In 1971 The Cross of Matará was rediscovered near the Salado River. A tradition exists that the Cross sustained the indigenous groups who lived there in Matará and that they considered the Cross to have supernatural powers. In honor of the Cross, the Argentine Episcopal Conference choose it to adorn the cover of the Roman Missal in 1982.

The origins of this cross date back to the 16th century, approximately 100 years after the discovery of America. Made from mistol (a regional plant) the Cross is composed of two parts: the vertical piece of wood that measures 47 centimeters in length and the horizontal piece that measures 17 centimeters. They are united by wooden two nails and have been assembled perfectly. The tapered lower extreme of the vertical beam was undoubtedly designed to be placed in a wooden base, and thus permit the Cross to remain free-standing.

During the 16th century, the Jesuits established various missions throughout South America in order to evangelize the native people. Because these people did not have writing, the Jesuits could not leave them the teachings of the Gospel in books. But so that they would be able to remember them afterwards, they decided to inscribe them in wood. This was how the Cross of Matará was born. It is a special cross containing the good news of the Gospel inscribed on its surface with drawings—the same Gospel that drew the first missionaries to the lands of the Americas.

Through the artistic work with its particular signs and images engraved in the wood, you can encounter an entire message deposited in the Cross. Therefore we will try to penetrate the significance or symbolism they represent.

The motifs perfectly cover the entire surface of the Cross, except for three sectors that do not present a single symbol and where you can appreciate the virgin wood, its conserved state in good condition. In order to study it better, we have divided the Cross into five parts:

Ever since the discovery of America, a new phase of history was initiated in Evangelization. Jesus Christ was able to reach a great part of humanity that had been unknown, thanks to the great missionary work of many courageous people that left their own lands to preach the Gospel in foreign lands.

Reaching the year 1594, a group of Jesuit missionaries arrived to the actual territory of Santiago of the Estero, by the banks of the Salado River, where lived a tribe of indigenous people called Matará.

The first act was to gain their confidence in order to conquer their hearts. Then it became necessary to understand their language in order to communicate with them and speak of Jesus Christ. But, how could it be that these persons would be able to retain the Message, if they did not know how to read or write? It was here that the idea was born to carve the Good News, which they had come to announce into wood, and little by little their works were compiled together to make the "Cross of Matará."

They said that they came to speak about Him who is the First and the Last of everything, the Alpha and the Omega. They came to speak about God, He who had created everything. He created the sun and the moon and placed the stars in the heavens.

They told how Man had been estranged from God, and how for this reason had come his only son, Jesus Christ, in order to save us. They told them how Jesus Christ had passed through the world doing good, prodigious works and miracles.

In addition they spoke about the Last Supper, and how Jesus had given us the great gift of his Body and Blood made from bread and wine in the Eucharist, before he was taken prisoner. They spoke about Peter, and how he had denied him three times before the cock crowed.

They told them how Jesus Christ was condemned before Pilate who sent him to be flogged, and how the soldiers divided his clothing and cast lots (dice) for his cloak.

Also they told them that he was condemned to die on a cross, and how with mallet and nails, they pierced his hands and his feet into it. They additionally spoke about his Mother, the Virgin Mary who had faithfully accompanied him until the end of all his sufferings. They told them how when Jesus could no longer resist the maltreatment of his body, he gave up his spirit and died.

They told them how only a few moments after, a soldier pierced his side with a lance in order to verify that he actually had died and how they lowered (with a ladder) his body from the cross and placed it in a sepulcher.

They also spoke with them about how three days later Jesus Christ rose gloriously from the dead in order to free all humanity from the fires of Hell as a result of their going away from the Sight of God. They told them how they, the people of Matará, could have their salvation by honoring and accepting Jesus Christ as God and Savior, and prostrating themselves before Him in order to adore Him.