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.
Christ of Mercy
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.
Shield:
A
crown of thorns.
Inside it a cross.
With
three nails
at the bottom of it.
Shield of
the Brotherhood of Christ of Mercy
The
dressing :
Green hood
with a white cross.
Dark green single T.
White
cape, gloves and sash.
Black
shoes.
Cofrades
with their clothing
The
elements that accompany the procession are:
shearing
Rattle
Lantern
Banner
cross
The Christ
throughout the year remains on the east side of the church, in
2006 the Brotherhood has placed an altar.
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.
Moment that takes the litter to the church
Holy Tuesday at night, the Christ is dressed and placed
on his litter
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
Throughout the tour the shearing and rattle are sounding,
reminding everyone that they have to go quietly.
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
At its completion inside the church, leaving the Christ in the
middle accompanied by the entire Brotherhood.
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
After the
procession is over, all the brothers enjoy a drink.
Where the moments of
the procession are commented.
The status of the
Brotherhood is given to its members.
Members of the
Christ of Mercy Brotherhood, in their agajape
Author:
Jose Luis Dominguez Martinez.
Biography
Pérez Bragado Camilo: Villafáfila: History and current situation of a
Castilian Leonese village and its parish churches.
Manuel de la Granja Alonso. The
Art of a Castilian-Leonese Villafáfila 2008.
Photographs:
Jose Luis Dominguez Martinez.
Transcription and montage:
Jose Luis Dominguez Martinez.
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transcription and montage, the rights belong to their authors, any type
of use is prohibited without authorization.
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authorized for storage, treatment, work, transcription and assembly to
José Luis Domínguez Martínez, its dissemination on villafafila.net, and
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