Shoes for the Santo Niño

The Choristers are busily preparing for a performance this weekend of Stephen Paulus's Shoes for the Santo Niño, a short setting of the text by Peggy Pond Church which depicts the devotion to the Santo Niño de Atocha for both Hispanic and Native American families. The tale is of Julianita and the Santo Niño – the Holy Child Jesus known as an advocate for healing, primarily of children. Many believe that he wears the shoes left by pilgrims who visit his shrines to walk abroad and heal sick children while they sleep.

The devotion to the Holy Child of Atocha began in Spain, where particular devotion developed as many were imprisoned there for their Catholic faith and appealed to the Santo Niño for food and water while incarcerated. Only children were allowed to deliver food, and prisoners reported a young child carrying a gourd with water and a basket of bread that never seemed to run empty.


Devotion to the Santo Niño came to the new world where in Fresnillo, Mexico there is a shrine to the Holy Child. From this central Mexican city an image of the Holy Child was brought to Chimayo, New Mexico, where a Sanctuary for the Holy Child also exists today.

The image is distinctive: the Santo Niño wears the traditional symbol of a pilgrim, a shell, and he holds a little basket in his left hand and a water gourd suspended from a staff in his right hand. The little holy boy wears buckled sandals of silver, and a large, floppy hat with a feather. Although he is known as a wanderer, he is usually shown seated in a little chair.

Prayers to the Santo Niño have come from many, primarily those incarcerated unjustly and including soldiers in World War II who were prisoners of war after fighting bravely at Corregidor and Bataan. Known as the 'little wanderer', the Santo Niño is often cited as the patron of the abandoned.

The Choir School is delighted to collaborate with Utah Symphony-Utah Opera in performing this short opera celebrating the Santo Niño. Performances will take place in the Cathedral on Sunday, April 28th at 8:00 PM and again on Monday, April 29th at 8:00 PM.