The Cofradía, Its Institutional Organization and Political Dimension: The Case of San Sebastián Retalhuleu, Guatemala

Abstract

This article analyzes the role of cofradías as both religious and social institutions within the colonial Guatemalan context. It highlights their centrality in Indigenous and mestizo communal life, functioning not only as spaces of devotion but also as mechanisms of social, political, and economic organization. The study explores how cofradías became embedded in the colonial system as intermediaries between ecclesiastical and civil authorities and local communities. Although subject to clerical and state control, they maintained a degree of autonomy and institutional continuity over time, adapting to political and religious transformations, including the Bourbon Reforms and the post-independence period. The article argues that these organizations operated according to their own internal logic, articulating popular religiosity with localized forms of power. His organization delegates and sanctions through a council of stewards that he elects and appoints annually in the community. Their structure delegated authority and enforced decisions through a council of stewards (mayordomos), elected and appointed annually by the community. The analysis underscores the importance of studying cofradías as expressions of alternative institutionality, which enabled subaltern groups to negotiate their position within the colonial and postcolonial order. Far from being archaic remnants, cofradías are shown to have been dynamic spaces for the construction of citizenship and political agency. Their historical complexity and adaptability reveal their enduring relevance in the configuration of power relations in Guatemala.