The Penitente Moradas of Abiquiú

The Penitente Moradas of Abiquiú

This study describes two earthern buildings and their special furnishingshumble but unique documents of Spanish-American culture. The two structures are located in Abiqui, a rural, Spanish-speaking village in northern New Mexico. Known locally as moradas, they serve as meeting houses for members of a flagellant brotherhood, the penitentes. The penitente brotherhood is characteristic of Spanish culture in New Mexico (herein called Hispano to indicate its derivation from Hispanic traditions in Mexico). Although penitential activities occurred in Spain's former coloniesMexico, Argentina, and the Philippinesthe penitentes in the mountainous region that extends north of Albuquerque into southern Colorado are remarkable for their persistence. After a century and a half of clerical criticism[1] and extracultural pressures against the movement, physical evidence of penitente activity, although scattered and diminished, still survives. As intact, functioning artifacts, the penitente moradas at Abiqui are valuable records of an autonomous, socio-religious brotherhood and of its place in the troubled history of Spanish-American culture in the Southwest. This paper maintains that penitentes are not culturally deviant or aberrant but comprise a movement based firmly in Hispanic traditions as shown by their architecture and equipment found at Abiqui and by previously established religious and social practices. Also, this paper presents in print for the first time a complete, integrated, and functioning group of penitente artifacts documented, in situ, by photographs. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 44678
Author: Ahlborn, Richard E.
Release Date: Jan 15, 2014
Format: eBook
Language: English