, we are a pilgrim people. Even though the future is unknown,we are confident and determined. Nothing can stop us, for we are protectedand guided by the spirits of earth and heaven, by the Virgencita who neverabandon us and walk with us through the struggles of life.The difficult moments of the pilgrimage will not stop us. We knowthat suffering and disappointment are part of life, but they cannot destroy us.260