The Pachamama or the Virgin: Which does the synod revere?

[Michie]

*You are in the Catholic forum*

Questioned about the Pachamama icon that has become the visible symbol of the Amazon Synod, Father Giacomo Costa told reporters that it was an image of "an indigenous woman who brings life." The Synod spokesman added: "Nobody said it was the Virgin Mary."

I beg to differ. Browsing the internet during the past week, I have seen dozens of people defending the use of this apparent pagan symbol- the Inca goddess of fertility- by saying it was a representation of the Blessed Mother. The woman that presented the image to Pope Francis said it was "Our Lady of the Amazon."

Continued below.
The Pachamama or the Virgin: which does the Synod revere?

 

[anna ~ grace]

Our Lady looks a certain way. Whether she is a Black Madonna, Our Lady of La Vang, Our Lady of Guadalupe (who would have been a much better representative if you truly want to reach out to Indigenous Americans), or Our Lady of Akita, she is always modest, clothed nicely, beautiful, and loving.

Just saying.

 

[KarateCowboy]

Why is Oriental Mary always so strikingly graceful?

 

[Michie]

‘Symbol of life’ or ‘Pachamama’: Vatican and REPAM synod organizers divided on identity of mysterious statue?

 

[Quid est Veritas?]

‘Symbol of life’ or ‘Pachamama’: Vatican and REPAM synod organizers divided on identity of mysterious statue?

From your article:

An anthropologist who spoke to LifeSite on condition of anonymity said that, in his view, the mysterious statue is an “idol invented for the Amazon synod,” and is devoid of both history and culture.

He explained: “The Pachamama is a divinity linked to the Incan civilization, historically venerated by the peoples who inhabit the Andean plateau (Aymara, Quechua). It is considered the goddess of nature, land, agriculture, fertility, etc.”

“Of course, her cult varies according to ethnicity and for each of them over the centuries has assumed specific meanings and rituals not summarized to a single religious entity,” he added.

“For centuries, these cults intersected with the Catholic ones and were venerated in parallel with the Christian ones,” he also noted.

The anthropologist said that, in his view, the statue displayed at the Carmelite Church “technically constitutes a sort of ‘Amazonian’ transposition of those complex specificities; a variation on the theme or, even better, a sort of trans-American syncretism in which Andean, African-American and New Age elements converge.

It is “an idol invented and iconographically ‘camouflaged’ as ‘Amazonian’ (facial painting),” he said, adding that he believes they are being used in Rome “as an instrument of political and religious pressure.”

I think this is quite informative. This is obviously an invented symbol, for whatever they are trying to achieve - some mixture of environmentalism and post-colonial posturing. I don't see why a simple Mary decked out in native garb, or Our Lady of Guadalupe, could not have sufficed. They are trying to import some odd form of environmental messaging here.

Christianity has a history of utilising Pagan symbolism in the work of the Church, such as in the Renaissance with Roman gods, but this is a bit off. It says more about the organisers of the Synod, than the Amazonians it is supposed to represent.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Christianity has a history of utilising Pagan symbolism in the work of the Church, such as in the Renaissance with Roman gods, but this is a bit off. It says more about the organisers of the Synod, than the Amazonians it is supposed to represent.

The Rhine flows into the Amazon, and the Amazon flows into the Tiber. But should it?