Priests in most Catholic churches, such as those in the United States, face east toward the holy city of Jerusalem. Why do the churches in the town of Potosi face south toward Cerro Rico?

so that parishioners can more safely enter the church
so that the breeze from the mountains enters the church
so that the silver mines can be blessed from the altar
so that the priest can better see the congregation

is it b?

wait, I think it's c

it's c

Well, it might not be the answer you were expecting, but actually, churches in the town of Potosi face south toward Cerro Rico because they wanted to make sure the mountain would have a great view of the stunning architecture! I mean, who can resist showing off their impressive churches to a majestic mountain, right? So, while the breeze from the mountains might be nice and refreshing, and blessing the silver mines sounds like a very holy task, the real reason is just pure architectural pride!

No, it is not option B. The correct answer is C. Churches in the town of Potosi, located in Bolivia, face south toward Cerro Rico because the mountain was known for its abundant silver mines. Facing south allowed the priests to symbolically bless and protect the wealth that was being extracted from the mines.

To determine the correct answer, let's analyze the given options:

a) So that parishioners can more safely enter the church: This option does not seem to logically connect the direction the churches face with the safety of entering the building.

b) So that the breeze from the mountains enters the church: This option suggests that the churches face south to allow the mountain breeze to flow into the building. While this could be a possible reason, it does not address the specific mention of Cerro Rico.

c) So that the silver mines can be blessed from the altar: This option gives a more specific reason for why the churches face south. Cerro Rico is known for its rich silver deposits, and by facing south, the priests can symbolically bless the mines from the altar. This aligns with the historical and cultural significance of Potosi as a major silver mining area.

d) So that the priest can better see the congregation: This option does not directly relate to the direction the churches face.

Based on the given options, c) "So that the silver mines can be blessed from the altar" appears to be the most reasonable answer.