Who is babalú?
Babalú Aye, the exiled and redeemed king, is the deity of pestilence, infection, and miraculous healing who holds a special and endearing place among the pantheon of deities venerated in the Afro-Cuban religions called Arará and Lukumí.
How do you celebrate San Lazaro?
One by one, crowded shoulder-to-shoulder, the devotees light the 51 yellow candles on the altar to celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Lazarus, or Babalu-Aye. They take a small burlap bag of grains and seeds. Later, they will sweep it over their bodies to draw out any bad spirits.
What is Babalu Aye the god of?
Babalú-Aye (from yoruba Obalúayé), Oluaye, Ṣọpọna, or even Obaluaiye, is the orisha of healing in all its aspects, of the land, of respect for the elderly and protector of health. He is called whenever necessary to prevent infirmity. He promotes the cure for illnesses.
Is San Lazaro in the Bible?
Lazarus, Hebrew Eleazar, (“God Has Helped”), either of two figures mentioned in the New Testament. The miraculous story of Lazarus being brought back to life by Jesus is known from the Gospel According to John (11:1–45). Lazarus of Bethany was the brother of Martha and Mary and lived at Bethany, near Jerusalem.
Is Lazarus a saint in the Catholic Church?
Lazarus is honored as a saint by those Christian churches which keep the commemoration of saints, although on different days, according to local traditions. In Christian funerals the idea of the deceased being raised by the Lord as Lazarus was raised is often expressed in prayer.
Is San Lazaro a Catholic saint?
In Cuban Catholicism, Lazarus, the patron saint of the poor and sick, is represented as a homeless beggar surrounded by dogs. Some say he was a fourth-century bishop, but most Cubans imagine him as the Biblical Lazarus—the poor man who cannot enter the kingdom of heaven, who Jesus raises from the dead.