saint teresita of cabora

note: for the past 15 years, i have been researching the life of my great-aunt teresita. i am currently completing a novel based on this research. when i'm on the road, many of you ask me about her, and i thought the following article would at least give you a thumbnail sketch of her story. i have managed somehow to amass a huge bibliography of materials related to teresita's life and miraculous works. recently i was given almost 200 new pieces of information that have been hidden from view since 1969. when i'm through with my book, i will post the annotated bibliography here so that researchers, historians, students and seekers can find her for themselves. until then, i hope this story will bring you comfort.

     i had scant knowledge of my great aunt, the saint of cabora, when i was growing up. they would tell at family gatherings in tijuana of a yaqui aunt, who could heal with a touch of her hand, and that when she died sometime in the last century the yaquis took her body to a crystal cave in the desert of sonora where she sits to this day uncorrupted and guarded by a cadre of elite yaqui warriors. it was only later when i began to search teresita out that i found the truth, a truth more marvelous than the family legends.

     the title "queen of the yaquis," like her better known epithet, saint of cabora, was bestowed upon teresita by her followers--she never took the title of "saint" upon herself. indeed, she insisted, "i am only a woman. i am not a saint." she lived with controversy and calamity throughout her life; she was considered a heretic by the catholic church and an indian agitator and political rabbit-rouser by the government of mexico at a time when both the united states and mexico were oppressing and exterminating large numbers of native people. at the height of teresita's fame in mexico, the number of pilgrims camping on her father's ranch hoping to see or touch her was reported to be between 5,000 and 10,000.  at the turn of the century, after great upheavals and tragedies, she brought her healing work to the united states.

     this is her story.                                                                                                      next