Research Question

In what ways does Maria Auxilidora and it’s institutions, enforces and defines femininity in my life and the life of women in Colombia? How does the image/statue of the Virgin Mary represents and redefine the Mexican diaspora?

Social/ Cultural Context

Virgin Mary fits in the cultural process of the Catholic Church, Mary has vital role in the Church she is Mother of the Church, God being the Father. The veneration of Mary is derived from the belief of the Immaculate Conception; through the conception Mary was able to be pregnant with the Son of God (Jesus) without engaging in sin and maintaining her virginity. The Virgin Mary is also venerated for her Assumption into heaven; literally her body and soul ascended to heaven. Worship to the Virgin Mary takes many forms: praying, music, poetry, painting and sculptures. The reasoning for her veneration is the belief that she will hear the prayers of the people and be an mediator between people and God, in other words she will put in a good word to God and prayers are most likely to be heard. Catholics also seek Mary for her protection, and salvation into heaven.

My particular statue of Maria Auxiliadora (helper) is the virgin that aids Christians all around the world. The way this statue could be ‘used’ is by three forms that I am familiar with. One way to use the statue is by prayer cards; the card has a picture of Mary then at the back a small prayer devoted to her. Second could be by praying the rosary. Third could be a simple prayer, there a numerous of ways in which a person can pray. This particular statue has a feast day which is May 24^th, celebration to commemorate her feast day are different everywhere. Peru celebrates the biggest feast; streets close down for processions and prayer. When I attended the Maria Auxiliadora school on the 24 of May we would stop classes to celebrate this day. Dancing, music and presentations would be the most common way to celebrate. The significance of Maria Auxiliadora seems to be most important in Peru and in Catholic schools in South America whose namesake is Maria Auxiliadora. Other countries that partake in the feast of Mary are Colombia and Spain.

Here a video of the procession in Peru

Object History

Object History

The statue was a gift to me from my twin brothers on my 12th birthday while we were still living in Colombia. The statue Maria Auxilidadora is the namesake of the school that I attended in from kindergarden to grade 3. Religious statues/art in my household is an incredibly common object; my mother a devoted Catholic would encourage the possession of any religious forms. Form rosaries, painting, statues, rings, clothing and most importantly spiritual awareness of the religious.

Ownership of the statue has change significantly over time; when I first received it I was exited to have it as one of my possessions. I made an effort to remember that special day that I glued at the bottom a blank piece of paper where I wrote “From: Juan David and Francisco, To: Catalina on April 2001…In Colombia”. Upon receiving the statue I would pray to in a normal basis but that changed, as I got older. In June of that year my family and I migrated to Canada and the statue traveled with us. After some years in Canada I forgot about the statue, it was moved from my room to my siblings then to my mother’s room. We have moved a couple of times in Canada our last move to Toronto was a year ago, at this time the statue was placed in my room. Before this date I cannot remember associating or interacting with the statue, as I’m getting older I don’t pray as much as I did, especially to a statue now the idea of praying to a statue does not come as easily as it did. My impression of the statue has not changed in the way I view it kindly, every time I think of it remember my home in Colombia, good times at my old school, friends, and family. What has changed, as been my spiritual connections to religious beliefs, which are reflect to the disconnection and to praying to the statue of the Virgin Mary. The current use of the statue is to stay in corner of my room, it relates to the uses of the past because the statue has always been positioned in the same way. It has changed as I mentioned before, because it is not as acknowledged as it once did.