Joyful Mystery #5

The Fifth Joyful Mystery is commonly know, in English, as “The Finding of the Christ Child in the Temple.” A false compression of time seems to indicate that this Mystery follows the fourth, but of course, this one takes place some years later. It’s notable as the only tale of Christ’s childhood in the canonical bible, although the so-called “lost” and Gnostic gospels are replete with such tales.

The theme of the Child Jesus teaching the temple was common from medieval times through at least the 19th century. Since then, it’s been almost forgotten. In the badly weathered stone relief, we can still see several elders at the bottom of the picture plane. The Jesus figure occupies the center of the plane, with three arches signifying the temple.

The original Misterios Monuments all depict the Virgin of Guadalupe above the third body of the monument, with a statue of a saint at the very top. This one was likely completed in the late 17th century. The first Mystery was begun in 1675, and the other 14 followed thereafter. Seven of them were replaced with modern replacements after they were entirely lost to time. But today all are part of a wonderful historic promenade and former pilgrimage route. The Calzada de los Misterios follows an even older sacred route that dates from the reign of Nezahualcoyotl (1429–1472). But it needs to be walked to be fully appreciated.

The Fifth Joyful Mystery monument is just south of the important intersection with the Industrial Railroad, and Calle Clave which crosses nearly the entire neighborhood. The railroad continues westward toward the La Raza area and the remaining railyards still in service in eastern Azcapotzalco. These used to serve extensive industrial areas in the southern City of Villa de Guadalupe Hidalgo which later became the Alcaldía Gustavo A. Madero. From the 19th century on, the strong economy here supported a managerial class that built the homes on either side of the Calzada. It’s part of what makes it such an important promenade, even today.