La Sociedad: Guardians of Hispanic Culture Along the Río Grande

Appendix Two: Records and Documents

123 oración de Apertura (opening Prayer) The oración de apertura is the official prayer of La Sociedad for reading during the opening ceremonies of local council meetings (from the Código Ritualistico de Régimen). The prayer is not recited until the guardia and the mariscal assure the president that only members are present, with no intruders in the meeting hall, and that all concilio officers are in attendance. Persons who are delinquent in paying their dues or who are otherwise not eligible to participate are expelled from the meeting hall. Those who remain must provide the contraseña (secret countersign) and whisper the paso semianual (semiannual password) when approached and quizzed by the mariscal. At this time, the president then directs the calificador to invoke the opening prayer: O, Dios Omnipotente, que sois todo amor, os damos las gracias por haber criado para nosotros la luz y por habernos proporcionado con ella tantos goces. No permitais, O, Dios Santo, que abusemos de ella para hacer el mal, iluminad nuestras almas con la luz de vuestra verdad, por lo cual, la que hiere nuestra vista no es más que una imperfecta imagen, mas proponemos, O Dios Santo, amarte y servirte sobre todo lo que sea bueno y finalmente, te pidimos, O Dios Santo, que des un buen suceso al cuerpo de esta Sociedad. Todos en armonía responderán reverentemente: Nuestro Dios sea para siempre alabado, para siempre ensalzado, para siempre bendecido, por los siglos de los siglos, Amén. [Oh Omnipotent God, Thou art all love, we give Thee thanks for having created for us the light and for furnishing us with it so many joys. We beseech Thee, Oh Divine God, that we may not abuse and use it to do that which is wrong. Let the light of Thy truth so shine in our souls that we may see how APPENDIx TWO Records and Documents 124 Appendix Two imperfect we are, yet we resolve, Oh Divine God, to love Thee and to serve Thee above all for that which is good, and, finally, we beseech Thee, Oh Divine Lord, that Thou grant success to the body of this Society. All brothers in harmony shall respond reverently: May our God be always praised, be always exalted, and be always blessed, forever and ever, Amen.] oración de Clausura (Closing Prayer) After a motion is made to adjourn local council meetings, the president seeks assurances from the guardia and the mariscal that peace, harmony, and security have prevailed among the members, free of any intruders, and that the meeting can now be concluded. After these two officers respond affirmatively, the president then instructs the calificador to invoke the help of God by reading of the closing prayer: O Dios, Todo Poderoso, por vuestra infinita caridad, y como vos sois la fuente de donde dimanan la ciencias y la sabiduría os suplicimos que moralices en nuestra unión la más grande paz y concordia que a los fieles es dado conocer, y que la Paz, amor y fraternidad haya reinado en nuestro Concilio entre nosotros un vivo deseo de hacer lo bueno ante tus ojos e impartir el amor fraternal entre los miembros de esta Sociedad. Todos en unión responderán: Nuestro Dios sea para siempre alabado, para siempre ensalzado, y para siempre bendecido, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén. [Oh Almighty God, through your infinite charity and because Thou art the fountain from which all science and wisdom flow, we beseech Thee to implant in our union the greatest peace and harmony that to all the faithful has been given to understand, and may Peace, love, and fraternity abide with us in our Council and grant to us a burning desire to do that which is good before your eyes, and may we impart fraternal love among the members of this Society. All brothers in unison shall respond: May our God be always praised, be always exalted, and be always blessed, forever and ever, Amen.] sPmdTU Preámbulo (Preamble) of 1911 The preamble was written and approved with the General Constitution of 1911 and was printed in 1922 along with minor amendments to the articles and the Records and documents 125 general regulations adopted by the society. The preamble reveals in vivid and forceful language the motives that gave rise to the SPMDTU in the context of the times...