LURDES DE MIRAMAR, LURDES DE QUINTA NORMAL Y LOURDES DE FRANCIA: EL TEMPRANO SURGIMIENTO DEL CULTO A NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LOURDES EN CHILE, EJEMPLO DE LA GLOBALIZACIÓN DE UN FENÓMENO DE CULTO MARIANO CONTEMPORÁNEO

The apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes, along with the devotion they inspired, constitute contemporary Marian phenomena in the strictest sense, closely linked to the means through which they were disseminated. The diffusion of these miracles relied on photographic representations of the grotto as well as on the publication of works devoted to these events. This study—which engages with themes such as religious globalization, the circulation of devotions, visual culture, and emerging modes of reproduction—aims to show how such mechanisms facilitated the rapid transmission of this devotion to territories as geographically distant as Chile. An examination of local publications, newspaper accounts, the erection of altars, and the construction of grottoes has provided the basis for addressing the research question. One of the principal conclusions suggests that, paradoxically, this new devotional phenomenon was both spiritually and symbolically reinforced by a rich colonial legacy, while also functioning as a catalyst for the renewal of religious practices. apparitions– replaced the Marian cults of the colonial era or, in many cases, coexisted with them. Paradoxically, in a political and religious context in search of more enlightened devotions, Lourdes became the image of the Virgin Mary par excellence, even if it was strengthened by the rich spiritual and symbolic colonial past.