La Virgen de la Macana. Emblema de una coyuntura franciscana

The cult to the Vírgín of the Macana was not limited to New Mexico. It wasconsolidated and survived in the center of New Spain because the ímage andthe story that explains it became parts of the symbolic and políticalrepertory of the Franciscans during their conflict with the secular clergywhich dominated the institutional life of the viceregal church during theeighteenth century. The study of the images of the Virgin provideunderstanding of some of the arguments used by the Franciscans during thisstruggle.