Memorias de la portentosa imágen de Nuestra Señora de Xuquila
Subtitle: Quiso conservar las con noticia del santuario y antigua romería
By: el d[octo]r d[on] Joseph Manuel Ruiz y Cervantes. A la sombra del ill[ustrisim]mô señor d[octo]r don Joseph Gregorio Alonso de Ortigosa del consejo de S[u] M[agestad] C[atolica] dignísimo obispo de este obispado de Antequera, é insigne protector del muy ilustre santuario
Contributors: Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1832-1867; Andrade, José Maria, 1807-1883
Publisher: Por don Felipe de Zúñiga y Ontiveros
Published: 1796
Place of publication: Reimpresas en México
Language: spa
Number of pages: 136
Subjects: Juquila, Nuestra Señora de; Devotion to; Apparitions and miracles; Novenas; Religious aspects; Catholic Church; History
Notes: First printed in Mexico City by Felipe de Zúñiga y Ontiveros in 1791.

"Novena á la sacratísima Vírgen de Xuquila. Compuesta por el autor de estas memorias, y añadida al fin de ellas de órden de nuestro ilustrisimo mecenas", p. 115-136, has separate dated title page with imprint: México: Por don Felipe de Zúñiga y Ontiveros, año de 1796.

Nuestra Señora de Juquila is worshipped in the town of Santa Catarina Juquila, in Oaxaca, Mexico. The statue, which is 30 cm. in height, was brought from Spain by the Dominican priest, Juan Jordán de Santa Catarina, who was the first person to bring Christianity to the indigenous peoples of Oaxaca. He kept it in his house in the village of Amialtepec until his death in 1558, whereupon his servant kept the statue. In 1633, the Church authorities took notice of this Virgin so well loved among the indigenous people and decided to build a church for her. A few years later, a fire destroyed the village of Amialtepec including the church. The Virgin, however, was unharmed and the villagers found her standing on her sculpted agave plant, as she is still represented today. Her miraculous survival made her even more famous and a priest in the nearby town of Juquila, Fr. Jacinto Escudero, decided that the Virgin should be moved to his church. However, it seems that she wanted to stay with her people in the mountains and so, the night after She had been brought to Juquila, she moved back to Amialtepec. The indigenous people were punished for stealing her, she was brought back to Juquila and guarded day and night. Still, she escaped again and returned home. Even guards, chains and locks could not keep her in Juquila. After the third escape, Escudero gave up temporarily. Escudero did not abandon his quest completely and appealed to the bishop of Oaxaca, who, in 1719 arranged once again for the Virgin's transfer from Amialtepec to Juquila. This time the image remained and gradually people accepted the new home. She continued to work miracles in both places.

Signatures: [1]⁸ ([1]₁ verso blank) 2-8⁸ (8₈ verso blank) [9]⁸ 10⁴

Engraved printer's ornament on title page; head and tail pieces.

Includes a plate of the coat of arms of the dedicatee, Joseph Gregorio Alonso de Ortigosa, bishop of Oaxaca from 1775-1793, bound following the title page; an engraving of the the statue of the Virgin, bound to face p. 1, 2nd count; two maps showing the pilgrimage route in Oaxaca, bound to face p. 77 and p. 82; and a folded illustration of the Church in Santa Catarina Juquila, bound to face p. 102. The illustrations were engraved by Francisco Agüera.

Cf. Medina, J.T. Imprenta en México (1539-1821), 8135 (1791 edition)

Sabin, J. Dictionary of books relating to America from its discovery to the present time, 74050.

Purchase; 2016; 17-165.

John Carter Brown Library copy quarter bound in later black morocco with marbled boards.

John Carter Brown Library copy acquired with the assistance of the Caspersen Fund.

Provenance of the John Carter Brown Library copy: MM: armorial bookplate of the Emperor Maximilian of Mexico on front pastedown; J.M. Andrade: bookplate on front pastedown.