A feature of the churches in Mexico that belong to the Roman Catholic denomination, is the number of side altars and alcoves dedicated to various saints, heroes, Franciscan monks & nuns, and rulers of note in the history of the nation. Here is an example of one. Not all churches have such ornate dedicated areas.
The grounds that originally were a part of the convent cloisters have been opened up to public use. This section is a memorial to one of the heroes of the revolution that ended in independence being gained for the nation in 1810.
In one corner of the plaza, a church service of a different kind was in progress - where the people are informally gathered and are listening to a preacher in the open air.
The fountain in the centre of the plaza is, for me, a reminder of the living water that is available to all, whether they attend the more formal traditional Catholic worship services in an extravagantly artistic surrounding, or whether they are exposed to the gospel in an informal setting under trees that are carefully manicured and maintained in a non-ecclesiastical environment.
It was explained to me that the Protestant Church is growing in Mexico for the following reason: Those who prefer to practise their faith for one hour on a Sunday - and that's enough for the week - remain Catholics; those who want to get divorced, become Protestants, because the Catholic church does not sanction divorce. That wasn't my limited experience of Catholics! In all the churches I visited there were worhippers present and praying at all times of the day. The wonderful thing is that the churches are never closed (locked) - something that we in South Africa ceased to have many years ago, because of the increase in crime and theft. What an indictment against us that is!
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