Hermandad

As Hermandad ( Spanish for " Brotherhood "; majority Hermandades ) describe themselves in Spanish associations devote to charitable or religious goals. In contrast to this, Cofradías ("confreres") were associations whose members belonged to a certain professional group, social class or ethnic origin. Since today's Cofradías no longer make these restrictions, the terms Hermandad and Cofradía are used almost synonymously.

By 1835 there were local police forces in many cities in Spain , also known as Hermandad . They should guarantee safety in rural areas. From 1476 to 1498 these institutions were centrally organized in Castile under the name Santa Hermandad or Hermandad general .

Hermandades and Cofradías as charitable associations

Members of the Cofradía de la Entrada de Jesús en Jerusalén carry their pasos during the procession in Astorga

In the 11th century, the first Cofradías emerged in Spain as professional associations to defend the common interests of their members. Associated with this was the joint implementation of services in chapels or at altars in the parish churches under the patronage of the Cofradías.

The charitable tasks of the Hermandades and Cofradías were mainly:

• Arrange for the deceased to be properly buried
• To operate hospitals
• To support widows and orphans (not only of their own members)
• to raise the dowry to enable young girls to marry
• Prisoners free to buy
• to distribute grain in times of need

These activities have always been linked to the spread of the Christian faith.

Military cofradías - like the military orders - were dedicated to the defense of areas that had been conquered by the Reconquista against attempts at reconquest by Muslim troops.

Hermandades and Cofradías as religious associations

Penitent of the Cofradía del Lignum Crucis in La Laguna

From the 16th century, the holding of regular processions is a goal in the statutes. The Cofradías Penitenciales ("penitential brotherhoods") came into being, whose main concern was to organize penitential exercises for their members. These consisted of a public confession , and self-flagellation often took place. The flagellation was banned by royal decree in 1777.

Through contributions and donations, foundations were established to finance the activities of the Hermandades in the following centuries . In 1773, 19,024 Cofradías were counted in Castile and 6,557 in Aragon. Under the reign of King Charles III. Large parts of the assets of the Cofradías were confiscated and given to the public welfare and widows' welfare.

In the 19th century, the means of the dead hand , which also included the Cofradías, were confiscated in Spain due to the disamortization . This led to many Hermandades disintegrating. A number of associations were formed after King Alfonso XII came to power. founded or re-founded in 1874. Politics during the Second Spanish Republic again led to the dissolution of Hermandades from 1931 onwards.

In the 1950s, many Hermandades were founded or re-established. The Cofradías were and still are associations of lay people with the aim of sharing their faith. Their activity today consists in promoting the veneration of their devotional figure , who is the patron saint , advocate and defender of the members. This is done by financing new figures, caring for and furnishing the figures, their chapels and altars. Outwardly, the Hermandades and Cofradías appear through their processions, which usually take place during Semana Santa . In addition, all Hermandades continue to develop charitable activities today.

The Hermandades and Cofradías of today are no longer restricted to a specific occupational group, social class, ethnic or local origin. They are fundamentally open to all devout Catholics and mostly also female Catholics who are not excluded from the sacraments.

Hermandad del Santísimo de la Santa Iglesia Catedral in La Laguna

In the 17th century, the members' clothing that is still used today appeared. It usually consists of a pointed paper hat ( Coroza ) , the velvet cover of which merges into a cloth that covers the head, shoulders and chest. This shawl has slits for the eyes and often bears the Hermandad coat of arms. The tunic has colored buttons. Around them a braided color is Zingulum worn as a cigar band, and occasionally a sash . The cloak is worn wide open at the front of the body so that the arms are free.

See also

• French Confrérie

literature

• José Antonio Gómez Maldonado: Siglo XIX: Guardia Civil Senior. University of Jaime I, Castellón de la Plana 2005 (Spanish; PDF; 960 kB; 272 pages on mayores.uji.es).
• Braulio Díaz Sampedro: La investigación histórica y jurídica de las cofradías y hermandades de pasión en Andalucía. In: Foro. Nueva época. No. 14, 2011, pp. 195–222 (Spanish; online at revistas.ucm.es).

Web links

• Daniel Jesús Carmona Gutiérrez: Breve exposición sobre las diferencias entre Cofradía, Hermandad y Archicofradía. In: costaleroscalvariocordoba.blogspot.com.es. Retrieved May 18, 2012, November 9, 2014 (Spanish). 
• José Sánchez Herrero: Orígenes y evuloción de las Hermandades y Cofradías. La Evolución de las Hermandades y Cofradías desde sus momentos fundacionales a nuestros días. Consejo General de HH. y CC. de la Ciudad de Sevilla, accessed November 9, 2014 (Spanish, probably 1999). 

Individual evidence

1. ^ Daniel Jesús Carmona Gutiérrez: Breve exposición sobre las diferencias entre Cofradía, Hermandad y Archicofradía. In: costaleroscalvariocordoba.blogspot.com.es. Retrieved May 18, 2012, November 9, 2014 (Spanish). 
2. ^ José Antonio Gómez Maldonado: Siglo XIX: Guardia Civil Senior . University of Jaime I, Castellón de la Plana 2005, p. 81 (Spanish, 272 pp., Uji.es [PDF; 960 kB ]). Siglo XIX: Guardia Civil Senior ( Memento of the original from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
3. ↑ Braulio Díaz Sampedro: La investigación histórica y jurídica de las cofradías y hermandades de pasión en Andalucía. In: Foro. Nueva época. No. 14, 2011, pp. 195–222, here p. 198 (Spanish; online at revistas.ucm.es).
4. ↑ ^{a b c} José Sánchez Herrero: Orígenes y evuloción de las Hermandades y Cofradías. La Evolución de las Hermandades y Cofradías desde sus momentos fundacionales a nuestros días. (No longer available online.) Consejo General de HH. y CC. de la Ciudad de Sevilla, archived from the original on December 16, 2014 ; Retrieved November 9, 2014 (Spanish, probably 1999). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
5. ↑ Braulio Díaz Sampedro: La investigación histórica y jurídica de las cofradías y hermandades de pasión en Andalucía. In: Foro. Nueva época. No. 14, 2011, pp. 195–222, here p. 200 (Spanish; online at revistas.ucm.es).
6. ↑ ^{a b} Braulio Díaz Sampedro: La investigación histórica y jurídica de las cofradías y hermandades de pasión en Andalucía. In: Foro. Nueva época. No. 14, 2011, pp. 195–222, here p. 203 (Spanish; online at revistas.ucm.es).
7. ^ Joaquín Julio Flores Peña: Antonio Giménez Martínez: De su vida y obra. (PDF; 85 kB; 10 pages) 2009, accessed on November 9, 2014 (Spanish). 
8. ↑ Semana Santa de LaLaguna: Hermandades y cofradías. Junta de Hermandades y Confradías San Cristóbal de La Laguna, accessed November 9, 2014 (Spanish).