Abstract

BRAVO RUBIO, Berenise. Between Parishes, Missions and Conversion Territories: The Pastoral Visit of Francisco Aguiar y Seijas to Queretaro and Sierra Gorda (1685-1686). Estud. hist. novohisp [online]. 2024, n.70, pp.37-68.  Epub Apr 05, 2024. ISSN 2448-6922.  https://doi.org/10.22201/iih.24486922e.2024.70.77752.

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.

Keywords : Diocesan church; mission lands; chichimecas; Sierra Gorda; cofraternities.