They have never understood why priests shouldn t marry. Many people do not realize that there were females in the Hermandad , but there definitely were. They were not just auxiliary members, but they were bona fide Penitentas . In one village, they even had their own morada and they carried out the same practices as the hermanos . There were many Penitentas , and perhaps someday there will be again, said an hermano .
History truly does repeat itself.
Now we are losing more and more priests here in New Mexico and the church seems to be going through a decline, enduring a real test of its own. There are many problems ahead for the church. It is no coincidence that while that is going on, the Brotherhood is gaining more and more members. It is very natural, said an hermano . The Penitentes add a special spirituality to the parishes.