Catholic devotees honor St Jude's relic with watery procession through Mexico's Xochimilco canals

MEXICO CITY (AP) — It was no ordinary Sunday on Mexico City’s famed Xochimilco canals.

Instead of tourists and locals hanging out with friends, the brightly painted boats known as “trajineras” were filled with Catholics honoring a relic of St. Jude Thaddeus, one of Jesus’ 12 apostles and patron saint of impossible causes.

A wooden figure holding a bone fragment of St. Jude’s arm was kept in a glass case while it glided through the calm waters as part of a month-long visit to Mexico, a country that is home to nearly 100 million Catholics.

The relic arrived in Mexico in late July after touring the United States in its first-ever trip out of Rome. Devotees will be able to pay respects in a dozen Mexican parishes through Aug. 28.

“Our faith for St. Jude Thaddeus is a family tradition,” Iris Guadalupe Hernández, 36, said while waiting in line to board one of the trajineras escorting the relic early Sunday.

Her mother’s devotion for the saint began four decades ago, when St. Jude granted her what she wished for the most: a family.

“My mother was unable to have babies,” Hernández said. “She had three miscarriages before asking St. Jude for a miracle, so after she got pregnant with my brothers and me, she promised that she would spread the word and our family has honored him since then.”

Like Hernández, thousands of Mexicans gather to celebrate St. Jude every Oct. 28 — his official feast day — at San Hipólito church in Mexico City. The saint is one of the most revered figures in Mexico after Our Lady of Guadalupe, one of several apparitions of the Virgin Mary.

“He is one of the most significant expressions of popular piety among the humblest,” said the Rev. Jesús Alejandro Contreras, a priest in the Xochimilco’s diocese. “In our neighborhoods, where there are mainly merchants, devotion toward this apostle is seen as an intercession for difficult causes.”

Contreras, who was among those who traveled through Xochimilco’s canals in the one-hour trajinera procession, said that being close to the relic is a way to “come into contact with the Lord.”

Parishioners were already waiting in nearby boats when the relic left the dock at 8 a.m. Once the procession began, devotees clapped in rhythm with the Mexican traditional songs performed by a local band.

Hundreds more awaited for the relic’s arrival at the end of the canal, where a procession on foot made its way to Xochimilco’s cathedral.

In the Mexico City neighborhood, locals are also devoted to the “Niñopa,” a life-size wooden figure of a baby that is believed to be about 450 years old. Its origins are unknown but it was found after the Spanish conquest, and Catholic families in Xochimilco typically keep images of him in their homes.

“Our faith here is divided,” said Arturo Espinosa, 52, standing close to a makeshift altar carrying a figure of St. Jude. “There’s a lot of faith here in Xochimilco and the Niñopa is our main representative, but we also have other emblems and participate in these celebrations.”

The festive spirit of the procession was led by “comparsas,” groups of local dancers who are devoted to a specific image of the infant Jesus. Each member wears a long velvet robe, a big drum-like hat and a mask depicting an old man,. The costume is meant to mock the Spanish conquerors.

Francisco García, 33, jumped steadily in his brown velvet robe while he and fellow comparsa dancers waited to make their way to the cathedral, where the archbishop welcomed the relic and celebrated Mass in its honor.

“My mom is sick, so I came to ask St. Jude for her surgery to go well,” said García, who had already seen the relic on July 28, right after it arrived in the capital and was taken to the Zocalo, Mexico City’s main square.

“I was so moved I started crying,” García said. “I told him (St. Jude): ‘You called for me, so here I am.’”

The relic was to be on display in an oratory next to Xochimilco's cathedral until nightfall, and its trip through central Mexico's churches resumes Monday. It is scheduled to leave the country in late August.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

People carry the relics of St. Jude Thaddeus upon their arrival to the church of San Cristobal Martir in San Cristobal Texcalucan, Mexico, as part of a nationwide tour, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Faithful greet a van carrying the relics of St. Jude Thaddeus upon their arrival to the church of San Cristobal Martir as part of a nationwide tour in San Cristobal Texcalucan, Mexico, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

A man holds an image of St. Jude Thaddeus during a visit by the relics of St. Jude Thaddeus to the church of San Cristobal Martir as part of a nationwide tour in San Cristobal Texcalucan, Mexico, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

A parishioner touches an urn containing the relics of St. Jude Thaddeus during their visit to the church of San Cristobal Martir as part of a nationwide tour in San Cristobal Texcalucan, Mexico, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

A woman holds images of St. Jude Thaddeus after being blessed during a visit by the relics of St. Jude Thaddeus to the church of San Cristobal Martir as part of a nationwide tour in San Cristobal Texcalucan, Mexico, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Genaro Santiago launches a firework in preparation of the arrival of St. Jude Thaddeus' relics to the church of San Cristobal Martir as part of a nationwide tour in San Cristobal Texcalucan, Mexico, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

A relic of St. Jude Thaddeus is transported in a glass urn on a trajinera through the canals of Xochimilco, Mexico City, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

A devotee holds a doll of Dr. Simi dressed in St. Jude Thaddeus' clothing during the procession of a relic of the saint in Xochimilco, Mexico City, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

Devotees watch as a relic of St. Jude Thaddeus is transported in an urn through the canals of Xochimilco, Mexico City, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

A relic of St. Jude Thaddeus is transported in a glass urn on a trajinera through the canals of Xochimilco, Mexico City, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

Devotees line up to see a relic of St. Jude Thaddeus as it traverses the canals of Xochimilco, Mexico City, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

A relic of St. Jude Thaddeus is transported in a glass urn on a trajinera through the canals of Xochimilco, Mexico City, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Lane Thomas and José Ramírez hit back-to-back eighth-inning homers and Joey Cantillo pitched five scoreless innings as the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 on Saturday night.

The Guardians remained three games ahead of second-place Kansas City in the division with 13 games remaining. Cleveland has the best home record in the AL at 44-27 and is 85-64 overall, second in the league to the New York Yankees.

Josh Naylor’s two-run single through a drawn-in infield ignited a three-run sixth that extended Cleveland’s lead to 4-0. David Fry added a sacrifice fly off Tyler Alexander (6-5), scoring Ramírez, who had been intentionally walked for a franchise-record 88th time.

Thomas and Ramírez tacked on solo homers in the eighth against Hunter Bigge.

Cantillo (2-3) gave up three hits, walked one and struck out six in his sixth start in the majors. The left-hander threw 6 2/3 perfect innings — and worked a career-high seven — in earning his first win Monday at the White Sox.

Junior Caminero had a career-high three doubles for Tampa Bay, driving in the team's only run in the eighth. The Rays fell to 4-5 on a 10-game trip through Baltimore, Philadelphia and Cleveland and are six back for the third AL wild card.

Cleveland went ahead 1-0 in the sixth on Brayan Rocchio’s double to right, scoring Andrés Giménez. Jhonkensy Noel also attempted to come home, but was thrown out on a relay from second baseman José Caballero.

Tampa Bay appeared to score in the fifth on Jose Siri’s single, but a replay review overturned the safe call at home on Josh Lowe. Thomas’ throw and Austin Hedges’ tag just beat Lowe’s left hand to the plate.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: 2B Christopher Morel (right Achilles discomfort) was held out of the lineup one day after being removed in the third inning in Cleveland. Manager Kevin Cash said Morel “feels better now than he did when he came out of the game.”

Guardians: OF Steven Kwan (mid-low back tightness), who was a late scratch Friday, is considered day to day and will not be placed on the injured list. The All-Star left fielder underwent medical tests that revealed no structural damage.

UP NEXT

Rays RHP Taj Bradley (6-10, 4.40 ERA) takes on Guardians RHP Ben Lively (11-9, 4.01 ERA) in the four-game series finale. Lively was struck on his right leg by Dominic Fletcher's liner in his last start Tuesday at the White Sox, exiting after 1 2/3 innings.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Tampa Bay Rays' Drew Rasmussen pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Tampa Bay Rays' Josh Lowe, left, is tagged out by Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges, right, in the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Tampa Bay Rays' Josh Lowe (15) steals second base under a tag by Cleveland Guardians second baseman Andres Gimenez, front left, in the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jose Caballero tosses his bat after striking out in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Jhonkensy Noel, left, is tagged out at home plate by Tampa Bay Rays catcher Logan Driscoll, right, in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Tampa Bay Rays' Tyler Alexander pitches in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Joey Cantillo pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero, left, gestures from second base after hitting a double in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. Guardians second baseman Andres Gimenez, right, looks on. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez, left, scores behind Tampa Bay Rays catcher Logan Driscoll, right, in the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Lane Thomas, left, gestures from second base in front of Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Jose Caballero (7) after hitting a double in the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Josh Naylor, right, hits a single in front of Tampa Bay Rays catcher Logan Driscoll, left, in the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)