Archive for January 28th, 2009
Santa Ana, Dzemul
St. Francis of Assisi, Santa Ana Church, Dzemul Yucatan
In a church called Santa Ana in Dzemul, Yucatan, Mexico, this one statue stood out because of its contrast with the others which were white. A black saint. Who was this saint? It is obvious that the statue is of an African. But why was it in Dzemul, Mexico in a huge church once operated by the Franciscans?
More importantly, perhaps, why had this particular statue caught my attention? Why? Perhaps, it has to do with honouring the shadow, something I am trying to do with my own shadow contents. Over the years I have struggled to be saintly and always falling and in the process, I developed a fairly significant contempt of “self”. That has begun to shift.
In my youth, family as well as myself had thought that I would become a priest. I was quiet, reserved, a peacemaker and very well behaved. The more this was lauded, the more I despised the truth of my self, one that was as black as this saint. I guess, it is comforting to know that there were/are black saints.
