This is a portion of the San Jose Bell found in the San Miguel Church in Santa Fe. The full inscription reads: San Jose, Rogad por nosotros Agosto 9 de 1356 (Saint Joseph pray for us August 9 1356). Was the bell cast in 1356 and brought to Santa Fe in 1812 as some claim — or was it cast locally in 1836 or 1856 as others say?
San Miguel Church claims to be the oldest church in the United States, built between 1610 and 1628 over a kiva that dates from at least 1200. Mass is still said in the church, which has been rebuilt several times, most notably after the Spanish returned to New Mexico following the 1680 Pueblo Revolt, and currently.
“mass is still said In the church”
I love ritual. And I love continuity. But if anyone were still worshipping Zeus or Baal they would be derided and certainly wouldn’t qualify for tax-exempt status. Yet people practicing Judaism, Hinduism, and upstarts like Christianity, Islam and Mormonism are lauded as pious. Can Scientology be far behind? Why are people expected to suspend rational thought as soon as someone calls their bizaare, unfounded beliefs a religion?
I was just in Notre Dame two weeks ago, and the Rose Window’s beauty still makes me weep (as does Guernica) but that don’t make Joe Ratzinger infallible nor change wafers into human flesh. Time to put the spiritual energy, the money and the real estate into uses that will benefit mankind.
Amen.