Praying to Folk Saint Don Pedrito Jaramillo


Maybe it’s just me, but it seems that we of “Mexican-descent/heritage” are especially prone to superstition and mysticism. I also have a working theory that this may be a reason why a certain flavor of Christianity is very appealing to us, but maybe that’s a post for another time. Anyways, I took one of several trips last year to Mexico and as we neared Falfurrias, TX my pastor friend and I passed up a sign that pointed to the “Don Pedrito Jaramillo Shrine.” Until then I had never heard of him. So we made it a point to stop by on the way back. Here is what I found.

Apparently Don Pedro Jaramillo (1829-1907) is one of the most famous curanderos (healers) and has become a folk saint. His burial site has been venerated. His tomb reads “The Benefactor of Humanity.” He’s held as an object of faith and so people offer up prayers accordingly. Here are some pictures from the shrine.



These are pictures people post on the wall attached with prayers.







"Pedrito Jaramillo, from the bottom of my heart I ask that you maintain my family's health."



Grave side prayer kneelers

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Comments

Crystal Malek said…
Interesting. It's sad, how easily people's affections can be misguided toward something that will never help them. It happens with all sorts of things, not just saints, but any item we begin to idolize. I've been guilty of that myself.

On a side note, the photos are beautiful. There's something about seeing all those candles, photos and notes. Just wish they were directed to the only One who can answer.
August 25, 2010 at 10:06 AM
Chris said…
I kicked myself for not having taken my camera. These photos were taken from my iPhone.
August 25, 2010 at 10:17 AM
Anonymous said…
Dear Chris,
I am just a simple person who has been looking into my background. I come from a family of Mexican healers. My grandmother performed healing and prayer on people who would come from miles to see her for different reasons. (She never took money from them.)
I started asking my mother about this gift and it turns out that my greatgrandfather who came from Mexico had Perdrito Jaramillo work with him. That is where my grandmother inherited that gift. GOD BE WITH YOU.
October 10, 2010 at 6:34 PM
Anonymous said…
Crystal, it is not sad at all. It is joyous and beautiful the way God helped the poor indigenous people of South Texas through Don Pedrito Jaramillo. The poeple that visit Don Pedrito's gravesite are not idolizing him, they are getting near to him because Pedrito is near to God. Just because we seek the souls of the departed doesn't mean we are not fully aware that is is God who loves that soul and listens to his prayers as well as to our own prayers. There are aspects of faith that you and I and all of us do not understand. That doesn't mean that somehow they are idolitrous. Don Pedrito healed my grandmother. I am 52 years old and if it weren't for Don Pedrito, I wouldn't be here.
February 19, 2013 at 8:36 AM
Melissa cavazos said…
It is very sad that some people who don't believe have to voice how this is not real. I grew up in the rgv where my grandpa and grandmother lived in Lyford texas and had so much faith in Don Pedrito Jaramillo. my grandmother use to make promises and walk from check point to his shrine. I now want to follow my grandparents in believing he does heal and show my kinds that he does have a healing hand . I am sorry for those who don't believe but don't make us lose faith when it is real and he does heal.
July 22, 2014 at 4:41 PM
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