THE PENITENTES by L. E. Gilbert

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 24, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 59.

THE PENITENTES.

By L. E. Gilbert

BY L. E. GILBERT.

WITH scourge and cross And penitential tears, Lives on and on a sacred rite Of old Spain's earlier, darker years. Bowed down with weighty cross, Bleeding from every pore, The weary march of days and nights Ends at the chancel door.

Here, with pains which rack The quivering, bleeding flesh, 'Mid fearful horrors dark, Where chains together clash, 'Mid stifled sigh and groans suppressed, Wavering lights, like wandering souls in quest Of times long past and forever o'er, Fitful appear, then fade In darkness deeper than before, 'Mid scenes from which the Stoutest hearts must turn aghast, The Penitente absolution finds For sins committed in the year that's past.

There is a strange custom existing among the Mexican inhabitants of New Mexico, Arizona, portions of Colorado, and doubtless other parts of the West. It is considered by them as a part of their religious duty to whip, or scourge, themselves as a penance for sin, and is called penitenting. This custom evidently came from Spain, and was handed down by the Spanish conquerors to their descendants, and they aver that it was practiced by their forefathers as far back as their recollection reaches. It has the nature of a secret organization, all the members being solemnly bound by an oath not to divulge what occurs inside their casa secreto, or secret house. This rite, while not obligatory on the part of the members, is nevertheless encouraged to such a degree, and is so popular with this class, that it will doubtless be many years ere it falls into disfavor and becomes obsolete, as so many other relics of ancient barbarism have done since the promulgation of the broad views of a progressive people in a progressive age.

Not until the onward roll of civilization shall have reached this people, and swept away the ancient barriers of their superstition and prejudice on its broad, resistless tide, is this rite destined to sink into oblivion, and become a relic of the past, existing only in the pages of history—a fact noticeable mainly from its having occurred at so late a period. As we have just witnessed this ceremony and self-inflicted punishment in all its old-time severity, we will endeavor to describe it, for the benefit of those who may desire to learn something of the manners and customs of this primitive people of the far West.

This rite is performed annually, and continues three days and nights, commencing on Wednesday and ending on the night of Good Friday. The Penitentes, and those who wish to become such, either on their own account; or, as is often the case, acting as substitutes for those who are unwilling or unable to endure the scourging, and therefore prefer paying largely to one who will act for them, assemble at daybreak Wednesday at the casa

secreto. This is a building set aside for their use, solely for this purpose, and is located two hundred feet from the iglesia, a sort of rude church. Like the latter, it is built of adobe, having small windows set high in the wall near the flat dirt roof. It is long and narrow, and contains two rooms. Here those who are not already initiated receive the first degree in the secret order of Penitentes, which all may witness, as it takes place outside the building.

The Penitentes, clothed only in a pair of light cotton drawers reaching from waist to knee, with a silk mask covering the face, are approached by the master of ceremonies, who is dressed and masked as the others. With a sharp stone he cuts open the back of each Penitente from a point midway between the shoulders to the waist line. The blood gushes forth in torrents from the wound thus made. If they still persist in their demand to be made Penitentes, as they invariably do, they are taken into the casa secreto, and what occurs inside is never divulged. All that could be learned was that the floors were covered with bloody crosses made by the hand of the Penitente dipped in his own blood, and that the walls were bespattered with the same, and literally plastered with bits of flesh and cuticle torn from the lacerated bodies.

When they again appeared, all masked as before, they were divided into two parties,—Scourgers and Cross Bearers, the Scourgers, or whippers, having what they called una latigo palmea,—a whip made of the Mexican palmea, or soap weed. The broad, thorny leaves, which are imported from old Mexico for that purpose, are plaited into a strong, heavy whip, measuring six inches at the base, tapering to three inches at the handle, and three feet in length. Thick and bristling with needle-like thorns, it is a fearful instrument of punishment. With this held in both hands, they deal themselves such blows, first over the left shoulder, then over the right, each blow falling on the middle of the back, that that portion of their body soon becomes a mass of clotted gore.

Thus they march in single file, following one of the members, who, walking backward, holds before them a crucifix. These were followed by the Cross Bearers, led by attendants. These crosses, being made of eight by ten pine timber, twelve to fifteen feet in length, are very heavy, and are borne on the left shoulder, the end dragging upon the ground. Every one hundred yards the whole procession halts, while all prostrate themselves prone upon the earth, which was covered with snow on the first day. Here they implore their gods to remit their particular sin, whatever it may be. Arising, they continue the flagellations in the hope of appeasing the wrath of their enraged deity by the running of blood. In this respect the ceremony is similar to the blood-atonement of the Mormons. This marching and halting continues until they arrive at a large wooden cross set on the mesa, half a mile from the casa secreto. Here the crosses are rested, while all walk on bare knees three time around the large cross, over rough, uneven ground, covered with sharp stones. Then, arising, the Penitentes resume their scourging, and the Cross Bearers their burdens, returning in the same manner as they came out.

In the meantime a second procession is formed, consisting of men, women, and children, the men with heads bared, and the women enveloped in long black mantillas, or shawls. Leaving the building called the iglesia, or church, at the same time the Penitentes leave their house, they march to the same place, keeping two hundred feet away from the other procession. In this party four men, called the image bearers, go first, bearing a large wooden image holding a cross on its left shoulder. These are followed by the fifers, and the old men chanting, the rest bringing up the rear. The same ceremonies are observed in this as in the other party; and, after returning in the same manner, they separate, and do not meet again until night, when they again gather for services, which are conducted in a very primitive manner, the old men reciting and chanting, while the people are seated upon the floor of the building. The services in the building are soon over.

(To be continued.)