Our little man, Roscoe a 2 year old Jack Russell, is a constant companion of my wife. He is almost always by her side. He knew when we were getting dressed into our Sunday best that something was up.
Up it is for sure, as we live just about 100 meters above the lake and the church is up hill. I would estimate it is like walking up 6 flights of stairs to get into the heart of the town, There in the town center in front of the Catholic Church is a beautiful little park.
The Yo ❤️San Pedro, in front of the San Pedro statue, really stands out and gives a beautiful illumination to the park.
The Church was about 20% full when we entered at about 5:55PM, so much for not wanting to be last minute as Mass starts at 6:00PM.
Well Guatemalans, like most of the people in Central America, tend to run a bit late.
The Church began to fill up quite rapidly and by the time Mass got in full swing in was 90% full.
The Tzʼutujil people tend to be on the short side. My 5' 4" wife is considered tall here and I am a giant amongst these people at 6' 2" 255 pounds.
All the women and girls dress in their traditional clothing as seen below.
Most of the men do not wear traditional clothing.
There were many families there but also a lot of women without their husbands or father of their children
Funny to me how history is so hidden from us. When I look up how the Mayans converted to Christianity it mostly appears as to be force on them, not one mention about the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe in neighboring Mexico.
Not a mention that like the Aztecs, they practiced human sacrifice in Maya culture was the ritual offering of nourishment to the gods and goddesses. Blood was viewed as a potent source of nourishment for the Maya deities, and the sacrifice of a living creature was a powerful blood offering.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the main reasons I am seeking to become a Roman Catholic and praying the Rosary every day has literally changed my life for the better.
Thank you Father Willamson and the Marian Catholics who focus on the many apparitions of the Holy Mother.
Until my next post, may God be with you.