Episode 6: Holy Dirt, Posadas and Other Catholic Traditions

Episode 6: Holy Dirt, Posadas, and More Catholic Customs - Show Notes

Image Credit: "Vow Gift to the Virgin of the Candelaria '[the Virgin of San Juan de los Lagos], Image and license info available at the website of the National Museum van Wereldculturen and Wereldmuseum, The Netherlands. (image dimensions modified).

Episode Summary:

We revisit the topic of holy dirt from our Bede episode again and have a more informal conversation on the history of some Catholic customs. Some of these customs are backed by solid tradition, while others are more controversial. We discuss the interplay of fact and legend, the possible pre-Christian roots of some traditions, and whether any of these cross the line into superstition. We are sure there is much more to learn and understand about each of these traditions, so please take our speculations with at least a small grain of salt this time around. For example, one correction to the episode: the Virgin of San Juan de Los Lagos is a statue/figurine and was not originally connected with an apparition per se, but rather a famous healing credited to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

All that said, we hope this discussion is thought provoking. Here are some customs and beliefs we discussed:

• Posadas and devotions to baby Jesus in Mexican culture
• Food, such as obleas (Latin American candy based on communion wafers)
• Devotion to St. Christopher, patron saint of safe travels
• Burying a St. Joseph statute to sell a house and possible origins (for example, St. Andre Bessette)
• More sacred dirt - eating the dust from San Juan de los Lagos; St. Helena's use of dirt from Jerusalem at Santa Croce in Rome; and the story of Naaman from the Old Testament (see 2 Kings 5:17).

Sources
Books:
• A History of the Church in 100 Objects by Mike Aquilina and Grace Aquilina (Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, 2017).
• The Catholic All Year Compendium: Living Liturgically for Real Life _by Kendra Tierney (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2018).
• _The Golden Legend by Jacobus de Vroagine - Includes the traditional story of St. Christopher and many, many other saints. (Available online from Fordham University).

Articles Online:
• "Night Adoration Growing among Hispanics" (Denver Catholic, Dec. 7, 2013)
• "Geofagia: por que hay gente que no puede parar de comer tierra" by Josh Gabbatiss (BBC News Mundo, July. 13, 2016)
• "El Bable: Geofagia: La 'tierrita' de San Juan y la extrana costumbre de comer tierra" (El Bable, Jun. 12, 2013).
• "Mexican Christmas Traditions" by Dante Arias (Xcaret Blog, Dec. 21, 2016).
• "St. Christopher" (New Advent Catholic Encylcopedia)
• "Whatever Happened to St. Christopher? Is He Still a Saint?" (Catholic Straight Answers)
• "Did the Church declare that St. Christopher is a myth?" (Catholic Answers)
• "The Sellers' Saint" (Washington Post, Oct. 6, 1990)
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