Catholicism in Mexico

As an American Christian, raised in a predominantly Christian culture, it is easy to forget that there are still cultures that are not steeped in Christian tradition. As I (Lacy) have been walking through the book of Luke with the children in the villages, I stumbled upon this unfortunate truth. When the day came for Luke 2, I eagerly created a “quiz” day, so sure that this would be a wonderful opportunity for the children to gain “participation points” in the class by regurgitating everything they possibly remembered about the birth of Christ. But when the time came for the games, the children’s faces fell blank. “Oh come on,” I urged, “let’s try this … who’s birthday do we celebrate on Christmas day?” I was stunned when all the hands came up and over two-thirds of the group shouted, “Santa Claus!” One little boy explained excitedly, “No, no, not Santa Claus!” I smiled, but quickly repented when he said, “It’s the day we celebrate everyone’s birthday, that’s why Santa Claus brings us presents – he helps us celebrate the birthdays of everyone in the world!”

It is true that nearly 90% of Mexico is Catholic … about as true as to say that nearly 90% of America is Christian, which is, of course, not true. The cultural aspect of Catholicism permeates through every activity: food, festivals, family structure, religion, and media. But the truth is, most of the priests have no idea who they are serving or why they are ministering. For example, one new convert shared with me:

“After reading my bible, I asked my priest, ‘Do you even know who you are communing with when you administer mass?’ My priest’s face fell blank, and when I told him that he should share the mass while encouraging the church to remember Christ, he told me, ‘The liturgy is all I need, please do not confuse me with your Bible. I do what my teachers tell me to do’.”

Please continue to pray for us. We preach the gospel faithfully, even to ears that refuse to hear. How can we possible know what seeds will be planted and what seeds will be scattered? So, we faithfully share the Word of God verse by verse, explaining as to little children the love of Jesus Christ. At times, it is just one or two ears that are open. At times, there are more. But the numbers are not important. What is important is to share with the people that when they stand before the throne of God at the end of their days, they will not be asked, “How faithfully did you serve God?” Rather, the question will be: “Did you intimately know my Son, Jesus Christ, and did you die to yourself so that He could live through you?” The Christian walk is more than just a one-time salvation. Rather, it is a daily walk with Christ, and not just saying hello to him once, but becoming his Bride, by knowing him more intimately each and every day; leaving the past behind and allowing him to rewrite our life with His presence in it. This type of relationship is foreign to Catholics, who are immersed in ritual prayers to the Holy Vision of Mary and to the Holy Saints. Every day is a battle, and every day we meet more stone-cold hearts, people who refuse to listen or understand. So, please continue to pray for our wisdom and patience.