Obba She is powerful in her sacrifice, a woman who knows what she wants and defends it with everything she has at her disposal. It is the Orisha of the Yoruba pantheon that represents repressed love and suffering and symbolizes conjugal fidelity.
Who is Obba in Santeria?
Deity that lives in lakes and lagoons and together with the Queen of the Spark, Oyá and the Goddess of the Sepulcher, Beautiful, his sisters, forms the trilogy of the death deities and wanders through the cemeteries looking for lost souls.
The three reckless warriors are those that relate to the souls of the deceased. Obba, specifically, guards the tombs.
Obba is the Orisha of the river Obba is a goddess who bears her name and is originally from the land of Takua, although according to Yoruba legends, her cult spread throughout the land of Òyó and Tapa. Obba inhabits the cemetery and the mountains where souls are abandoned to help them find their way.
Its name comes from the Yorùbá Òbbá (Òbè: soup - Obá: king), literally "The King's Soup", and is due to its patakí along with Shango, king of thunder.
Legend has it that for him he cut off an ear and fed it to his beloved, who, disappointed by the loss of his wife's beauty, banished her from his side. Then Obba was so ashamed that he sought refuge in the solitude of the mountain and later in the cemetery.
Its number is 9 and its multiples and its color is pink or lilac. Obba Naní is greeted! and because of his closeness to the Yoruba Goddess of Love and Rivers, OshunObba also wears five gold bracelets.
We pray to her for love and for the fidelity of our partner, we ask for her consolation in the face of deceit and her mediation for marital happiness.
Syncretism of the Orisha Obba
Due to the slavery process in colonial times, the Africans brought to various Caribbean nations had to hide their religious cults from their Spanish masters.
Therefore, they decided to continue worshiping the deities of the yoruba pantheon in the figure of the Catholic saints.
Many African deities have more than one syncretization, thus, the Yoruba goddess of sacrifice, Obba, was syncretized with three Catholic saints:
- Saint Rita of Cassia
- Saint Catherine of Siena
- Saint Catherine of Alexandria
Saint Rita of Cassia, The Patroness of Impossible Causes
Saint Rita of CassiaConsidered the patron saint of the impossible, she was actually named Margherita Lotti, and responding to the precepts of her time and in obedience to her parents, she had to marry a man of good social standing.
But she always had the vocation to be a nun, and at her husband's side she suffered a lot, although she always shielded herself through prayer to God.
But years later, her husband was murdered and Santa Rita discovered that her two sons were thinking of avenging their father's murder. Fearing a bloodbath, she pleaded with God to take them out of this life. A short time later, they both died.
Without her husband and children, Saint Rita sought refuge and divine forgiveness in prayer, penance, and works of charity at the Augustinian Convent in Cassia. His existence is said to have been marked by severe penances and immense miracles.
After her death, Saint Rita was beatified by Urban VIII and canonized by Leo XIII on May 24, 1900, for a life dedicated to helping others and for all the miracles that were awarded to her.
- We now offer a prayer to pray to Saint Rita of Cassia, the saint of miracles, she is asked in impossible and desperate cases, in difficult situations, to intercede and help us.
Prayer to Saint Rita of Casia for difficult cases:
Saint of the Impossible. Oh Patron Saint of the needy!
Saint Rita, whose prayers before the Divine Lord are almost irresistible, who for the generosity in granting favors has been called Mediatrix of the hopeless and even of the Impossible;
Saint Rita, so humble, so pure, so mortified, so patient and with such compassionate love for Jesus Crucified that you could obtain from Him, whatever you ask of Him.
On account of this we confidently turn to you, hoping, if not always relief, at least comfort. Be favorable to our request, showing the power of God on behalf of this supplicant.
Be generous to us, as you have been in so many wonderful cases, for the greater glory of God, for spreading your own devotion, and for the comfort of those who trust you.
We promise, if our request is granted, to glorify your name, informing of the favor granted, to bless and sing your praises forever.
Trusting then in the merits and power before the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we ask you:
(Mention your request now)
Get us our request:
For the singular merits of your childhood,
By perfect union with the Divine Will,
For the heroic sufferings during your married life,
For the comfort you experienced with the conversion of your husband,
For the sacrifice of your children before seeing them seriously offend God,
For your miraculous entrance to the Convent,
For the austere penances and bloody offerings three times a day.
For the suffering caused by the wound you received with the thorn of the Crucified Savior;
For the divine love that consumed your Heart,
For the remarkable devotion to the Holy Sacrament, with which you existed for four years,
For the happiness with which you started your trials to meet the Divine Spouse,
For the perfect example that you gave to the people of every state of life.
Saint of the Impossible, let us pray
Saint Catherine of Siena, Strong Woman of the Holy Books
Saint Catherine of Siena She is a renowned Virgin and Doctor of the Dominican Tertiary Church. It is said that since she was a child she was favored by God and could perform extraordinary miracles at her young age.
They say that he always had a religious vocation, but that his family was opposed and in his small chamber he spent hours in solitude and prayer.
However, Santa Catalina never gave up and wanted to dedicate her life to the Lord. So, at age 18, she received the long black and white habit of the Third Order of Santo Domingo, being the first single woman to be admitted. There and during his first three years, he lived as in a hermitage, in silence and without speaking to anyone except God and his confessor.
They say that she faced harsh trials and that darkness always stalked her, until, in 1366, Saint Catherine experienced what was called a 'mystical marriage' with Jesus, a vision of Christ appeared to her and taking her hand, married her and He said that from that moment on, his faith could overcome all temptations.
Thus passed the life of Saint Catherine, who worked intensely for the conversion of sinners, and in an outbreak of plague, constantly helping to relieve the sick.
He is also recognized for his work in bringing the Papacy back to Rome after his displacement to France. In addition, he helped to resolve various family conflicts, and to establish peace in many Italian territories.
Because of her virtuous life and her work in pursuit of religion, they caused her to be beatified by the Church after her death.
- Next, we offer the prayer to Saint Catherine:
Prayer to Saint Catherine of Siena
O glorious Virgin Catherine! As we consider you, we recognize in you the Strong Woman of the Holy Books, the prodigy of your century, the luminous torch of the Church,
the creature endowed with incomparable gifts and who knew how to combine the sweet and modest virtues of the wise virgins with the intrepidity and courage of the heroes.
Come back, we beg you, from heaven, your eyes on Peter's boat, shaken by the storm, and on his august chief, who prays, watches, groans, exhorts, fights and waits.
Show how far your power comes close to God, obtaining all of us the zeal to advance in the evangelical virtues, especially in humility, prudence, patience, kindness and diligence in the practice of the duties of our state.
Maintain the harmony of our great family and convert the unbelievers of the whole world to the Faith; obtain for our country true peace, that is to say Christian, for our Holy Mother the Church the complete triumph over evil, through Truth, sacrifice and charity.
Amen.
Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Christian martyr
Saint Catherine of Alexandria she is a Christian martyr who is said to be invoked against sudden death.
She was born in the 18rd century into a noble family and according to what they say, she was only XNUMX years old and reproached Emperor Maximino for the persecution and offenses against Christians. Enraged, the man decided to do everything possible so that Catherine was led to apostatize.
Thus, Catalina was imprisoned and tortured, but always keeping her faith and easily overcoming the toughest trials. She converted and baptized numerous members of the court while locked up and was therefore condemned to die at the wheel, but according to it is said, when the saint played the instrument of torture, it was miraculously destroyed.
The emperor then ordered that Saint Catherine be beheaded and after her death, several Angels carried her body to Mount Sinai. There a church and a monastery were erected in his honor.
Saint Catherine of Alexandria is the protector of philosophers for her ability to distinguish the truths of life and her strength of spirit.
- We propose a prayer for Saint Catherine of Alexandria, mainly this saint is asked for protection and to achieve love.
Prayer to Saint Catherine of Alexandria
Glorious Saint Catherine of Alexandria, portent of wisdom and eloquence.
We would like to resemble you in that admirable knowledge of science and faith to be witnesses of Jesus in the world.
Reach us that faith and that science so that we will always be able to give reasons for belief and also hope for Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Amen
Do you know Obba? The Orisha representing the Sacrifice for Love
Oyá, Obba and Yewá, the dead Goddesses
