Spanish arrival and colonization brought Roman Catholicism to Mexico. Since then it has become the main religion. Today, 95% of the population are baptized Catholics, making the country the second largest Catholic nation in the world. Rich in Christian symbolism , this folk art crucifix is a classic representation of devout Catholicism in Mexico.
The base of this cross depicts the praying masses grouped within a circle of flames. Flames represent the presence of God, or are possibly the symbols of temptation and sin.
Hovering above the praying masses is an angel carrying the Virgin Mary (more commonly known in Mexico as “Our Lady of Guadalupe”, regarded as Mexico’s most popular religious and cultural image).
To her right are Adam and Eve eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. To her left Santa Muerte “Saint Death”.
Above the Virgin Mary is Jesus Christ crucified on a cross.
The cross bar includes several Arma Christi (“Weapons of Christ”), or the Instruments of the Passion (the New Testament accounts of the arrest, trial, torture, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ). At either end are the sun and moon, representing the eclipse which occurred during the Passion. Also included are a rooster which crowed after Peter’s third denial of Jesus, a ladder used for the Deposition (removing the body of Jesus from the cross for burial), and a torch used by the arresting soldiers at the time of the betrayal.
At the center of the cross in INRI which is an acronym of the Latin inscription “Jesus Nazarenus Rex Ludeorum”, which translates as “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”.
At the top of the cross is a white dove representing the Holy Spirit, and a white bearded man representing the Father thus completing the Holy Trinity (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), one God in three persons who each share the same essence of Deity.
