Strong Reaction After the Publication of a Prayer to the Pachamama in Argentina

Pachamama day is celebrated every year on August 1st in the Quechuan and Aymaran communities in the Andes mountains in Bolivia, Columbia, Chili, Ecuador, and Peru in honor of the Andean deity.

The Caritas message said, “The Pachamama is a symbol of fertility, of the earth, and of the sacredness of life. It is a myth full of spiritual meaning (that) can be used to advantage.”

“Some religious festivals have a sacred meaning and are occasions for gathering and fraternity. These are the new paths for the Church and for the achievement of an integral ecology. Holy Father Francis,” the post added.

The prayer read: “Hail Pachamama, sweet source of our life, may you be forever venerated. Blessed are the fruits of your womb, our daily bread, may you be blessed now and forever. Look with compassion, Holy Mother, upon the human pack that destroys you out of ambition. Blessed be your clemency Pachamama. My land is preyed upon by madness. You are the source of life and joy. Pachamama, holy land, Holy Mother, Virgin Mary.”

A healthy reaction

The publication of the prayer provoked a massive reaction on social media, which led to its removal. Caritas Venado Tuerto published a message on Facebook on August 3rd.

“We want to apologize to those who felt offended by our post about Pachamama, the intention was to communicate our communion with Francis who in the Apostolic Exhortation Querida Amazonia says to us:

‘It is possible to take up an indigenous symbol in some way, without necessarily considering it as idolatry. A myth charged with spiritual meaning can be used to advantage and not always considered a pagan error.’

‘Some religious festivals have a sacred meaning and are occasions for gathering and fraternity, albeit in need of a gradual process of purification or maturation. A missionary of souls will try to discover the legitimate needs and concerns that seek an outlet in at times imperfect, partial or mistaken religious expressions.’

‘Such a spirituality will certainly be centered on the one God and Lord, while at the same time in contact with the daily needs of people who strive for a dignified life.’

The prayer to Pachamama existed before the Amazon synod, held at the Vatican in October 2019.

The healthy reaction of Christians shows, at best, the illusion, at worst, the latent idolatry present in this attempt to appropriate a symbol of a pagan deity.

As for the prayer, it is vile in every respect due to the explicit analogy it makes between the Most Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and a pagan deity. Whatever the intentions of the authors were, to use the words given by God through the Archangel Gabriel in addressing the Immaculate, to describe even a natural reality, e.g., the earth, belittles God’s masterpiece in an appalling naturalism.