Day Fifteen

The Keeper of San Buenaventura

Panajachel, Guatemala – Don Juan de la Cruz Rosales has the time-chiseled face of a man who has lived hard, struggled, and seen change. He was born and still lives in the town of Panajachel, Guatemala.

Don Juan de la Cruz Rosales, a Cakchiquel Maya elder from Panajachel, poses with the saints that he cares for as part of his responsibility to his Cofradía.

Don Juan's main commitment is to the cofradías, the religious societies that maintain a perfect balance between Maya and Catholic beliefs and traditions.

Cofradías are religious brotherhoods dedicated to the care of a particular saint. On religious holidays the saints are carried in processions through town.

"May I present Saint Buenaventura?" Don Juan gestures toward two large plaster statues. He touches them fondly while he talks. "This one's male and this one's female," he points out. Interestingly, ancient Maya ritual often required the dual roles of men and women to make it complete.

	One of Don Juan's images of San Buenaventura is dressed in traditional Maya textiles. Don Juan is responsible for taking care of and dressing the saints that he is in charge of.

I asked Don Juan what would become of these religious rites. "Today we have to pay young men to help carry the saint in processions. Otherwise they won't do it." He smiles sadly and adds, "We're lost."

Don Juan has something that isn't easily passed on to younger people: faith. "In my life," he offers, "I've had many troubles. But my saint always takes care of me. That much I know."

To learn more about ancient Maya religious beliefs and how the modern Maya have kept these traditions alive, join the MayaQuest adventure!

Diggin' it,

- John Fox

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