Week 5: I Love Lupe...

     Growing up in an Mexican immigrant household in Southern California my family routinely went to church and my parents taught us very young about Catholic values. Compared to other immigrant families in my community, I feel my parents were one of the few adults who were never religiously strict when raising their kids. My mom never pushed us to do our confirmation since she’d rather we use that time to study and her trust in the church was depleted around the time I finished my communion. Both my parents felt that the Catholic churches in California were just a business compared to the churches in Mexico that do not charge to practice a belief. My mom also acknowledges that those churches have their own problems too since there have been many scandals for years. We still consider ourselves as Catholics because we believe in the values of the religion but we do not attend church anymore. Although we do not practice at these institutions we do hold the morals and lessons we were taught through the religion in our lives.  

    To me ‘La Virgen de Guadalupe’ was always this spiritual entity that I would pray to growing up to ask for guidance, protection, and provide appreciation for. When I was young I saw her as a protector of all things and the mother to everyone. I grew up having a piggy bank shaped Virgin Mary, a Virgin Mary cartoon wallet and even now I have a virgin Mary keychain, each asking for protection for my money, myself or a prayer that riches continue to come into my life. I never viewed Virgin Mary as merchandise but rather the first line of defense for my safety. Even now a part of me now feels that she’ll protect me, although I am aware that she will not physically be there to do so in case I get robbed or attacked. 
 
    My Saturday school talked about how the Virgin Mary is a symbol for what values a woman should have. She practiced chastity, yet she was able to fulfil her female role as a mother and she never committed a sin. In my eyes she is a powerful spiritual being but I do not feel I will be able to follow in her footsteps. I view her as a powerful symbol because I view her as someone who is strong and caring. She is someone who will care for others and will never purposely try to ruin someone else’s life. She faced a lot of hardship yet she always stayed true to herself.