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The main reason to visit Chimayó is the Santuario de Chimayó, which is the most important Catholic pilgrimage site in the United States. It’s located in northern New Mexico.
Origins
There are three legends on the origins of the Santuario de Chimayó. The first claims that during Holy Week, Don Bernardo Abeyta saw a light shining from the hillside, followed it, and dug up a crucifix. He took it to Fr. Sebastián Álvarez at the church in Santa Cruz, but the crucifix mysteriously returned to the original spot. After this happened for a third time, Abeyta and Fr. Álvarez decided to build a small chapel to house the crucifix.
The second legend states Abeyta was sick and saw a vision of his patron saint. He went to the spot where the saint appeared, knelt down, and was cured immediately. Other people were cured at the site, and Abeyta built a small chapel in thanks.
The third legend says that the crucifix belonged to a priest from Esquipulas, Guatemala, who accompanied the first Spanish settlers to Chimayó. He was killed by Native Americans and buried there. A flood in the spring of 1810 uncovered his body and the crucifix, and the locals decided to build a chapel dedicated to the Christ of Esquipulas in honor of the priest.
History
The first chapel was built in 1810 and dedicated to the Christ of Esquipulas. In 1814, Abeyta received permission from Fr. Álvarez to build a bigger church because many pilgrims reported being cured by holy dirt at the site. The current church was completed by 1816.
The Santuario de Chimayó remained in the hands of Abeyta’s descendants until 1929, when they were in financial trouble. They sold it to the Spanish Colonial Arts Society which in turn donated it to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
Visiting
The sanctuary is open daily from 9am to 5pm and typically celebrates mass daily. The following photos are in order of the sections of the Santuario de Chimayó during our visit:
Three Cultures Monument
First, we walked down a short path from the parking lot and came to the Three Cultures Monument. It depicts the meeting of a Native American, a Hispanic vaquero, and a white cowboy under a figure of the Virgin Mary.
Native American Cenacle
After passing through the Luminous Mysteries Portal, we popped into the Native American Cenacle, passing a beautifully carved door of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Sagrado Corazón de Jesús).
Madonna Gardens
An outdoor prayer area sits next to the Madonna Gardens. The gardens feature a few statues of the Virgin Mary.
Our Lady of Sorrows Monument
At the very back of the gardens is the Our Lady of Sorrows Monument. It’s a statue of the Virgin Mary where people have left candles and offerings at her feet.
Pilgrim Monument
We then continued up a path past a small shrine to the Pilgrim Monument. It features the figure of a pilgrim walking to the Santuario de Chimayó.
Santuario Church
Next, we visited the Santuario Church. The church has a small courtyard in front that doubles as a cemetery. Photos are forbidden inside.
Every year, around 300,000 pilgrims make their way to the Santuario de Chimayó. Many take a small amount of holy dirt from a chapel in the church to take home with them. They give it to people who couldn’t make the trip, or rub it on themselves in hopes of a cure.
The church replaces the dirt from the nearby hillsides, sometimes more than once a day. Over the course of an entire year, about 25 or 30 tons of dirt are hauled in. The Catholic Church takes no position on whether or not miracles have occurred at the site.
Welcome Center
The building next to the Santuario Church is the Rincón de Don Bernardo Abeyta, which serves as a welcome center. We didn’t visit.
Santo Niño Chapel
From there, we walked over to the Santo Niño de Atocha Chapel. It was built in 1857 by Severiano Medina. Medina fell ill and promised to make a pilgrimage to the shrine of the Santo Niño de Atocha in Plateros, Mexico, if he recovered.
After carrying out his promise, he received permission to build the chapel. The Santo Niño Chapel remained a private chapel until 1992, when Medina’s descendants sold it to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
The Santo Niño Chapel is famous for its Easter pilgrimage. The pilgrimage was started by American soldiers and sailors from World War II who prayed to the Santo Niño during the Bataan Death March.
Santo Niño Prayer Portal
The Santo Niño Prayer Portal, next to the main chapel, contains a figure of the Santo Niño made by Felix Lopez. The shelves around the room are filled with children’s shoes left by pilgrims. They’re meant for the Santo Niño to wear as he travels to comfort those in need. There are also several photos on the walls.
Holy Family Chapel
After the prayer portal is the Holy Family Chapel. There are more photos inside as well as paintings of Adam and Eve.
Nativity Monument
Behind the Holy Family Chapel is the Nativity Monument. It includes figures of the Holy Family in the manger with the Star of Bethlehem above. Next to it are statues of children walking towards the monument.
Gift Shops
Finally, next to the Santo Niño Chapel is the Santo Niño Gift Shop. There’s also the Santuario Gift Shop as well as other shops, art galleries, and restaurants nearby that are run by locals.
