What are the religious beliefs of the family from the book Breaking Through by Francisco Jimenez?

Spirituality played a large part in Francisco's life, mainly because it was paramount in his mother's life. The theme is woven throughout Francisco's anecdotes.

As a teenager, Francisco trusted his mother and her instincts. Her advice often included a spiritual element, such as encouraging Francisco to pray about a situation. Mama felt that if Francisco prayed and had faith about what was going wrong, the situation would get better. Francisco found his mother to be correct every time.

Another element of spirituality present in "Breaking Through" is the Saint Christopher medal Papa gifts to Francisco. Saint Christopher is sometimes seen as a saint for protection, though Francisco and his family do not seem to use prayers to Saint Christopher for protection. Rather, any prayers to a saint or to God are used as a reminder to have faith through difficult times. The medal from his father means a great deal to Francisco.

Francisco also keeps a small Jesus bust statue under his pillow, further suggesting his belief that faith in God was important to him as a teenager. Francisco's spirituality, especially as encouraged by his mother and the example she set, is something Francisco considers to be a contributing factor to his success and generally positive outlook on life.