Spiritual Perspectives
Are Your Roots Showing?

By Mary Ann Montoya
Special to the Independent 

What do your faith traditions and living them out reveal about you? I'm talking about what you and your family celebrate and how it identifies you to the rest of the community. We've just celebrated three holidays that most people celebrate in November, December and January. The secular arena recognizes them by giving employees days off to be with family and friends. They just call them generic titles, instead of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day or World Day of Prayer, but everyone knows what the holidays are. Even those who don't observe these holidays are swept along for the holiday ride. They can't help it with the bombardment of advertising, decorations, food and music. These festive, historic and religious celebrations have taken root in our society so that even our consumerism world takes advantage of these celebrations for profit.

In the Roman Catholic Church, we are rooted in a liturgical calendar that has times of year with designated colors for every season and holy day. These are visible signs of worship roots that go back to the Early Church. Within this church, there is a great diversity of ethnic groups and peoples. Each group worships in their own unique way reflecting their culture and traditions with Jesus being the center of that Eucharistic worship. Through their cultural roots, their native dress, faith traditions, songs, music and food they express glory and praise to God.

In a very short while, we will enter the Lenten season with Ash Wednesday being the entry point. On that day, Roman Catholic Christians and some fellow Christians will be marked with the sign of the cross in ashes on their foreheads. This is a reminder of our mortality, “you are dust and to dust you shall return.” Look at Job 42:6 and Gen. 3:19 — ashes are sign of repentance and sorrow — roots found in the Old Testament. What the bishop, priest or deacon may say when administering the ashes is: Repent and believe in the Gospel.

During Lent, many of us choose and are encouraged to make a sacrifice of love to make reparation for our sins. It's not only about fasting and abstaining on certain days but about every day conversion. Growing up I remember my grandmother not permitting us to listen to the radio or watch television during the Fridays of Lent. We performed devotions such as making the Way of the Cross by participating at Stations of the Cross, a meditation on the Passion of our Lord. Another one of the signs of Lent is going on pilgrimage near or far.

Pilgrimages are part of worship of the three main religions of the world. Jews visit Jerusalem, Muslims go to Mecca and Christians journey to the Holy Land or Rome or one of the many sacred shrines that dot the globe. Preparing for such a journey places the pilgrim into an attitude of hope and renewal. A person is taken to a different environment and frame of mind. Away from the everyday busyness of life gives one a time to reflect and meditate on our life's journey. Meditating on the Lord's ultimate pilgrimage — God made man entering human history for our salvation — gives one pause to conversion and hope. 

One of the most publicized pilgrimages in New Mexico is the one taken to the Santuario de Chimayo north of Santa Fe, especially during the Lenten season. People from all over are seen carrying crosses, statues, blessed pictures of Jesus, our Blessed Mother Mary, and of their loved ones whether they are sick or deceased. They've made a pledge to go to this sacred place to petition a favor or give thanks for favors granted. Sharing the sacrifice and fellowship inspires many to participate annually. Our family travels there on Wednesday of Holy Week; it's a tradition my mother passed on to my family.

Nearer to home is going to Zuni and the shrine of the Santo Nino. I remember going there as a child with our grandmother, parents, aunts, uncles and cousins once or twice a year to hold vigil. Everyone would take food to share, and we'd pray, sing and eat. We children would sleep on the dirt floor on blankets. It was a great yearly adventure for us. My husband and I took our children there several times as they were growing up to remind them of one of my early traditions. One special memory of a pilgrimage to Zuni was the one taken by my aunt and uncle after my cousin returned from the Korean War. It took them three days traveling by day and stopping to camp by night. It was their way of giving thanks for the safe return of their only son.

One special pilgrimage, we've been making for the last twenty years is the annual one to Sacred Heart Cathedral in Gallup. The Roman Catholic Church in the Diocese of Gallup traditionally celebrates the Chrism Mass on Monday of Holy Week. It's celebrated on that day because of the many liturgies priests celebrate that week and the distance many of them and their parishioners must travel to come to the Cathedral. All are invited from parishes in Arizona and New Mexico to come to this beautiful liturgy. It is truly a universal gathering as we greet fellow Catholics from pueblos, reservations, cities, towns and villages from throughout the diocese.

At this liturgy, scripture and songs are in three or four different languages. It is at this Mass that the bishop and priests renew their vows to priesthood in the presence of parishioners, fellow priests and religious. A rite within this Mass is the blessing of the oils, which are used in the administering of the sacraments in every parish and mission. Chrism is one of the oils of anointing. After this ritual, the bishop and priests concelebrate the liturgy of the Eucharist, the heart and soul of the faith. This Mass has all the “smells and bells” of the Church, ever ancient, ever new. It connects us to the roots of the church Jesus established over 2,000 years ago. On this same day, the bishop and priests receive the annual Easter message from the Holy Father, who is the Vicar of Christ and successor to St. Peter, the first pope.

My husband and I are drawn year after year to experience and participate in the  Chrism Mass because this pilgrimage keeps us united to the Church in Rome, which is truly universal. If our roots are showing, it's because we strive to be connected to the Vine, Who is Jesus Christ.
Editor’s Note: Because The Very Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted is now serving as bishop of both the Diocese of Gallup and the Diocese of Phoenix, Gallup’s Chrism Mass has been rescheduled to Friday, March 14.

Mary Ann Montoya is a member of San Rafael Parish in San Rafael, N.M. She serves as a lector, choir member, and a RCIA team member. She can be contacted via email: flordelsol45@yahoo.com

This column is written by area residents, representing different faith communities, who share their ideas about bringing a spiritual perspective into our daily lives and community issues.

For information about contributing a guest column, contact Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola at The Independent: (505) 863-6811 ext. 218 or lizreligion01@yahoo.com.