Credo, Chapter 1 Summary

Church has a presence in Richard's life at a young age. He is un catolico, which he distinguishes from being Catholic. Un Catolico is Mexican Catholicism. He learned his first prayers in Spanish. Los gringos Catholicism entered Richard's house through a local priest of an English church. He gave the family a painting of Christ with a punctured heart. This picture hung in an important position, where all visitors could see it, in both Richard's house and school. When Richard could not understand the differences between home and school, the picture of Christ was his link. English Catholicism stressed the importance of knowing that man is a sinner. Richard learned specific sins, rituals like baptism, and how sexual wonderment felt. Talks of marriage and sex made sex more important than what society believed it was. Due to sin, Richard was taught...