agenda_y_actividades_conferencias_2014_santa-escuela-de-cristo

8 April 2014

Global Seminars & Invited Speaker Series

HOLY WEEK CYCLE

The School of Christ. A peculiar institution of the Hispanic Baroque

D. Fermín Labarga García.
University of Navarra

As can be seen in the book La Santa Escuela de Cristo (BAC, Madrid 2013), the Santa Escuela de Cristo, founded in the Hospital de los Italianos in Madrid in 1653 by the Sicilian Oratorian Juan Bautista Ferruzzo, spread in an astonishing way throughout Spain and the American viceroyalties. It also spread to Navarre, where it was present in seven towns: Cascante, Corella, Estella, Los Arcos, Pamplona, Tudela and Viana. One of its great promoters, who is considered to be its true co-founder, is Blessed Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, born in Fitero.

The present lecture, held in the incomparable framework of chapel of the School in Calle Ansoleaga, aims to provide an insight into the historical trajectory of this venerable Pamplona institution:

Foundation

  • Founded on 14 November 1668 in the chapel of Santa María de Gracia in the General Hospital of Pamplona.

  • Founders: The Bishop of Pamplona, Don Andrés Girón, its first Obedience; two canons from Huesca: Don Manuel de Salinas and Don Matías de Aguirre, who were preaching holy missions. And 56 other brothers, including the Commander of the Order of Mercy, Don Francisco Sánchez; the Count of Javier, Don Antonio de Garro y Javier; Don Luis de Aguirre, knight of the Order of Santiago; Don Nicolás de Eguía, knight of the Order of Alcántara; Don José de Elío, Lord of Elío; Don Francisco Enríquez de Ablitas, oidor of the committee of Navarre.

  • The constitutions were approved on 15 July 1669 by graduate don Roque de Andrés Santos de San Pedro, provisor and vicar general. They were again confirmed by the bishops Don Melchor Ángel Gutiérrez Vallejo on 27 August 1728 and Don Gaspar de Miranda y Argáiz, on 13 February 1750. On the same date they also received the approval of the committee of Navarre, at the same time that licence was granted to print them.

  • In 1670, all the brothers (since it had not been possible to do so at the time of admission) took an oath to defend the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.


Venues

  • In May 1670, the chapel was moved to the Obreria of the parish of San Saturnino.

  • On 9 August 1750, it was transferred to the now defunct church of San Antón Abad.

  • However, steps were taken to return to the parish of San Saturnino or to move to the parish of San Nicolás. They do not do well result.

  • financial aid For this reason, on 7 March 1751, they decided to build a new chapel with the help of two brothers who offered to pay for it: one offered 200 pesos and the other the remainder. Having obtained the corresponding permits from the bishop and the committee of Navarre, on 15 July, the documents for the purchase and sale of two houses located at the back of the church of San Saturnino, Calle de Tecenderías, were signed before a notary public. They were the property of Don Agustín Ezpeleta y Goñi, the major warden of the Royal Palace and perpetual merino of Olite. They cost 25,568 reales.

  • The work was completed in June 1753, and the new chapel was blessed on 26 June by Brother Lorenzo de Irigoyen y Dutari, canon and prior of Velate, expressly delegated to do so by Bishop Gaspar de Miranda y Argáiz. Without serving as a precedent, a solemn and public function was held on 30 June.

  • On 25th June 1771, the bishop Irigoyen prohibited the celebration of masses for the people in the chapel , also prohibiting its cession to confraternities or other congregations (as happened even in the late date of 1892 with the Guard of Honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus). The prohibition was only mitigated in November 1756, 1760 and 1775 when the parish church of San Saturnino was under construction.


Altarpiece from the School of Christ in Pamplona. 18th century 

Altarpiece from the School of Christ in Pamplona. 18th century
 

chapel

  • A chaplaincy was founded on 6 May 1753: the donor also left two adjoining houses, one for the chaplain and the other with the income from which the church could be maintained.

  • One of the conditions was that a lantern should illuminate the image of the saint from dusk to dawn. This was maintained until 1831, when it was reduced to the saint's feast day and the octaves of the Virgen del Camino and Corpus Christi.

  • During the disentailment, it was prevented from being considered ecclesiastical property and thus avoided confiscation.


Brothers

  • In 1704 there was a moment of crisis, with only 4 ecclesiastics and 9 lay people remaining. The School of Madrid asked for financial aid and recommended that they continue to pray for an increase. So it happened that the following year, 1705, there were already 46 Brothers: 29 lay people and 17 ecclesiastics.

  • Other critical moments occurred during the French invasion and the Carlist wars.

  • Many of the bishops of Pamplona, other ecclesiastics, members of the Navarrese nobility and other distinguished figures have belonged to the School for various reasons.


data curious

  • attendance a comedies: a problem from the beginning in 1668.

  • visit to the hospitals: 6 priests and 6 brothers took turns attending to the sick every week for one day.

  • visit to the Royal Prison three times a year: Holy Week (Holy Tuesday), Porciuncula and Christmas. It was agreed on 19 March 1669 to bring them the food prepared by the nuns of the Recollect convents on those days; from there they took it in procession to the prison, praying the Rosary.

  • In 1764, it was arranged that food would be served to the prisoners by women, rather than by the brothers.

  • The last time this meal was served was on 2 August 1805. Thereafter, alms were given.


Decadence

  • Begins in the 19th century

  • The shortage of Brothers continues at the beginning of the 20th century. Lack of attendance

  • Attempt at revitalisation

  • It lasted until the 1980s