In the 1920s, in the Mexican town of Espinazo, Nuevo León, José de Jesús Fidencio Síntora Constantino, better known as “Niño Fidencio,” achieved great fame as a miracle healer.

Thousands of people traveled to that place seeking remedies, comfort, and hope. His methods combined the use of medicinal plants, traditional practices, and rituals steeped in symbolism, giving rise to one of the most unique expressions of popular faith in Mexico. Beginning in 1938, the year of his death, his stature continued to grow until he became a symbol of popular worship. Chosen individuals, called “cajitas” or “materias,” began to receive the spirit of the Niño, thus perpetuating his charitable work.

Today, some “spirits of light” are manifesting through other “materias”: Margarita Catalán, Aurorita, the Santo Niño de Atocha, and Pancho Villa. El Niño Fidencio continues to be remembered by thousands of believers who visit Espinazo and keep alive the spiritual tradition that has grown up around his miraculous legacy.