What question did this study set out to answer?

To explore the transfer and devotional significance of Roman martyr relics in New Spain.

March 12, 2026Open Access

SUMMARY “With Deep Affection and Devotion”: Mechanisms of Implantation and Devotional Experiences in the Transfer of Corpisanti Between Rome and New Spain (17th–19th Centuries)

Puntos clave

To explore the transfer and devotional significance of Roman martyr relics in New Spain.
Analyzed documentary evidence from Roman archives about donation processes.
Reviewed New Spain's printed media, including gazettes and pamphlets.
Investigated social dynamics related to the arrival of relics.
Identified the motivations behind the acquisition of relics by benefactors.
Highlighted the spiritual needs that influenced relic veneration.
Documented the social dynamics affecting relic reception and long-term devotion.

Resumen

This paper examines the transfer, reception, and devotional development of a selection of Roman catacomb martyr relics (corpisanti) donated to New Spain (now Mexico) between the 17th and 19th centuries: St. Pontian in Mexico City (ca. 1603), St. Veneranda in Aguascalientes (1786), St. Innocentia in Guadalajara (1785), and St. Theodora in Xalapa (1792). Drawing on documentary evidence from Roman archives regarding the requests and donation processes, as well as reports from New Spain’s printed media—such as gazettes, devotional pamphlets, and novenas—this paper explores the motivations of the benefactors and the spiritual needs that drove these acquisitions. Additionally, it analyzes the mechanisms of devotional implantation, the social dynamics surrounding the relics’ arrival, and the factors that influenced their enduring veneration, decline, or neglect.

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