Santo Niño de Atocha
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The Santo Niño de Atocha is a Roman Catholic depiction of the Infant Jesus and is popular in the Hispanic cultures of Spain, Mexico, and in the southwestern United States, especially New Mexico.
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[edit] History
During the 13th Century, Spain was under invasion by the Moors. The town of Atocha was lost by Spain to the Moors, and the Christian males were taken prisoners. The Moors placed strict prohibitions on the Spanish prisoners and restricted their rights to food. Eventually, only children under the age of 12 who were closely related to the captives could bring food to solely their relatives. The women of Atocha knew that most people in the jails would not survive under such conditions. Praying before the statue of Our Lady of Atocha, they pleaded for the Virgin to ask her Son for help.
Reports began to spread among the people of Atocha that a child under the age of twelve had come to the prisons and given food and water to those in need. This young child, dressed in pilgrim's clothing, came to the prisons at night not only to bring the captives nourishment, but to talk and pray with them, giving them hope.
When the women of Atocha heard of the miraculous Child, they returned to Our Lady of Atocha and thanked the Blessed Virgin for her intercession. Looking upon the image of the Madonna, they noticed that the shoes worn by the Infant Jesus held by Our Lady of Atocha were tattered and dusty. The shoes were replaced but became soiled once again. The people of Atocha saw this as a sign that the Infant Jesus went out every night to help those in need..
[edit] Devotion beyond Atocha
The Moorish conflict extended well beyond the town of Atocha. Throughout Spain, Christians were persecuted by the Moors' attacks. Villagers often had to flee their homes to find safety. On their travel, the escaping most villagers had to travel and sleep on roads or in the forest because innkeepers would not let Catholics stay in their inns due to fear of retribution from the Moors. During dire points in their journey, the travelers reported a young boy, dressed as a pilgrim, that would come to them bringing food and other needs. The boy would often travel with them until they were out of danger and would then guide them to the safest roads to reach their destination. The miraculous Child was always considered to be the Infant Christ and was given the title El Santo Niño de Atocha.
The Santo Niño was also said to have saved miners who were trapped in a mine shaft.
[edit] Mexico
When the Spanish invaded the Aztecs a great Spanish general went to explore the northern lands of New Spain. He and his troops came to a place where a fresno tree stood at the edge of a lake. They decided to name the place Fresnillo. In the times following the invasion of the Aztecs, they named the land where Fresnillo was located the state of Zacatecas because it was abundant in grass. While a town was being built in Fresnillo some miners were out near the lake when a mule came from the west. The mule carried a giant wooden crate on its back. The miners decided to take the crate of the mule for a second so it could rest and drink water. However, once the miners took off the crate the mule ran away leaving the miners the wooden crate. When the miners opened the crate they where shocked to find a silver crucified Christ with no cross. The general ordered a church be built across the valley and named the city Plateros because that is where the silver Christ was put. The general then ordered an image of Our Lady of Atocha be brought from Spain to Plateros. The image was put in the church of Saint Agustine along with the silver Christ. In those years silver was discovered in Fresnillo and mines were being built in the mountains near the settlement. When in a few weeks of the opening of the mine of Fresnillo, there was an explosion and many miners were trapped. The wives of the miners went to the church of St. Agustine to pray for their husbands and noticed that the child on the image of Our Lady of Atocha was missing. At the same time in the mine a child was said to come to the miners and give them water and showed them the way out of the mine. Every time there was a problem at the mine the child was said to help those miners in need. Every time this happened the child on the Virgin's arms was dirty and his clothes had little holes in them. After that the Holy Child was taken of his mother's arms and put on a glass box for everyone to see. El Santo Niño de Atocha has become a symbol of Zacatecas and the protector of miners. Many make pilgrimages to Plateros on Christmas to bring the Santo Niño toys.
[edit] Appearance
El Santo Niño de Atocha is always dressed as a boy pilgrim from the 13th century. He wears a hat and a very ornate cloak and holds a basket of roses or food in one hand and a pilgrim's staff in the other hand. In art, the Santo Niño's basket is sometimes shown empty, giving the impression that he has been out serving the needy; however, reports given by those who saw the Santo Niño claim that his basket never ran out of food. Also, his pilgrim's staff is often depicted with a water gourd fastened to the staff.
In later years, a shell pattern called the St. James Shell was pictured on the cape on his outfit in artwork. This identifies the Santo Niño with northern Spain (the destination of many who fled from the Moors), because the St. James Shell is a symbol of the pilgrims to the Shrine of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain.
[edit] See also
- Child Jesusa
- Infant Jesus of Prague
- Divine Infant Jesus
- Santo Niño de Cebu
- Madonna and Child
- Holy Prepuce
- Holy Umbilical Cord
- Infancy Gospels
- Holy Infant of Good Health
