(Celebrating Hispanic Heritage through Our Spirituality)
By Ema Rosero-Nordalm
The richness of our historical and cultural heritage is so extensive and fascinating that it would take pages to describe it in all its fullness. I would invite the Latino communities I love to celebrate our spirituality as a common denominator that allows us in this country to be part of the One Body of Christ, regardless of our country of origin.
Let us begin by celebrating our heartfelt expressions to God, such as “Dios mío,” “Si Dios quiere,” “Con Dios delante,” “Confiando en Dios,” “Lo quiso Dios,” “Bendito,” “Virgen Santísima,” and “Ofrézcome.” Uttered by Latinos and Latinas of all ages at all times, these examples speak clearly about our profound, unwavering faith and belief in a God who is ever-present, infinitely loving, boundlessly forgiving and full of compassion. We have many ways to express praise, adoration, gratitude, petition, and intercession for others, and they are key elements of the spiritual journey of our diverse communities, whether we are immigrants or/and the new generation born in the United States.
We are eloquent when we express our love for God our father and Mary our mother, when we refer to Jesus as our brother and companion in the journey, when we say we are instruments of the Holy Spirit. The origin of that eloquence is found in the oral traditions of the different countries in Latin America. Latin Americans of all races grow up listening to daily elegant and imaginative speeches coming not only from passionate elders, parents, educators, and religious leaders, but also from the street “pregonero” (auctioneer), the “profeta de la calle” (street prophet), and of course, politicians.
Even if some of us feel that we were not invited to express out loud what we learned from these public voices, it is knowledge and experience that we keep deep in our hearts. It bursts out when we leave our adored “terruño” (native land) and, in the foreign land, it shapes our identity and our spirituality. In those instances, amazing images and words are proclaimed regarding the God of our ancestors; the God that we revere in times of joy and during our trials and tribulations; the God that inspires us to act instantly and with love for the sake of others; the God that offers the strength to seek peace and liberation from injustice; the God that teaches us to respect our own dignity and the dignity of every person we encounter.
We can share and pass along this faith and these expressions to new generations. It is a way to live our lives sharing a common origin, all united in faith and adoration to the sources of our strength: God the Father, Mary the Mother of God, Jesus the mentor and companion in our spiritual journey, and the Holy Spirit we trust as the source of life, guidance, inspiration, and transformation. Faith, constant individual adoration through prayer and hymns, adoration in community, and humble, committed, and loving serving to the neighbor, are the spiritual treasures of our Latino communities. ¡Celebremos esos tesoros!
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The Rev. Deacon Ema Rosero-Nordalm is based in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and serves Latino communities in the United States and abroad as a spiritual mentor, trainer, and supporting clergy. Presently, she serves the community at San Oscar Romero Neighborhood Ministry, part of Allston Abbey in Boston.