Between Parishes, Missions and Conversion Territories: The Pastoral Visit of Francisco Aguiar y Seijas to Queretaro and Sierra Gorda (1685-1686)

This article aims to highlight the diverse religious and ecclesiastical realities that the archbishop of Mexico, Francisco Aguiar y Seijas, discovered during his pastoral visit to 34 curates located between the Sierra Gorda and the city of Querétaro from November 1685 until April 1686. Based on the...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Bravo Rubio, Berenise
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2023
País:México
Institución:UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AUTÓNOMA DE MÉXICO
Repositorio:Estudios de Historia Novohispana
Idioma:español
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/77752
Acceso en línea:https://novohispana.historicas.unam.mx/index.php/ehn/article/view/77752
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:iglesia diocesana
tierras de misión
chichimecas
Sierra Gorda
cofradías
Diocesan church
mission lands
cofraternities
Descripción
Sumario:This article aims to highlight the diverse religious and ecclesiastical realities that the archbishop of Mexico, Francisco Aguiar y Seijas, discovered during his pastoral visit to 34 curates located between the Sierra Gorda and the city of Querétaro from November 1685 until April 1686. Based on the analysis of the material status of each church and the quantification of the faithful, ecclesiastics and confraternities that the prelate visited, the article argues that the city of Queretaro was the frontier of the diocesan Church, oblivious to the dangers of the “chichimeca savages” that ravaged such missions as Xiliapa, Jalpan and Concá. To demonstrate this, I analyzed the book of pastoral visits to Queretaro, which was recently located in the National General Archive (Archivo General de la Nación) in Mexico. The article also explains the devices through which the Archbishop expanded his jurisdiction and fostered the process of evangelization in this area.