Timothy Matovina's work offers a thorough exploration of the significant role of Latino Catholics in America, highlighting their historical presence and influence on the future of Catholicism in the U.S. The book is distinguished by its extensive research and engaging writing style, setting a new standard for studies in American religion and society. Matovina's insightful analysis underscores the importance of Latinos as key indicators of the evolving landscape of Catholicism.
Theologies of Guadalupe examines theological writings about Mexico's most renowned religious tradition from the colonial era to the present. It also explores how the Guadalupe cult rose above all others in colonial Mexico and emerged from a local devotion to become a regional, national, and then international phenomenon--
Our Lady of Guadalupe is the most revered religious figure in Mexican Catholicism. Devotion to Guadalupe among Mexicans and Mexican Americans has evolved for nearly five centuries into a deeply rooted, multifaceted tradition. Here, religion scholar Timothy Matovina offers a thorough study of this tradition as it has been lived out by the parishioners of San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio, Texas. He shows how the devotion to Guadalupe sustained this congregation through times of political turmoil, war and peace, and ecclesiastical and social changes over San Antonio's long history, from an agricultural settlement on the northern edge of New Spain to a dynamic U.S. metropolis. Engaging recent scholarly analysis of ritual studies, lived religion, Latino theology and history, transnationalism, and ethnicity, Guadalupe and Her Faithful shows how religious traditions shape and are shaped by a faith community's shifting contexts and power dynamics. This fascinating account reveals the potential force—and the potential limitations—of devotion in people's lives and religious imagination.
Transformation in America's Largest Church
The book offers an in-depth exploration of the Latino Catholic experience in the U.S. from the 16th century to the present, highlighting the reciprocal transformations between the U.S. Catholic Church, its growing Latino majority, and American culture. Authored by Timothy Matovina, a noted scholar from Notre Dame, this accessible edition is essential for those involved in Hispanic ministry. It has garnered significant endorsements from various Catholic media outlets, emphasizing its relevance and importance in understanding contemporary Catholicism in America.