Brothers of Light: The Penitentes of the Southwest

by Alice Corbin Henderson, Lynn Cline (Introduction), Marc Simmons (Preface)

In New Mexico, during Lent and Holy Week each year, the Penitent Brotherhood enacts a primitive Passion Play, which in its traditional ritual of self-torture represents a curious survival of the Middle Ages. Much lurid journalism has been devoted to the Penitentes, but in this sympathetic account by Alice Corbin Henderson, an eye-witness, the ceremonies are presented in their true aspect, with the historic background and reason for the survival clearly indicated. From this it appears that the religious custom of self-inflicted penance was introduced into the Southwest as early as 1598 by the Franciscan priests who accompanied Don Juan de Onate and his soldiers and colonists on their way to the permanent settlement of the province of New Mexico-originally embracing all of our present Southwest. From that day the customs then inaugurated have been traditionally observed by the humble descendants of the "Conquistadores." Alice Corbin and William Penhallow Henderson lived in New Mexico and know its people and its colorful landscape intimately. The striking illustrations in black and white that appeared in the original 1937 edition are an integral part of the text of this new edition. Also included in this edition along with an introduction by Lynn Cline is "Alice Corbin, An Appreciation" from "New Mexico Quarterly Review" in 1949, an article by Marc Simmons from "The Santa Fe New Mexican," and a review of the book from "New Mexico Quarterly" at the time of publication of the original edition in 1937 by T. M. Pearce.

194 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Trinity Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

As early as 1598 Don Juan de Onate and his men performed public penance during Holy Week, under the spiritual guidance of Franciscan friars.

[Elizabeth McIlhaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reprint of the 1937 original, an amazing little book on the subject, with an enlightening forward by Thomas J. Steele, S.J., Ph.D, and wonderful illustrations by William Penhallow Henderson.
ISBN: 1-881325-23-7, LC# 98-060376
I read a copy from my local library that I was allowed to check out, for some on this subject cannot be.
I took to heart the warning in the forward about the bigotry exhibited in other early books on the subject, as I am beginning to read some of those too now.
And as Steele said, this book does not contain narrow preconceived attitudes, which is why it is remains such a wonderful classic on the subject.

[Stace ginsburg · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting perspective on los hermanos: brothers of light, the religious and spiritual history of the penitentes of northern new mexico & southern colorado