The Penitente are a lay religious brotherhood that developed in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s when priests were called back from New Mexico to Spain. Many remote communities were left without priests, and a lay brotherhood of local men developed to aid their communities and to remember the spirit of Christ.
Rituals of the Penitente Brotherhood
The members of the Penitente brotherhood practiced the ritual of self flagellation and physical punishment for their sins. During holy week they reenacted events related to the passion of christ including his crucification on Good Friday. As it became known that the rituals, at times, resulted in death, the brotherhood became secret, and little information about its activities was available.
The Penitente Church and Morada, Canjilon, New Mexico
No photographic project of Norther New Mexico would be complete without an image of the Penitente morada and church. In June, I photographed several small village in Ria Arriba County. A Penitente church and morada are located in Canjilon. The buildings are small, simple and devoid of windows.
Penitente Church Sculpture
A sculpture stands outside the church. In agony and suffering, Christ struggles under the weight of the cross. Mary reaches her hands towards him in earnest. I wanted the image to reflect the powerful emotions I saw in their faces, and I believe, by leaving out the surrounding details of the church, I have captured the feelings.
