S. Simon of Guatemala?

[SANxJONERO]

I became interested in learning what maximon was, because I saw something about a so-called saint named San Simon & found out it was the same. Does anyone know if this folk saint was ever accepted by the church? I saw on a site where someone said S. Simon was accepted by the church, but that it had too much power & that they have made attempts to destroy it. From what I’ve read is that it may just be a form of worshipping a “Mayan God”, but it also seems like it’s supposed to be a spirit & that this spirit might be inside of a mask or sculpture from what they did. It is real freaky & I can’t help but be curious on what it is, but I read someone say they went to see this thing & they felt like it was staring them down like to say they better give an offering. This thing does seem evil like some Catholics say & people give it offerings of things like tortillas, liquor, cigars, money, etc…

 

[Charlotte408]

Maximón is a folk saint venerated in various forms by Maya people of several towns in the highlands of Western Guatemala.

The origins of his cult are not very well understood by outsiders to the different Mayan religions, but Maximón is believed to be a form of the pre-Columbian Maya god Mam, blended with influences from Catholicism. Maximón may also be called San Simón. (Not the same Saint Simon). Originally, he was believed to be a Catholic priest who had looked after aboriginals during early 1600s.

Where Maximón is venerated, he is represented by an effigy which resides in a different house each year, being moved in a procession during Holy Week. During the rest of the year, devotees visit Maximón in his chosen residence, where his shrine is usually attended by two people from the representing Cofradia who keep the shrine in order and pass offerings from visitors to the effigy. Worshippers offer money, spirits and cigars or cigarettes to gain his favour in exchange for good health, good crops, and marriage counseling, amongst other favours. The effigy invariably has a lit cigarette or cigar in its mouth, and in some places, it will have a hole in its mouth to allow the attendants to give it spirits to drink.

San Simón in Zunil, 2007Maximón is generally dressed in European 18th century style, although with many local variations. In Santiago Atitlán he is adorned with many colourful garlands, while in Zunil (where he is known as San Simón) he has a much more intimidating style, with his face obscured by dark sunglasses and a bandanna.

The worship of Maximón treats him not so much as a benevolent deity but rather as a bully whom one does not want to anger. He is also known to be a link between Xibalbá The Underworld and Bitol heart of heaven (Corazón del Cielo). His expensive tastes in alcohol and cigarettes indicate that he is a very human character, very different from the ascetic ideals of Christian sainthood. Devotees believe that prayers for revenge, or success at the expense of others, are likely to be granted by Maximón.[1]

-bolded parts should raise flags…sunglasses and bandannas seem kinda gangsterish for saints… lol…

So lets see where CC stands on Maximon…

Short answer- No

LOL…sorry…I had to read like 15 different pages to come to that conclusion…one group, that worships this folk saint also lights candles and prays for pancho villa lol…trip out…but I guess you could? still ask for intercession even though someone isnt a saint? they may or not be able to help you as well, since you dont know if they are in heaven/purga/hell…

then again, thinking about it, i wonder if pancho would be up there?? IOW- if you dont KNOW where someone is, like, praying to a saint is ok because we can pretty assuredly say that they are in heaven, and can intercess on our behalf to Christ- but, if you dont know, and say, this person happens to be in hell, and you pray to them for intercession- could that backfire? That could be like praying to the devil!!! Just thinkin’ out loud…better to stick to official CC Saints!

 

[novaslasher]

These “saints” are really a form of idol worship. They involve presenting effigies with gifts of tobacco, booze, money, other valued objects and prayers in exchange for favors, blessings, and curses. As such, prayer to these idols would violate the first commandment and constitute grave matter.

This website has some pictures of the various false saints used in Mexican and Guatemalan folk culture:
brujonegrobrujeria.com/page/page/3809674.htm

It points out that worship of these objects is due to religious syncretism. When two alien religions meet, sometimes the recipients of the new religion will mix elements of both religions together. This happened in Latin America during the conquest of the Americas by the Spanish and Portuguese. The natives mixed the Catholic doctrine of the communion of saints with their own pantheon of spirit gods. This is still seen today with Saint Simon and Santa Muerte. Santa Muerte is especially affiliated with Mexico’s drug and criminal culture.

You should read the essay on San Simon/Maximon on that website. It explains that Maximon was originally a Mayan god. The Catholic missionaries tried to convince the Mayans that Maximon was evil by affiliating it with Judas Simon Iscariot. However, the peasants viewed Judas as a folk hero because they thought he took the 30 pieces of silver and gave it to charity. So the missionary tactic backfired on the friars. The Mayans began to call Maximon, San Simon (after Judas Simon Iscariot) and viewed it as a folk hero. I’m not sure how much of this is true, but it demonstrates how tricky missionary work can be when you are immersed in an alien culture.

 

[Rolltide]

Maximón is a folk saint venerated in various forms by Maya people of several towns in the highlands of Western Guatemala.

The origins of his cult are not very well understood by outsiders to the different Mayan religions, but Maximón is believed to be a form of the pre-Columbian Maya god Mam, blended with influences from Catholicism. Maximón may also be called San Simón. (Not the same Saint Simon). Originally, he was believed to be a Catholic priest who had looked after aboriginals during early 1600s.

Where Maximón is venerated, he is represented by an effigy which resides in a different house each year, being moved in a procession during Holy Week. During the rest of the year, devotees visit Maximón in his chosen residence, where his shrine is usually attended by two people from the representing Cofradia who keep the shrine in order and pass offerings from visitors to the effigy. Worshippers offer money, spirits and cigars or cigarettes to gain his favour in exchange for good health, good crops, and marriage counseling, amongst other favours. The effigy invariably has a lit cigarette or cigar in its mouth, and in some places, it will have a hole in its mouth to allow the attendants to give it spirits to drink.

San Simón in Zunil, 2007Maximón is generally dressed in European 18th century style, although with many local variations. In Santiago Atitlán he is adorned with many colourful garlands, while in Zunil (where he is known as San Simón) he has a much more intimidating style, with his face obscured by dark sunglasses and a bandanna.

The worship of Maximón treats him not so much as a benevolent deity but rather as a bully whom one does not want to anger. He is also known to be a link between Xibalbá The Underworld and Bitol heart of heaven (Corazón del Cielo). His expensive tastes in alcohol and cigarettes indicate that he is a very human character, very different from the ascetic ideals of Christian sainthood. Devotees believe that prayers for revenge, or success at the expense of others, are likely to be granted by Maximón.[1]

-bolded parts should raise flags…sunglasses and bandannas seem kinda gangsterish for saints… lol…

So lets see where CC stands on Maximon…

Short answer- No

From your description, Maximon sounds very similar to Baron Samedi in Voudon (Voodoo). I would bet anything that there is some cross-cultural influence there. For a more up-to-date version, have a look at Dr. Facilier, the bad guy in Disney’s new “Princess and the Frog” movie.

 

[Charlotte408]

From your description, Maximon sounds very similar to Baron Samedi in Voudon (Voodoo). I would bet anything that there is some cross-cultural influence there. For a more up-to-date version, have a look at Dr. Facilier, the bad guy in Disney’s new “Princess and the Frog” movie.

LOL- funny you should mention it but there is… a connection. One site I found actually mentioned that name but I had no idea who that is so I was like, whatever. I got the jist

 

[SANxJONERO]

Yeah, I was also thinking this could be like praying to a devil. I was wondering if it was ever truly excepted by the church, but probably not. Not matter what story is told about this thing it does seem to be evil. The 1 with shades & bandana I believe isn’t the real 1, but just 1 somebody made in honor of it.