La práctica de la visita ad limina apostolorum. Provincias eclesiásticas de guatema la y de santa fe: 1600-1800

This research analyses the documentation preserved in the Vatican archives about the practice of ad limina visit during 1600- 1800 in the ecclesiastical provinces of Santa Fe and Guatemala. Sources of information and their historiographical assessment are described in detail. By means of a comparative description of this practice between Guatemala and Santa Fe and Lima and Sucre, I proceed to appraise the frequency, type of documents preserved, and the contents recorded. The previous analysis permits to present several aspects of the state of the church in these ecclesiastical provinces, describing in the concluding remarks features of diocesan churches and underlining the most unique. The account that was sent by he diocesan bishop, as part of the precept of visit ad limina Apostolorum, contained information on his episcopal ministry, the pastoral visit, parish organization, the administration of the sacraments, the missions, the convents and monasteries of men and women and reports about provinces. In addition, aspects such as the ordination of indigenous people, indications about tensions with civil authority, geographical descriptions of jurisdictions and registration of brotherhoods, are also recorded.