Popular Religion, Sacred Natural Sites, and “Marian Verdant Advocations” in Spain
A relevant number of shrines, hermitages, monasteries, and pilgrimage routes in Spain are located within or near Natura 2000, a European network of protected core breeding and resting sites for rare and threatened species, and some rare natural habitat types. Given the growing interest in alternativ...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/1/46 |
| _version_ | 1818483188772634624 |
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| author | Jaime Tatay-Nieto Jaime Muñoz-Igualada |
| author_facet | Jaime Tatay-Nieto Jaime Muñoz-Igualada |
| author_sort | Jaime Tatay-Nieto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A relevant number of shrines, hermitages, monasteries, and pilgrimage routes in Spain are located within or near Natura 2000, a European network of protected core breeding and resting sites for rare and threatened species, and some rare natural habitat types. Given the growing interest in alternative conservation strategies and the geographical correlation between nature preserves and Sacred Natural Sites (SNS), this paper explores how religious devotions have made preservation possible in Spain. By an extensive literature review and interviews with long-established custodians of nonurban Marian sanctuaries, it looks at the development of plant-related allegorical titles, the multiple meanings of “Marian verdant advocations”, and the role popular religion has played in connecting theological insights with particular elements of natural ecosystems helping value and preserve the Spanish biocultural heritage. We found that 420 Marian titles directly refer to plant species or vegetation types and many of the nonurban Marian sacred sites are placed in well-preserved natural areas, some of them playing a human-related added value for most emblematic National Parks, like the sanctuaries of El Rocío (Doñana NP) and Covadonga (Picos de Europa NP). We conclude that there is a strong relationship between popular religion, Marian verdant titles, and nature conservation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T11:56:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3e7fdd7fe2c9432bbee46b03e324bdec |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T11:56:59Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-3e7fdd7fe2c9432bbee46b03e324bdec2022-12-22T01:49:44ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442019-01-011014610.3390/rel10010046rel10010046Popular Religion, Sacred Natural Sites, and “Marian Verdant Advocations” in SpainJaime Tatay-Nieto0Jaime Muñoz-Igualada1Facultad de Teología, Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Madrid 28015, SpainTragsatec, Asistencia Técnica de la Subdirección General de Biodiversidad y Medio Natural, Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica, Madrid 28071, SpainA relevant number of shrines, hermitages, monasteries, and pilgrimage routes in Spain are located within or near Natura 2000, a European network of protected core breeding and resting sites for rare and threatened species, and some rare natural habitat types. Given the growing interest in alternative conservation strategies and the geographical correlation between nature preserves and Sacred Natural Sites (SNS), this paper explores how religious devotions have made preservation possible in Spain. By an extensive literature review and interviews with long-established custodians of nonurban Marian sanctuaries, it looks at the development of plant-related allegorical titles, the multiple meanings of “Marian verdant advocations”, and the role popular religion has played in connecting theological insights with particular elements of natural ecosystems helping value and preserve the Spanish biocultural heritage. We found that 420 Marian titles directly refer to plant species or vegetation types and many of the nonurban Marian sacred sites are placed in well-preserved natural areas, some of them playing a human-related added value for most emblematic National Parks, like the sanctuaries of El Rocío (Doñana NP) and Covadonga (Picos de Europa NP). We conclude that there is a strong relationship between popular religion, Marian verdant titles, and nature conservation.http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/1/46Plantspopular religionbiocultural diversityNatura 2000MariologyChristianityreligion and nature |
| spellingShingle | Jaime Tatay-Nieto Jaime Muñoz-Igualada Popular Religion, Sacred Natural Sites, and “Marian Verdant Advocations” in Spain Religions Plants popular religion biocultural diversity Natura 2000 Mariology Christianity religion and nature |
| title | Popular Religion, Sacred Natural Sites, and “Marian Verdant Advocations” in Spain |
| title_full | Popular Religion, Sacred Natural Sites, and “Marian Verdant Advocations” in Spain |
| title_fullStr | Popular Religion, Sacred Natural Sites, and “Marian Verdant Advocations” in Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Popular Religion, Sacred Natural Sites, and “Marian Verdant Advocations” in Spain |
| title_short | Popular Religion, Sacred Natural Sites, and “Marian Verdant Advocations” in Spain |
| title_sort | popular religion sacred natural sites and marian verdant advocations in spain |
| topic | Plants popular religion biocultural diversity Natura 2000 Mariology Christianity religion and nature |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/1/46 |
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