Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

Folk Catholicism was one of the hardest things I had to deal with while in Guatemala.

My biggest problem was in regard to Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Bible contains about two chapter’s worth on Mary – that’s it. And what the Bible says is that, though she was blessed with a miracle, she was merely a human being like us - sinful and in need of the savior.

Regardless, Mary is the star of the show in Latin America.

In one church I saw, the alter-piece was a porcelain statue of Mary surrounded by ornate gold. Above this, a modest wooden carving of Jesus hung on a plaster wall. It wasn’t hard to see who was more prominent in the hearts of the Church members.

The people believe that Mary, like Jesus, was sinless. They also believe that Mary, like Jesus, helps to save us from our sins. And they believe that Mary, like Jesus, hears our prayers.

Shortly after Christmas, San Juan prepared for “The Procession of the Virgin.” They hung lamps and decorated the street with dyed sawdust in colorful designs. Like Jerusalem laying out palm branches, they prepared a path for Mary.

Then, they waited nearly all night for the procession. In the chilly darkness, we could hear a band playing and the hum of an electric generator being dragged through the street. Lights danced on the cobblestones, and people began to appear waving incense burners. Suddenly, a crowd turned the corner and began making it’s way up the street. On their weary backs they carried a huge, lit-up platform. And on this platform, an angelic statue of Mary surrounded by the disciples was illuminated by lights.

All night, the band played as the crowd followed Mary through the streets of San Juan.

I never saw a procession like that for Jesus.

The heart-breaking thing was that the people don’t really believe the Jesus is enough to save them. They believe they need Mary. They believe they need the Church. They believe they need to live "a good life." Only then, do they think they have any hope for Salvation.

And they believe this because they un-questioningly accept everything the church has ever told them. They don’t use critical thinking at all. And they don’t believe they can understand the Bible for themselves.

So when we shared our faith with the people of San Juan, we focused on reading the Bible, and on Jesus. We did everything we could to demonstrate a faithfulness to Scripture, and an obsession with Christ alone.

Though Latin America is nominally Christian, they do not know the saving power and love of Jesus Christ. My friends and I have since moved on from Guatemala, but our work is the same – to share JESUS with these people.