A Dominican Tradition — the Feast of San Miguel — Thrives in JP

Located on South Street, thesells a variety of religious items including statues, candles, incense and herbs.  The shop was the subject of a previous about Jamaica Plain’s three botanicas, at which time María Teresa Espíritu Santo Reyes, the store's pleasant proprietor, advised me not to miss the annual celebration on Sept. 29 of the botanica's namesake patron, St. Michael the Archangel.

“San Miguel,” said the Dominican-born Espíritu Santo Reyes in an earlier conversation “is the best angel. He cast Lucifer to hell and is revered as second only to God.”

Held at a private residence in Roslindale, just over the JP line, the observance was both solemn and festive.  The all-day event, which ran from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., attracted hundreds of Espíritu Santo Reye's devoted clients from Jamaica Plain and its environs who revere the saint.

“San Miguel is especially venerated in the Dominican community,” said JP resident Richard Villavicencio. 

Throughout the Dominican Republic, where San Miguel is regarded as a powerful protector against one’s enemies, Sept. 29 is marked by processions, masses and other religious ceremonies. St. Michael’s feast day, which is part of the Catholic liturgical calendar, is also observed throughout Europe and South America.

For the celebration, a huge tent was set up on the house’s lawn where an immense altar was erected in San Miguel’s honor.  The shrine, which included crosses and pictures of Jesus and the Virgin Mary, showed various representations of the armored angel, with shield and spear in hand, subduing the rebelious Satan. The candlelit altar was lush with red and white roses and sprays of rosemary, an herb associated with San Miguel.

Earlier in the day a rosary was said in the archangel’s honor.  Later, a babalaw, a priest in the syncretic religious tradition, presided over the ceremonies.  Clad in red and green vestments, the babalaw individually blessed those in attendance by sprinkling rose petals over their heads and performed cleansing rites by blowing cigar smoke and ringing small bells.  The priest also presented a steady supply of gifts like flowers, sweets, candles and cognac that the devotees had brought as offerings to San Miguel.

The celebration was marked by as much revelry as reverence.  A buffet with typical foods like rice, beans and stewed meats was served.  Many attendees brought beer and other beverages to share.  A percussion band played throbbing Afro-Cuban rhythms and the crowd, some of whom appeared to fall in to almost ecstatic states, danced feverishly.

Despite a powerful thunderstorm that sent those gathered to press for shelter under the tent, the ardor of the devoted was not extinguished.

“I come every year,” stated Angela, who declined to give her last name. 

The JP resident, who noted that she is a frequent and longtime customer at the , said that both San Miguel and Espíritu Santo Reyes had helped her through difficult times.

“She is a saint, too,” said Angela.