There's a shrine of St. Rita of Cascia in Philadelphia, Penn., that I've visited a handful of times over the years. Lots of artwork there, too! https://www.saintritashrine.org/
This is so familiar to me - like going home. I only spent 5 years in New Mexico - Albuquerque - but the entire state is full of such images and they enter deeply into one's soul. Even among atheists and non-believers, almost every New Mexican has a colorfully decorated cross or a retablo in the home. It's cultural for them, being proud of being from the state and its culture, but there are many for whom these works of art are still very important spiritually. During Holy Week, you will see penitentes crawling on their knees - sometimes with awful-looking penitential ropes and such - from Albuquerque to Chimayo, which you mentioned in your post. You will see them kneeling or walking the long distance, using the side of the highways to get to their destination. Chimayo is the source of many miracles and there's a story about that too!
How interesting! Thank you so much for sharing your experience Sharon! I have only been to New Mexico once for a short visit, but even then I was impressed by the art. My sister did a pilgrimage to Chimayo and was very moved by the experience. She brought me back a little retablo of Mary Star of the Sea.
It's a very special place but I had to leave it because of the extreme heat in summer and constant drying winds. Kinda felt like an Irish prune, needing some moisture and green....
Thank you for this article. I am simply a Christian who enjoys Christian iconic art and the stories they tell. It is wonderful to have a resource like you on Substack.
I grew up in Northern New Mexico, where old Castilian still persists in the high mountain valleys and every hamlet has its own adobe chapel in varying states of disrepair. This style extends beyond the altar to the rest of the furniture, the ceiling joists, the plaster crumbling off the walls, all carry the same color palette. I remember going into one of the little churches, abandoned for at least 50 years, and kept standing by the efforts of a few old men who would add a fresh coat of adobe every so often to protect the bricks beneath. The headstones outside dated from the early 19th to mid 20th century, and were overgrown, save for the grave of a beloved grandmother adorned with plastic flowers faded by the sun. There is an old devotion here, primordial, simple, removed from the theological squabbles of the old world. I would recommend looking into New Mexican Milagros, small tin/lead figures of devotion worn around the neck, as well as pierced tim work that proliferated during the depression. The Folk Art Museum in Santa Fe is world class and welll worth your time.
I had no idea Castilian persisted there so recently. What a fascinating place. I have only been once, but it made a huge impression on me. I didn’t realize places like it existed in the U.S. When I lived in San Antonio they had some of the milagros. I bought my parents a carving of the sacred heart with milagros tacked on it.
Hope to go back to New Mexico to visit the Folk Art Museum and Chimayo some day. Thank you for the comment!
I love the story of St Rita and her smile is so personal in the art you showed. This art was new to me—so it is still being painted on this way or is the tradition ending?
The style has secularized so you will see non religious art in this style, but there are still artists who take the religious tradition and rules very seriously.
So many years ago I lived in Albuquerque though I am not familiar with St Rita in particular. Still it was my time there that inspired me to study art history. It was likely the art of the place and how wonderfully steeped in culture it is. With this, your post on St Rita, I think how impossible is was for me to consider returning to school to study art history. Now years later with my degrees and now with a return to a devotion in prayer, I believe it was St Rita, a Saint for impossibilities that may have brought me here.
Thank you for sharing this. I think I will look to add St Rita to my own altar.
Thank you Amelia for introducing us to this wonderful tradition, and to the Santeros of New Mexico, and especially to St. Rita. The image of her standing there skull in one hand, cross in the other is memorable and holy. Clearly a person who knew much suffering but also the victory over death.
There's a shrine of St. Rita of Cascia in Philadelphia, Penn., that I've visited a handful of times over the years. Lots of artwork there, too! https://www.saintritashrine.org/
Good to know! I would love to visit when I am back in Philidelphia. I lived there for a short while.
This is so familiar to me - like going home. I only spent 5 years in New Mexico - Albuquerque - but the entire state is full of such images and they enter deeply into one's soul. Even among atheists and non-believers, almost every New Mexican has a colorfully decorated cross or a retablo in the home. It's cultural for them, being proud of being from the state and its culture, but there are many for whom these works of art are still very important spiritually. During Holy Week, you will see penitentes crawling on their knees - sometimes with awful-looking penitential ropes and such - from Albuquerque to Chimayo, which you mentioned in your post. You will see them kneeling or walking the long distance, using the side of the highways to get to their destination. Chimayo is the source of many miracles and there's a story about that too!
How interesting! Thank you so much for sharing your experience Sharon! I have only been to New Mexico once for a short visit, but even then I was impressed by the art. My sister did a pilgrimage to Chimayo and was very moved by the experience. She brought me back a little retablo of Mary Star of the Sea.
It's a very special place but I had to leave it because of the extreme heat in summer and constant drying winds. Kinda felt like an Irish prune, needing some moisture and green....
Yes, I don't know if I could deal with that kind of heat either!
Thank you for this article. I am simply a Christian who enjoys Christian iconic art and the stories they tell. It is wonderful to have a resource like you on Substack.
❤️🩹✝️
So glad you enjoyed! Thank you!
great post! i saw this movie this spring about st rita: https://www.imdb.com/de/title/tt0393684/
it was pretty good. the story itself is so moving.
At first Rita can come off as very strange, but she grows on you. Her story is very moving. Thank you for the movie rec!
I grew up in Northern New Mexico, where old Castilian still persists in the high mountain valleys and every hamlet has its own adobe chapel in varying states of disrepair. This style extends beyond the altar to the rest of the furniture, the ceiling joists, the plaster crumbling off the walls, all carry the same color palette. I remember going into one of the little churches, abandoned for at least 50 years, and kept standing by the efforts of a few old men who would add a fresh coat of adobe every so often to protect the bricks beneath. The headstones outside dated from the early 19th to mid 20th century, and were overgrown, save for the grave of a beloved grandmother adorned with plastic flowers faded by the sun. There is an old devotion here, primordial, simple, removed from the theological squabbles of the old world. I would recommend looking into New Mexican Milagros, small tin/lead figures of devotion worn around the neck, as well as pierced tim work that proliferated during the depression. The Folk Art Museum in Santa Fe is world class and welll worth your time.
I had no idea Castilian persisted there so recently. What a fascinating place. I have only been once, but it made a huge impression on me. I didn’t realize places like it existed in the U.S. When I lived in San Antonio they had some of the milagros. I bought my parents a carving of the sacred heart with milagros tacked on it.
Hope to go back to New Mexico to visit the Folk Art Museum and Chimayo some day. Thank you for the comment!
So beautiful. St. Rita, pray for us.
Wonderful article! Thank you!! The style reminded me of Coptic iconography, in a way.
Yes, there is a similarity with Coptic art isn't there? It also made me think of the Spanish Romanesque.
Saint Rita of Cascia, pray for us!
Saints come to us. Knew about her connection to Umbria, Baseball and impossible causes but didn't know about her connections in NorMex!
Her prayers that God would deliver her sons from taking vengeance really bring it home.....
.....SEMPER FORTIS! 🔔💀☦️⛪🇮🇹⚜️🧢⚾
Grace and peace to you sister, CHRIST IS RISEN!
I just recently learned of her connection with baseball. Very fun story.
Happy Easter to you Robert!
Thank you for exploring the sacred art of the Americas. It does possess understated power, and also great charm.
I love the story of St Rita and her smile is so personal in the art you showed. This art was new to me—so it is still being painted on this way or is the tradition ending?
The style has secularized so you will see non religious art in this style, but there are still artists who take the religious tradition and rules very seriously.
I was in New Mexico last year and saw some of these. I wondered about them. I should have gone to a market and purchased one.
Excellent!
Thank you!
Sancta Rita Casciana,
ora pro dilectissima mea,
ut hodie sit beata,
et Domino gratias agat!
Thanks for this article! I grew up in New Mexico and this reminded me of home :)
So many years ago I lived in Albuquerque though I am not familiar with St Rita in particular. Still it was my time there that inspired me to study art history. It was likely the art of the place and how wonderfully steeped in culture it is. With this, your post on St Rita, I think how impossible is was for me to consider returning to school to study art history. Now years later with my degrees and now with a return to a devotion in prayer, I believe it was St Rita, a Saint for impossibilities that may have brought me here.
Thank you for sharing this. I think I will look to add St Rita to my own altar.
Beautiful story Kathy!
Thank you Amelia for introducing us to this wonderful tradition, and to the Santeros of New Mexico, and especially to St. Rita. The image of her standing there skull in one hand, cross in the other is memorable and holy. Clearly a person who knew much suffering but also the victory over death.