Our Lady of Bethlehem of Cusco, venerated in the church and former Hospital of Our Lady of Bethlehem of Cusco

Marian devotion of Cusco (Cusco)

La Virgin of Bethlehem o Mamacha Belén is a deep-rooted Marian apvocation in the city of Cusco, in southern Peru, where it has been venerated since the 16th century in the parish of Indians of Bethlehem, today the church of Our Lady of Bethlehem. This devotion is born in the context of the encounter between the Catholic faith brought by the Spaniards and the Andean indigenous world, shaping itself as a clear example of cultural and religious syncretism.

Main data

Origin and history

La Virgin of Bethlehem o Mamacha Belén is a deep-rooted Marian apvocation in the city of Cusco, in southern Peru, where it has been venerated since the 16th century in the parish of Indians of Bethlehem, today the church of Our Lady of Bethlehem. This devotion is born in the context of the encounter between the Catholic faith brought by the Spaniards and the Andean indigenous world, shaping itself as a clear example of cultural and religious syncretism.

NUCANIA / LEADENDA. Several devotional sources report that by the mid-16th century fishermen in the port of Callao found a large box floating in the sea; when they opened it they found a beautiful size of the Virgin with a writing that said: "Image of Our Lady of Bethlehem for the city of Cusco". The image was then sent to the parish of Indians of "Los Reyes" in the Cusco, which on receiving it changed its name to that of Our Lady of Bethlehem. This narrative is presented in the sources as a pious tradition, with no direct historical documentation to verify all its chronological details.

HISTORIA DOCUMENTADA. Consta que en 1559 the parish of Indians "Los Reyes" (parish of Indians of Cusco) received the image of the Virgin of Bethlehem and that the church was built to honor Mary under this Belenin advocation. Since then, the Virgin of Bethlehem was incorporated into the solemn procession of Corpus Christi del Cusco, becoming one of the most important Marian images of the city. After the great earthquake of 1650the church of Bethlehem suffered serious damage and had to be rebuilt, a process that lasted several decades; a new earthquake in 1950 He brought down one of his towers, motivating another important restoration of the temple. Throughout the Vireinal and Republican era, the Virgin of Bethlehem has been recognized as patron and Mother Protector of the Cusco, deeply linked to the religious and cultural identity of the city.

The image and the sanctuary

La image of Our Lady of Bethlehem es una talla barroca virreinal of the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus in arms, with a serene and peaceful face, much appreciated by the popular Cuban piety. The sources highlight their beautiful and peaceful faceand their rich garments, adorned with gold threads and precious stones. In his arms he holds the Divine Child, which appears in Andean-style clothes, underlining the inculturation of this devotion in the Quechua context of Cusco. The iconography, although rooted in the Spanish baroque, has been enriched by elements of the Andean religiosity and aesthetics.

The image is venerated in the church of Our Lady of Bethlehemlocated in the Belén district, very close to the Belén Plazoleta in the Santiago district, within the historic centre of Cusco, declared a monumental area and World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. The temple is an ancient Indian parish, colonial style, which has suffered several reconstructions due to the earthquakes of 1650 and 1950. In our time it is presented as a carefully restored temple, with a stone façade and a richly decorated interior, which is one of the main artistic and religious attractions of the city. It does not know that the church of Bethlehem has the title of minor basilica or national sanctuary; it is mentioned above all as parroquia de Belén o Church of Our Lady of Bethlehem within the archdiocese of Cusco.

Sponsorship and coronation

The Virgin of Bethlehem, affectionately called Mamacha Belén, is recognized as Patrona jurada y Mother Protector of the Cuscothe object of a deep-rooted devotion throughout the city and its region. Various popular and ecclesial sources explicitly present it as “Patrona del Cusco”. It is also particularly venerated as a patron of the Belén district and protection of the poor and sick, due to their historical relationship with the former Indian hospital next to the church (dedicated to the care of the indigenous population and the most in need).

There is no clear mention of a canonical coronation with specific date, decree and pontifical delegate identified. No documented data have been found on the year or on the Pontiff or delegate who presided over the event. Therefore, does not contain a documented canonical coronation for this advocation in accessible sources.

Party and devotion

La main party of Our Lady of Bethlehem in the Cusco is celebrated the 20 January, date indicated in various calendars and devotional reviews as the Marian day of this advocation. In addition, the image participates each year in the great procession of Corpus Christi del Cuscowhere he travels the streets along with other patronal images of the city, in a framework of intense popular piety and remarkable influx of faithful.

The devotion to Mamacha Bethlehem is expressed in Solemn processes elements of Andean culture: music and traditional dancestypical costumes and offerings, which manifest the syncretism between the Catholic faith and the Cuban cultural identity. The sources emphasize that the Virgin of Bethlehem is one of the Marian asvocations more loved by the Cuban people, who invoke her as a Mother Protector in personal and family needs. Although there are no official flow figures available, the journalistic and audiovisual reports present it as an important focus of local and regional pilgrimageespecially around his January 20 party and the celebration of Corpus Christi.

Link to the Rosary

In the sources consulted on the Virgin of Bethlehem of Cusco there is no specific relationship or particular privilege of the Rosary prayer exclusively associated with this advocation (for example, historical co-fradies of the Rosary explicitly linked to the image or concrete miracles linked to this Marian practice). Therefore, no consta a documented historical link with the Rosary beyond the general Marian devotion of parish life.

However, as in so many Marian shrines of Spanish tradition, the Rosary It is an ordinary and very appropriate way to accompany the devotion to Mamacha Bethlehem. To contemplate the joyful mysteries, in particular the Nativity of the Lord, naturally harmonizes with an advocation that refers to Belén, the place of Jesus' birth. In the prayer of the Rosary, the faithful of Cusco can unite their contemplation of the childhood of Christ and of the humility of Mary with the maternal closeness of the Virgin of Bethlehem, trusting in their intercession for the poor, the sick and the whole city that recognizes her as Patron and Mother Protector.