First published 1994
Michael Wallis opens the doors to the moradas, the prayer houses where members of La Fraternidad Piadosa de Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno gather for their religious observances. This lay Catholic organization exists only in New Mexico and southern Colorado, and its members have protected their privacy from curious outsiders for generations. Wallis presents the voices of the hermanos without revealing their identities or the locations of their sacred buildings. Many of these Brothers now work city jobs far from their mountain villages, yet they maintain their connection to the morada as a way to preserve their heritage and express their faith. Working with photographer Craig Varjabedian, Wallis captures both the ordinary lives of these men and their extraordinary devotion. The book moves beyond the sensational or academic treatments that came before, offering instead a direct look at how the Brothers navigate between their ancient traditions and contemporary life. Through anonymous interviews and respectful observation, Wallis reveals a form of religious experience that remains foreign to most Americans.
Genres: historical-fiction, cultural-heritage, religion, christianity, ethnicity, academic, catholic
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, preservation-of-heritage
Setting: Colorado, New Mexico
Period: Contemporary
130 pages · Hardcover · Univ of New Mexico Pr