Lamy of Santa Fe
by Paul Horgan
La Conquistadora, by Sue Houser
La Conquistadora: The Autobiography of an Ancient Statue
by Fray Angelico Chavez
La Conquistadora, Unveiling the History of a Six Hundred Year Old Religious Icon
by Jaima Chevalier
A Guide} Built of Earth and Song: Churches of Northern New Mexico, by Marie Romero Cash
Below is the Church of San Miguel. It is arguably the oldest continuous place of Christian worship in the United States. Built sometime around 1605, but destroyed during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. The church has a lot of the post-revolt late 17th century santero art--altar screen perhaps by artist known as the Laguna Santeros. He worked in New Mexico from about 1796 to 1808. A statue of San Miguel (Saint Michael) dating back to 1700 takes pride of place on the reredos. Four oval paintings also adorn the screen: Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Colette of France and Saint Louis IX, King of France.
The old bell dates back to 1356. The story goes that Christians were losing their fight against the Moors, until they vowed to craft a bell dedicated to Saint Joseph. Everybody relinquished their gold and silver-plated jewelry, which was all melted down to make the three-inch thick bell. Writing in 1908, Reverend W.J. Howlett described the bell as embodying “the richness of gold and the sweetness of sacrifice.” The famous bell made a cameo in Willa Cather’s novel “Death Comes for the Archbishop.”
I love anything written by Fray Chavez. His statue stands in front of public library (historical registry) across from our hotel.
Because of its extraordinary altar screen paintings, the Shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe is my favorite church in Santa Fe
Altar paintings signed by Mexican artist Jose de Alcibar in 1783. The painting was transported to Santa Fe by burro.
And tequila at Sazon.
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