Latour’s Journey to Hidden Water and the New Mexico Desert

A set of question-and-answer flashcards reviewing key events, characters, and themes from the lecture on Father Latour’s experiences in Hidden Water and his arduous travels across the New Mexico territory.

What is the name and meaning of the Mexican village where Father Latour is led by his horses?

Aqua Secreta, meaning “Hidden Water.”

Which family offers hospitality to Father Latour in Hidden Water?

Benito and his family.

Why have many marriages in Hidden Water gone unblessed by Catholic clergy?

The local priest in Albuquerque charges fees the villagers cannot afford.

What chief fear about the American government do the villagers of Hidden Water express?

That the government will seize their land (and perhaps their religion).

How does Benito’s grandson Jose describe Americans, and what is Latour’s reply?

Jose calls Americans infidels; Latour answers that many Americans in the North are devout Catholics.

Which four Catholic sacraments does Latour administer in Hidden Water the day after his arrival?

Confession, baptism, confirmation, and marriage.

Which rebellious priest in Taos has challenged Latour’s authority?

Father Martinez.

According to Latour, how does Father Vaillant prefer miracles to be manifested?

Direct and spectacular—working against nature rather than with it.

How has the veneration of Saint Santiago been altered in New Mexico?

He is regarded as the patron saint of horses and believed to make mares more fertile, though he never rode a horse.

What cultural misunderstanding occurs when Josepha asks Latour about eating mutton without chili?

She thinks it is more pious; Latour explains it is merely a French dietary habit.

What personal meaning does Latour find in Hidden Water?

He sees it as a miniature of his Vicarate and a source of strength for his trials in Santa Fe.

In what year and season does Father Latour become lost in the desert?

Autumn of 1851.

What misfortune caused Latour to lose all his possessions except his books?

A shipwreck in Galveston harbor.

Which injury delayed Latour’s westward journey by six months?

A leg injury from a wagon accident.

Why did Latour undertake a nearly 3,000-mile round trip to Durango after arriving in Santa Fe?

The parishioners demanded confirmation of his authority from the Bishop of Durango.

What natural sign revives Latour’s hope when he feels hopelessly lost?

A juniper shaped like a cross.

How do Latour’s horses help him after he prays under the juniper cross?

They follow the scent of water and lead him to a stream.

What is the young woman’s reaction when she meets Latour at the stream?

She is amazed that a priest has finally reached her isolated village.