Richard E. Ahlborn 



THE PENITENTE MORADAS 

 OF ABIQUIU 



By the early igth century, Spanish-speaking residents of vil- 

 lages in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado felt the 

 need for a brotherhood that would preserve their traditional 

 social and religious beliefs. Known as "brothers of light," or 

 penitentes, these Spanish- Americans centered their activities 

 in a houselike building, or morada, especially equipped for 

 Holy Week ceremonies. 



For the first time, two intact moradas have been fidly photo- 

 graphed and described through the cooperation of the peni- 

 tente brothers of Abiquiii, New Mexico. 



The Author: Richard E. Ahlborn is associate curator in 

 the Division of Cultural History in the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion's Museum of History and Technology. 



Introduction 



This study describes two earthern buildings and 

 their special furnishings — humble but unique docu- 

 ments of Spanish-American culture. The two struc- 

 tures are located in Abiquiu, a rural, Spanish-speaking 

 village in northern New Mexico. Known locally as 

 moradas, they ser\'c as meeting houses for members of 

 a flagellant brotherhood, the penitentes. 



The pendente brotherhood is characteristic of 

 Spanish culture in New Mexico (herein called Hispano 

 to indicate its derivation from Hispanic traditions in 

 Mexico). Although penitential activities occurred in 



PAPER 63: THE PENITENTE MORAD.'>iS OF ABIQUHJ 



Spain's former colonies — Mexico, Argentina, and the 

 Philippines — the penitentes in the mountainous region 

 that extends north of Albuquerque into southern Col- 

 orado are remarkable for their persistence. 



After a centurv and a half of clerical criticism ' and 



I. Beginning in 1820 with the report of ecclesiastic visitor 

 Niiio de Guevara, the Catholic Church has continued to frown 

 upon penitente activities. .\ modern critical study by a church- 

 man: Father Angf.lico Chavez, "The Penitentes of New 

 Mexico," New Mexico Historical Review (April 1954), vol. 

 22, PP- 97-123- 



123 



