Immigrant Spiritualities: Spanish Peasants and Religious Devotion in the Rio de la Plata

Stuart Schwartz's recent book "All Can Be Saved" argued that tolerance was a central component of religious mentality across the Spanish empire. During the last half of the eighteenth century, large numbers of peasants from the north of Spain, particularly Galicia and Asturias, emigrated to the Rio de la Plata. Although the religious culture of most of Spanish America was already well established, Montevideo and its surrounding areas were still relatively newly settled. Outside of the center of Buenos Aires, there were few churches or clergy, thus these recently arrived immigrants were critical in the formation of the region's religious institutions. Using evidence from more than 200 testaments of first generation immigrants, I intend to explore the creation of the spiritual landscape in the Rio de la Plata. I will examine the degree to which immigrants acculturated to the religious devotions already recognized in the region, their willingness to bring peninsular devotions in their new homes, and their maintenance of particular devotions back home on the peninsula. If, in fact, these peasant immigrants actively maintained and perpetuated devotions from their native villages, it may be possible to argue for a vigorous transatlantic piety that would complement Schwartz's argument about religious tolerance.