El Ni O Fidencio And The Fidencistas

El Nio Fidencio and the Fidencistas: Folk Religion on the U.S.-Mexican Borderland, is an biographical ethnography examining the life of Mexicos most famous folk healer as well as the folk religious healing cult that has followed him since his death in 1938. Dr. Zavaleta examines curanderismo, the transmigrational patterns of Mexicans in the United States as well as Latino/a social psychology and importance of folk beliefs and practices in their daily lives. In 2009, Zavaletas lifetime of research supporting Mexican nationals living abroad, Mexicanos en el Extranjero earned him the prestigious Ohtli, a Nahuatl(Aztec) word meaning pathfinder. The Ohtli is regarded as the highest community-minded awards which the Republic of Mexico bestows to non-Mexican citizens for their service to Mexico. In 2010, Zavaleta was appointed by President Obama to the Good Neighbor Environmental Commission of the EPA which reports directly to the President and dedicated to observing and analyzing ongoing events within the cross-border eco-systems of the United States-Mexico borderlands. Zavaleta studied anthropology at The University of Texas a Austin completing a doctoral degree in 1976. For the past 40 years he has been a faculty member and administrator at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Zavaleta retired in 2016 and lives in Brownsville, Texas.

Nino Fidencio was a Mexican folk healer who lived in the northern state of Nuevo Leon in the early part of the 20th century. When he died at the age of forty in 1938, he was the country's most prominent healer. This book presents a reverential look at the experiences of his contemporary followers through the author's documentary photographs. It is a fascinating glimpse into a little-known phenomenon as well as a testament to the power of belief.

Book Description: Embark on a profound journey into the heart of Mexican spirituality with "The Untold Story of El Niño Fidencio" The Spiritual Odyssey of El Niño Fidencio." In this meticulously researched and evocatively written exploration, we unveil the mystique surrounding the life and legacy of El Niño Fidencio, a humble healer who became a guiding light in the spiritual landscape of post-revolutionary Mexico. Synopsis: In the tranquil town of Espinazo, a child named Fidencio found solace in the sacred landscapes that would shape his destiny. As he matured, so too did his spiritual gifts, and his journey unfolded into a tapestry of faith, compassion, and profound healing. Through the convergence of indigenous wisdom and Catholicism, El Niño Fidencio emerged as a beacon of hope during a transformative era in Mexican history. Key Features: Historical Odyssey: Delve into the historical backdrop of post-revolutionary Mexico, where societal shifts and cultural dynamics provided fertile ground for the emergence of El Niño Fidencio. Cultural Syncretism: Witness the harmonious blend of indigenous traditions and Catholicism as Fidencio navigates the complexities of syncretic spirituality, offering healing to those seeking solace. Miracles and Teachings: Explore the profound miracles attributed to Fidencio and the core tenets of his spiritual philosophy, revealing the transformative impact of his teachings on the lives of his followers. Preservation of Legacy: Uncover the meticulous archival efforts dedicated to preserving Fidencio's legacy, including letters, diaries, and photographs that provide intimate glimpses into his world. Contemporary Influence: Examine how El Niño Fidencio's influence persists in modern times, shaping spiritual movements, inspiring healers, and fostering a sense of cultural continuity. In "The Untold Story of El Niño Fidencio", we invite you to traverse the sacred paths walked by El Niño Fidencio and discover the enduring resonance of his wisdom. This book is not merely a historical account but a spiritual odyssey that invites readers to explore the healing legacy of a humble soul who touched the hearts of generations.

The first anthology to focus specifically on the topic of Chicana expressive culture, Chicana Traditions features the work of native scholars: Chicanas engaged in careers as professors and students, performing artists and folklorists, archivists and museum coordinators, and community activists. Blending narratives of personal experience with more formal, scholarly discussions, Chicana Traditions tells the insider story of a professional woman mariachi performer and traces the creation and evolution of the escaramuza charra (all-female precision riding team) within the male-dominated charreada, or Mexican rodeo. Other essays cover the ranchera (country or rural) music of the transnational performer Lydia Mendoza, the complex crossover of Selena's Tejano music, and the bottle cap and jar lid art of Goldie Garcia. Framed by the Chicana feminist concept of the borderlands, a formative space where cultures and identities converge, Chicana Traditions offers a lively commentary on how women continue to invent, reshape, and transcend their traditional culture.

Santa Teresa Urrea and Don Pedrito Jaramillo were curanderos—faith healers—who, in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, worked outside the realm of "professional medicine," seemingly beyond the reach of the church, state, or certified health practitioners whose profession was still in its infancy. Urrea healed Mexicans, Indigenous people, and Anglos in northwestern Mexico and cities throughout the US Southwest, while Jaramillo conducted his healing practice in the South Texas Rio Grande Valley, healing Tejanos, Mexicans, and Indigenous people there. Jennifer Koshatka Seman takes us inside the intimate worlds of both "living saints," demonstrating how their effective healing—curanderismo—made them part of the larger turn-of-the century worlds they lived in as they attracted thousands of followers, validated folk practices, and contributed to a modernizing world along the US-Mexico border. While she healed, Urrea spoke of a Mexico in which one did not have to obey unjust laws or confess one's sins to Catholic priests. Jaramillo restored and fed drought-stricken Tejanos when the state and modern medicine could not meet their needs. Then, in 1890, Urrea was expelled from Mexico. Within a decade, Jaramillo was investigated as a fraud by the American Medical Association and the US Post Office. Borderlands Curanderos argues that it is not only state and professional institutions that build and maintain communities, nations, and national identities but also those less obviously powerful.

Mexican American folk and religious healing, often referred to as curanderismo, has been a vital part of life in the Mexico-U.S. border region for centuries. A hybrid tradition made up primarily of indigenous and Iberian Catholic pharmacopeias, rituals, and notions of the self, curanderismo treats the sick person with a variety of healing modalities including herbal remedies, intercessory prayer, body massage, and energy manipulation. Curanderos, “healers,” embrace a holistic understanding of the patient, including body, soul, and community. Border Medicine examines the ongoing evolution of Mexican American religious healing from the end of the nineteenth century to the present. Illuminating the ways in which curanderismo has had an impact not only on the health and culture of the borderlands but also far beyond, the book tracks its expansion from Mexican American communities to Anglo and multiethnic contexts. While many healers treat Mexican and Mexican American clientele, a significant number of curanderos have worked with patients from other ethnic groups as well, especially those involved in North American metaphysical religions like spiritualism, mesmerism, New Thought, New Age, and energy-based alternative medicines. Hendrickson explores this point of contact as an experience of transcultural exchange. Drawing on historical archives, colonial-era medical texts and accounts, early ethnographies of the region, newspaper articles, memoirs, and contemporary healing guidebooks as well as interviews with contemporary healers, Border Medicine demonstrates the notable and ongoing influence of Mexican Americans on cultural and religious practices in the United States, especially in the American West.

American society is culturally diverse with a variety of religious denominations, sects, cults, and self-help groups vying for members. This volume analyzes nine of these groups, chosen both for their intrinsic interest and because they illustrate a variety of sociological concepts. The groups included in this study are: Heaven's Gate, Jesus People USA, the Love Family, The Farm, Amish Women, Scientology, El Niño Fidencio, Santería, and Freedom Park. The contributors are social scientists with first-hand knowledge of the groups they examine.