By David Fernandez, Mayordomo, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Taos, NM

History of the Morada de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe:

In the year 1797 or 1798, the Taos Pueblo Tribal Council and religious officials, including the Cacique, granted the present lands where the Morada now stands to the Brotherhood, the Hermanos, with the understanding that the grant was for the practice and furtherance of the Hermanos’ religious devotions.

The Hermanos began preparing the granted land, clearing and leveling it, and construction soon began – the laying of foundations and erecting the Morada. According to documents of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, the Morada was completed to its full-size by 1834, built in the traditional massive adobe style.

The Morada of Fernando de Taos, or Fernandez de Taos, and its members fell under the authority of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, whence the religious name and dedication given to the Morada. The Taos Morada was the center for nearly all the Hermanos’ activities in the area for many decades, and thus it remains important to all present-day members of La Fraternidad Piadosa de Nuestro Padres Jesus Nazareno, the Penitent Brothers. World War II and other global and national changes and shifts in social, cultural and political life affected the Brotherhood. There was a decline in various Moradas and membership.

The Taos Morada was also affected by current, changing events locally. By 1973 a very small number of elderly Hermanos remained. Two Morada officials then approached the Kit Carson Memorial Foundation about acquiring the Morada so that it would be preserved for posterity.

This move by the Morada officials and the sale of the Morada to the Carson Foundation was extremely controversial, and was viewed by many as outrageous and illegal in the view of the original Pueblo Grant agreements. At the time, the entire Catholic Parish community, together with Hermanos Penitentes from all parts, held a prayer procession from Guadalupe Church in Taos to the Morada, headed by the Parish Priest. Prayers were led to ask that the Morada remain free from exploitation and that it would soon be returned to its original intended use and devotional practices.

Since then, and until very recently, title of the Morada remained with the museums – the group of local museums known at the time as The Taos Historic Museums, now consisting of two Taos museums, www.taoshistoricmuseums.com. The Morada was used as a repository for archives and artifacts. When the controversial sale was completed in 1977, steps were taken to have the Morada placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings and Sites. One major benefit of the controversial transfer of ownership was that with National Preservation Acts funds from the National Park Service, the New Mexico State Historic Preservation Office, and with CETA assistance, the Morada was restored to its former condition as when in full use during the mid-1800s.

The Morada was restored thanks to the Historic Museum Association’s efforts. But many lamented the fact that the Morada was not being used for its original, intended purpose. The situation was a quandary for all concerned. The Morada stood, wonderful and exuding the light, echoes, faith and devotion of countless Hermanos of the previous century and a half, but not really accessible to the Hermanos and the community.

In 2006, certain Hermanos requested permission from the Association to conduct an outdoor rite of the Via Cruces, or Way of the Cross, for the Taos community. On April 11, 2006, during Holy Week, the Hermanos led that devotion along the Camino del Calvario, the Way to the Calvary Cross, at the Morada.

The Parish Priest of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish also participated, and he blessed the Morada site once again. The local newspaper, The Taos News www.taosnews.com, reported the event as “The reawakening of the Morada.” In 2007 and 2008, on Holy Tuesday of Holy Week, the Via Cruces has been held again.

Most recently, title of the Morada was returned to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church by the Taos Historic Museum Association, and the Parish is in the process of organizing the future for the Taos Morada.

Visit Taos Morada under Our Sanctuaries to learn more about the Taos Morada.