Mary in the History of Bolivia

From Nazareth to Bolivia

"Loreto" was the name of the first Christian community founded by the Jesuits in the territory of the Mojos. The name "Loreto" refers to the Italian shrine that contains "the holy stones of the house of Nazareth." In others words, it is a direct reference to the life of the Holy Family of Nazareth, the Incarnation, and the Mother of God.

The Virgin Mary and the Incas

Because the Conquista wasn't free of ambiguities, the natives sometimes mixed their resistance to the domination by the conquistadores with the refusal of the missionaries' Gospel. It is in that historical context that the fame of Copacabana's shrine spread, with its Indian-like representation of Mary. It is the most important shrine, a witness to how Mary's inward and outward beauty accompanied the passage from the Inca religion to the Christian faith.

Copacabana is also a reminder that Mary's presence encourages the defense of the poorest.

The wealth of the mines for Mary's adornment

The country's riches in mining resources—gold, silver, and precious gems—explains the pomp and wealth of the shrines. In the 18th century, a silver chandelier inside the church of Copacabana weighed 661 lbs (300kg). Statues were clothed in ornaments of gold and gems.

Indians, Mestizos, and Whites venerate the Virgin Mary

Relations with the Spaniards were sometimes very difficult. One can remember how, in Cochabamba, in 1812, a few brave women opposed the Spanish army, carrying an image of Our Lady of Mercy. This image has been conserved and still bears the marks of the projectiles it received from the Spanish army!

In the context of all this history, the Shrine of Oruro deserves our attention for the procession that gathers, for once—Indians, Mestizos and Whites—in the same act of veneration.

Cf. Attilio GALLI, Madre della Chiesa dei Cinque continenti, Ed. Segno, Udine, 1997.

Cf. Clodovis Boff, Mariologia sociale. Il significato della Vergine per la società. BTC 136. Queriniana, Brescia 2007. Biblioteca contemporanea.