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Adrianna Ortiz

World Religions

Catholicism in Mexico

When most people see Catholics, they probably think of Mexicans or Mexican culture.

Roman Catholicism follows the Pope, who is seen as the successor to Saint Peter. This church

goes back into Mexican history as far as 1519. When Herman Cortez landed in Mexico during

the 16th century, he was with clergy from the Roman Catholic Church. Since then, the religion

has spread throughout the entire country of Mexico. (Riding, 2016).


Religion, specifically

Catholicism, plays a huge role in

Mexico. Many of the older citizens lives

are centered on their devotion to the Church.

Though not all, younger citizens in

Mexico are similar to some

teenagers here in the United States;

they want to hang out The map depicts the percentage of


with friends and have fun.
the Catholic population throughout
Since Roman Catholicism Mexico ranging from 100%-50%. goes back several centuries,
http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicd
etail/2012/03/daily-chart-17
a lot of its practices are strict and traditional. For

example, it is not likely that you will see a person

wearing jeans and sandals to Mass. Instead, women

will be wearing head scarfs and dressed modestly. (Mexico). It is also normal to hear prayers

and see people worshipping together. In my life time, the only places I have seen people worship

as a group were in homes, churches, or my school (I attended Catholic schools). Another norm in

Mexicos religious culture are relating everything back to the Saints. You lost something? Pray to

St. Anthony. Have an exam you need to ace? Pray to St. Joseph of Cupertino. Religion is not just

found in the churches of Mexico. It is everywhere.

There are a huge number of sacred places in Mexico, which should come as no surprise

since the country itself acts religiously. One of the most sacred places in Mexico is the Basilica

of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The story of Our Lady of Guadalupe goes as follows; one day, a man

named Juan Diego was walking when the Virgin Mary appeared to him and told him to build a

church in the very spot he was standing. Juan Diego then told the bishop who had appeared to
him and requested to build the church as she wanted. The bishop did not believe and asked him

for a sign of proof. The Virgin Mary appeared to him again and

told him to pick flowers and then bloomed roses, which were

just about impossible to have in the winter. He gathered the

roses in his robe and took them to the bishop. While he showed

to roses, an image of the Virgin Mary appeared on his robe.

Soon later, the church was built. (Sacred). Our Lady of

Guadalupe is the patron saint of Mexico City and still to this

day is one of the most popular images in the Catholic Church.

Every year on December 12th, there is a festival honoring the

Blessed Mother.
The image shown above is the robe
belonging to Juan Diego.
http://www.sacred-
destinations.com/mexico/mexico-city-
Again, there
basilica-guadalupe/photos/icon-lg-pd

should be no

surprise when talking about religion having effects in

Mexico. For centuries, state and religion were not

separated. The man who ignited Mexicos Festivals are held throughout Mexico City
every December 12th to honor Our Lady
independence was a parish priest. (Agren, 2016). of Guadalupe.
http://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/Mexicans-
celebrate-Virgen-de-Guadalupe-2396275.php
During that time, only Catholics counted as citizens

of Mexico. It wasnt until the Mexican Revolution of 1910 that Mexicos leaders believed that

the Catholic Church was going to hold them back. (Agren, 2016). After that, religion had to be

separated from government. However, as religious as the country is, I do not think there will ever

be a full separation of church and state.


There was only one major religion to research when it comes to the religions of Mexico.

Roman Catholicism was the first religion in Mexico and it still is the most popular one there

today. By what I have heard from people from Mexico and by what I have researched, the

country is filled with the religion; whether it is candles lit at the register in a liquor store or cars

with the Virgin Mary printed on the back window, you cant escape it. Mexico is Catholic.
References
Agren, D. (2016, February 12). Separation of Catholics and state: Mexico's divisive religious
history. Retrieved March 04, 2017, from
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/12/mexico-catholicism-politics-religious-
history-pope-francis

Mexico - Religion. (n.d.). Retrieved March 05, 2017, from


http://countrystudies.us/mexico/61.htm

Riding, A. (2016, February 21). A Bloody Tale of How Mexico Went Catholic. Retrieved March
04, 2017, from http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/21/a-bloody-tale-of-how-
mexico-went-catholic.html

Sacred Destinations. (n.d.). Retrieved March 04, 2017, from http://www.sacred-


destinations.com/mexico/mexico-city-basilica-guadalupe

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