The wide held belief in southern Latin America is that the region of San Juan is protected by Saint Difunta Correa. You’ll find rustic roadside shrines dedicated to this holy woman scattered all across this region. Outside of Argentina and Chile, not many know about this folk deity.
© U.Schlosser / Wikicommons
Deolinda Correa was a simple, happily married woman. Legend has it that in the mid-19th century, her husband was forcibly recruited into the Argentinian Civil War. He fell ill and the Montoneras (partisans) abandoned him. Determined to find her sick husband, Deolinda carried her newborn baby and set out on a perilous journey into the desert following the tracks of the Montoneras.
On the way, she ran out of supplies and perished. Days later, a few gauchos (Argentinian horsemen) found her body. To their astonishment, they found her baby alive, suckling from Deolinda’s miraculously full teat. The gauchos buried her body atop a hill in present-day Vallecito and took back the baby and Deolinda’s extraordinary tale with them.
The legend continued. Soon after this incident, a shepherd lost his cattle near Deolinda’s tomb. He prayed to her hoping to find his cattle. Lo and behold, he found them. The story of Deolinda’s new miracle spread like wildfire and she came to be known as La Difunta (the deceased) Correa.
Deolinda’s legendary status, however was taken to newer heights years later by well known gaucho, Pedro Flavio Zeballos. He was traveling to Chile via San Juan region along with 500 cattle. Sadly, a mighty storm struck and scared away his cattle. Having heard the legend of La Difunta Correa, he prayed by her tomb and promised to build a chapel on the site if he found his cattle back. His wish was fulfilled and as promised, he returned and built a chapel.
Although the church hasn’t recognized La Difunta Correa, her followers have anointed her as their very own saint. Over the years, her cult has grown and believers have built many smaller shrines surrounding the hill. Each shrine has a specific theme: police chapel, army chapel, brides’ chapel, builder’s chapel and more. There are more than thirty such chapels. Today, she is also considered as a patron saint of travelers and tiny shrines dedicated to her are found along highways across Argentina.
Pilgrims not only visit La Difunta Correa but also leave behind their offerings in gratitude or in the hope that their wishes will be fulfilled. Women wishing for blessings in love have offered wedding dresses. Others left behind car / truck registrations, empty water bottles (signifying replenishment of the holy breast milk), trophies from football matches, swords from military officers, handcrafted models of houses, diploma certificates and more.
© diversidareligiosa.com
While most pilgrims walk up the hill, there are a few who crawl all the way up. Atop, they light candles on a rock next to a shrine with a painted statue of La Difunta Correa. Followers throng to this chapel during Easter to celebrate the National Truck Driver Festival. Whether you’re a believer or a sceptic, a visit to this sacred shrine is never an ordinary experience.
Book flights on EMI without credit card on Mihuru explore the legend of La Difunta Correa.
Tags: Argentina Chile San Juan
