The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-06-17
The Penitentes of New Mexico

The extraordinary creduity and iansti.
clsm oil the people are seen in the strong.
est light during Holy week, when lar 20
numbers participate in the exercises Of
the society of Penitentes, which is dis.
countenanced by the priests, though it or.
iginally spraug from the church. The
headquarters of this organization are at
Mora, and its branches extend in every
direction, including among it's members a
considerable part Of the population, both
male and female. 1t meets in tho Mo.
rada, or assembly hall, and its transac-
tions are secret, but its avowed object is
the expiation Of sin by the iuhiction Of
violent bodily punishment Toward Good.
Friday, there is an unusai activity in the
society and the town.hal is occupied
nearly every evening by meetings, which
are signalized to the outsiders by dismal
cries groans and the mysterious rafting
OF chains-preparations which result on
Holy Thursday in the public scourging
OF those mombors WHO desire to chastoD
themselves and make atonement for their
offences. The day is regarded as q festi.
val, and crowd OF eager spectators gath.
er about the hall. After many prelimi.
nary ceremonies, the door is thrown opeu,
and, the pcnitentes file into the April twi.
light Of the snow covered street to the
music of a shrill reed instrument PLAYED
by an attendant. They are destitute of
other clothing thin pair Of under drawers,
and their heads and faces are hidden in
white wraps, so that their nelghtors
may not by recognizing him, have cause
to wonder what crime they expiate. The
leader sioggers under the weight Of a
heavy cross about twenty feet high, and
his companions, shiveriDg with cold as
the wind beats their naked bodies, carry
thick punches Of the thosny cactus in
their hands The attendants place them
in position, and at given signal the pro.
cession moves, chanting plaintive hymn
to the notes of tho musicians pipe. AT
every second step the ten men strike them
selvesover tho shoulders with the cactus.
leaving deeper scar with each blow until
the skin is broken and the lacerated flesh
pours its blood in carmine trail on the
snow. Several are bound at the ankles
by rawhide thongs a dagger, pointed at
both ends, being secured between the two
feet in such way that, when they STUN.
bic, 1t stabs them in most sensitive part.
Tho sight becomes sickening with horror,
and reprcsscd means of anguish Gil the
air as the cactus brushes the streaming,
quivering wound. No one is allowed to
retire, and, when the cross. bearer sinks to
the ground from exhaustion. the attend.
ants quickly raise him and urge him on
again with his heavy burden The route
is traced along the white road in Grim son
footsteps and, after paradipg the alleys
OF the town, the procession turns of
toward steep hill, in ascending which
their bare feet are cut to the bone by the
sharp, projecting rocks. The emiuencc
gained, preparations are made for a new
and surprising torture. Tho cross is
laid upon the ground, and the bearer is
so firmly bound to it by lengths Of liw.
hide that the circulation of the bloci is
retarded, aud gradual discolora,ion Of
oil the body follows His arms are cut.
stretched along the traverse beam. 10
which sword pointed at both ends Ike
the dagger before mentioned, is a,tac' ID
and, II he allows them to drop a 81 gle
inch ON their original position, the ap.
on ponerates the flesh Amidst the ~.
earthly groans OF the bystanders and The
shTill piping Of the musician, the cro, is
raised aud the cruciGed turns his aeon-
ICED face 10 heaven, while the blood SOW.
ly tricklea from hi wounds and a yd
hue overspreads his skin. How long he
remains is merely question Of endura CO.
for eventually he loses conciousncss, and
net until then is released AT the )u.
clusion Of this bartarous performs nee,
which occasionly results 10 death, The
ponitentes return to the Morsda, and ,ho
celebration is brought to a close II ill.,
lam II Rideil0. in Udy2e,.'S for .L,v.