In 1992 and 1993 the Christ of Mercy was taken out in procession, on Easter Sunday of 1993 a group of men decided to found a Brotherhood for this Christ, making it known to all the people for whom they wish to join. In this meeting it is decided to be formed only by men, during its first year all the brothers pay a monthly fee for the construction of the litters to be carried by eight people, in 1994 the Brotherhood of Christ of Mercy came out for the first time in the procession of the Be quiet.

      Renaissance style, mid-16th century, measures 1.20 m. Preserved in the Santa María Church, to which it always belonged. It has three nails. Processional image at Holy Week in Villafáfila.

      This Christ was formerly taken out in procession carried by a person holding it with the hands and its base in a sash, the last to procession were from the "Pelos" family. Since 1993, this Christ is the owner of the Brotherhood that gives its name and which is precisely taken on Holy Wednesday in the procession of Silence.

     Indirect reference to its altar in the 1815 inventory: "the chapel on the right hand has two altars, one of Christ of Mercy, who is in front, and another of San Antonio Abad. The chapel on the other hand also has two altars, one that belongs to Ntra. Sra. del Rosario and the other to Santa Isabel" . Lib. fab Santa Maria, 1805-1853, p. in the end.

      The sculpture is slightly tilted to its right side. The body is well outlined. The arms have a smaller angle than in the local Hispano-Flemish Christs. The head is tilted forward and to the right side, with a metallic crown of thorns, which forces the real hair, not sculpted, to fall loosely over the shoulders and chest. In principle, the hair was carved, removing it later and leaving a cap on which the wig was placed. The face has rather a sleeping expression, physically exhausted, although painful. It combines expressiveness with its formal beauty. The mouth is ajar.

      It presents the "perizonium" formed by a cloth very close to the body, folded unevenly forming light and slightly angular folds, which is fastened to his waist with a string, partially visible, leaving his right hip uncovered.

The cloth is knotted and falls on the same side. This type of “perizonium” is quite common in Tierra de Campos, as it can be seen in crucified figures from Aguilar de Campos, Gastón de Campos and Cabezón del Valderaduey, although with their knots placed to their left. In Castromocho there is a crucifix of the same type as Alejo de Vahía, but with “perizonium” knotted on its right side.

His legs are straight with his knees apart, his right foot over his left to receive the nail. Hiding her nudity, since the 18th century her hips and part of her legs have been covered with a skirt, loose without folds, made of damask fabric and finished with golden threads.

His hands are open, with the thumb separated from the others to receive the nails. A lot of blood spurts out of her wounds. Over her arms hangs a shroud that reaches the bottom of her skirt. The state of conservation of it is good and its polychromy is excellent, with incarnation in a polished garter belt. This enhances its anatomy and the harmony of its proportions.

It is not normal in the Renaissance crucified with natural hair and metallic crown of thorns and that is why we have diverted it to a pre-baroque Renaissance, as can be seen in the folded and cordoned loin cloth.

shearing

Rattle

Lantern

Banner

cross

Christ of Mercy before putting his altar

Altar made to the Christ of Mercy

Christ of Mercy on his altar

      On Palm Sunday after the auction the litter is taken to the church, on Holy Tuesday night the Christ is dressed and the litter is decorated with flowers.

      On Holy Wednesday at night the Procession of Silence is celebrated in the first years it began at 10:00 p.m. but since a large part of the brothers live in other parts of Spain, it was delayed at 11:00 p.m. to facilitate their arrival, an hour before the brothers meet in the small museum that keeps images of saints, there the groups and couples that carry the Christ are formed, three formations are made by height, the high, medium and low, until 2004 It was carried by eight people, two per stick. The following year it is carried by nine, three for each stick.

       First, the cross is placed at the entrance of the west door, accompanied by two brothers on each side, then the banner with two other brothers, the person who carries the rattle, the one who carries the lantern and shears, then the group that brings out the Christ. and finally the rest of the brothers.

      At the moment that the entrance is made, the rattle is sounded followed by the shearing, the first ones in the middle and the groups making two rows in the middle of the church and in front of all the Christ.

church entrance

oath time

Cofrades around the Christ in the church

       This procession is the first of Holy Week, the parish priest gives an account of the feeling of these days.

      Then he takes the oath to the brothers to go in silence during the procession, all answering at the same time "YES WE SWEAR".

      Read the poetry written by D. Jacinto Fuertes to this brotherhood, and finally everyone sings the Forgive your people.

      The brothers come out to procession.

We come to apologize

Supreme King of Glory,

The youth of this town

They sing your mercies.

You forgave the good thief

who was on the cross

forgive our sins,

sins of youth

sins of youth,

that the world sees them so badly,

but you died on the cross

wanting to forgive us

I was young like you

Christ says to you and me,

for saving the young world,

young man on the cross died.

There is no more generous love

that the one who had us Jesus,

for saving us from sin

He died nailed to the Cross.

The youngest with the people

We will go in procession,

and before we all ask

mercy and forgiveness.

Youngsters are missing here

that in his youth you called

you died for them too

and you took them with you.

They are no longer in this world,

they will not come in procession

young they died

Christ have mercy on them.

Let's go in procession

trying not to speak

thinking of those who died

and in Christ who is dead.

       The route starts from the Santa María church, going down Rejadarada street, connecting with Botica street turning right, until reaching the Villalpando road turning left, reaching the junction with Regato street turning towards the left passing through the Plaza de San Juan, at the junction with Calle Zamora, turn left going up the street to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, there the Miserere song will be performed, then go down through the Plaza Mayor continuing through the Plaza San Martín until it connects with La Botica street, turning left until it connects again with Rejadarada street, turning right to enter the Santa María church again.

Banner

Shearing and Lantern

Rattle

Drum

      The silence is only interrupted in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento where the Miserere is sung by townspeople.

      In the precision of 2013, a member of the brotherhood adds the beating of the drum, which marks the passage of the procession.

Brothers carrying the Christ of Mercy

Brothers carrying the Christ of Mercy

Brothers carrying the Christ of Mercy

Procession in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento

Singing of the Miserere in the procession of Silence, together with the Christ of Mercy

Brothers carrying the Christ of Mercy

      To finish, the Amante Jesús Mío is sung, here the brothers already withdraw their hoods, leaving their faces uncovered.

     And finally, one by one, each brother venerates the Christ, waiting for another year to pass before he returns. 

Cofrades singing the My Lover Jesus

Veneration of Christ

      Where the moments of the procession are commented.

      The status of the Brotherhood is given to its members.