On October 12 we celebrate Our Lady of Pilar, patroness of Spain. We also commemorate the time when it is considered that Christopher Columbus arrived in what is today known as America.  The Day of La Raza does not only refer to an ethnic trait, but to something that is a more profound identity for everyone who speak Spanish: their faith.  It is said that Our Lady of Pilar appeared to James when he was on a journey through the Iberian peninsula and he was feeling extremely disheartened over the disbeliefs of its inhabitants. Spain was not yet a nation. The fact that Pilar is Spain’s patroness demonstrates that the roots of its identity reside in the faith in Mary, just as it does in the identity of all the Hispanic people.

In what ways do you consider yourself to be part of the Hispanic or Latino people? Which do consider are the traits of this identity?