Veneration of Popular Saints as a Cultural Practice in the Search for Justice in Latin America

The article is devoted to the analysis of the phenomenon of folk saints — unofficially canonized individuals, posthumously honored as heroes, to whom prayers and offerings are made. This syncretic cult emerged from the fusion of traditional Amerindian beliefs and Catholicism and has become widespread throughout Latin America. The relevance of the study lies in the fact that today more and more Latin Americans who consider themselves Catholic are honoring folk saints, among others. This cult is moving beyond religion and into the category of cultural practice, as places of veneration of folk saints become full-fledged tourist centers that define the economic, cultural and symbolic image of the region. A number of examples show that the popularity of popular saint cults is due to a search for justice and an attempt to find solace in the hardships of life, as Latin Americans have largely lost faith in both the church and socio-political institutions. At the same time, popular saints are more credible because in their lifetime these individuals either faced the same misfortunes as ordinary people — poverty, lawlessness, and injustice — or they suffered premature or violent deaths that magnify their suffering in the eyes of society. The appeal to popular saints is not limited to personal communication: numerous altars are erected in their honor, festivals are held that attract thousands of believers and sceptics, works of art are created, and appropriate infrastructure is built. It is concluded that some Latin American cities and regions are becoming associated with the images of specific saints, as the latter become their real cultural symbols, defining their territorial identity and cultural space.

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