Figure 1.--This photo was taken in Calle Blancos, Costa Rica, during 1954. We see a procession down the town;s main street. It is mot a celebration of the village saint's day because the statute is of Jesus rather than a saint. This is an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is a devotion that started in France during the 17th century as a reaction to Jansenism. The Heart of Jesus is an image of his love. The Jesuits spread this devotion and many churches are dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This seems especially common in Latin America.

Costa Rica since the conquest has been a largely Catholic country. As in other parts of the Spanish Empire, Catholocism was imposed upon the inigenous population. Unlike other prts of Central merica, there was not an advanced Native American civilizations. The Maya trades with tribes in what is now modern Costa Rica, but did not control it. As a result, religion like society was primitive. Both secular authorities and the Inquisition prevented Protestants and Jews from entering the proivince. We do not have much information specifically about the role of the Church in Spanish colonial Costa Rica. The Church was part of an essentially feudal social structure. The landowners supoported the Church which established considerable influence over the mostly Native American peasantry, often tied to the land. The fact that Costa Rica did not have a large Native American peasantry, meant thsat the Church's grip on society was weaker than in other countries. Independence brought many change. The Catholic Church no longer had the unquestioning support of Spanish colonial authorities. As elsewhere in South and Central America, independence opened a struggle between the secular beliefs of liberal revolutionaries and the conservative Church authorities. The liberal secularists were more successful in Coista Rica than many other countries. As a result, Liberal revolutionaries were able to more easily contruct a secular society than in many other former Spanish colonies. Costa Rica as a country has, as a result, since independence been remarkably secular. More than 90 percent of the population is still Catholic, but religion is not a major issue in Costa Rica today. Religious freedom is lergally granted by the Constitution and practically supported by the tolerant nature of Costa Rican people. Church attenance is generally weak, except for special days like Easter and Christmas. Holy Week (the week before Easter) is an important national holiday. In relgious terms it is meant to be a time for prayers ahdcrelectioin as well as and good behavior. It has, however, become highly scularized. Many Costa Ricans use Easter for trips and vacations. Every village, even the smaller ones, has a church, always built to face east on to a central plaza. Each church is dedicated to aaint and there is a special village celebration on the saint's day. The statues in the church are taken out and paraded through the village. This is commonly accompanied by secular celebrations as well.

Created: 11:59 PM 4/7/2012
Last updated: 11:59 PM 4/7/2012