A North American Madonna, La Conquistadora is the embodiment of living history and spirituality.
Faith is a vital aspect of the human journey, its threads inseparable from the
weft and weave of history’s fabric. As with any tapestry, it’s not always clear
or obvious how the threads form their parts of the whole pattern, hence there
is mystery as well as history. Strongly
held spiritual beliefs are integral to how people view themselves individually
and collectively; such beliefs have often defined the landscape where one group meets
another. Faith has repeatedly informed social development and geopolitical
decision-making with enormous historic ramifications. Spirituality is often the
source of courage, forbearance, inspiration and sheer stamina that allow people
to confront crisis or overcome hardship, also with transcendent implications.
The role
of faith in the world view and daily lives of Spanish colonists in New Spain
and New Mexico is perhaps a perfect example of the intertwining of faith and
history. It affords a great opportunity to see that studies of and reflections
on the physical manifestations of faith, the objects of ritual and veneration,
the tools used to plant, nurture and periodically re-new faith, are more than
simple academic exercises, more than quaint cultural explorations.
These
are the perspectives that make the history of La Conquistadora compelling and relevant. Here is a cherished,
tangible image of deep religious significance that has been manifestly part of
the community of Santa Fe (and thus of New Mexico generally) almost since its
inception. As such, it is a classic embodiment of living history.
Felipe O'Riley
www.AmericanMadonnas.com
The history of La Conquistadora
is both a symbol of Spanish colonial history and heritage,
and of contemporary spirituality.
www.AmericanMadonnas.com
