Marian Cult Objects with Legendary Origins of Divine Selection

In the case of many Marian representations, the object was given to a person or locality by the Virgin herself, or some representation of her. This narrative is common in Marian objects originating in Europe, and was quickly adopted in Colonial South America. The most famous narrative of this type is that of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose Basilica, which holds her sacred image, is the most visited site of Catholic pilgrimage in the world. Other examples include Our Lady of Charity, which is kept in Cuba, and our Lady of Chiquinquira, which is held in Venezuela. This narrative depicts a native person, usually someone of low birth or a simple profession, who is contacted by the Virgin Mary, and either immediately or through a test of faith are presented with a sacred image of the Virgin. This story is a nativization of classical European Catholic stories and represents one way the Natives staked their claim on the religion.