Brotherhoods in Spain

[Chaoticdiscerne]

So I’m a student planning to study in Spain in the Spring and in part of my looking up stuff to get excited i mean um…research. I noticed there seem to be many Brotherhoods and what not that seem to play a significant role there. (I know they’re important in Semana Santa, which I’m excited that I’ll be there for)

I was just curious if anyone knew anything more about these types of things because I’m rather curious if they’re comparable to in the U.S. with Knights of Colombus or if they’re more unique to Spain.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

When you are speaking of Brotherhoods, at least from the context of your comments, I think that you must be speaking of what the Americans normally tend to translate into English as “Confraternities”.

The word “Brotherhoods” can also be an English rendering for the classic mendicant religious orders as well as the congregations of teaching Brothers of more recent foundation, such as the Brothers of Christian Instruction.

The confraternities do play a very special role in the lives of the churches in Europe and in our spiritual life in a way that I think does not have a parallel in the United States. Some are more visible, as you write, during Holy Week…but the members are living their commitment beyond when they are participating in processions or lending their presence for the events of Holy Week.

The focus of the memberships vary. They can focus on specific works of mercy or have a more penitential/spiritual aspect; some are dedicated to Marian spirituality and some even have a more historical aspect – those honoring, for example, the martyrs.

Many of the confraternities are hundreds of years old and were entrusted with special missions that are being kept alive today. Indeed, the more ancient will often have a historic church entrusted to their safekeeping or at least be headquartered in one of the ancient churches.

I hope you have the opportunity to get to know one or more during your studies – and perhaps you will have a chance to participate in one.

 

[Chaoticdiscerne]

very cool, thank you. I may have to try to meet some of them or something (if my Spanish is good enough for them to actually hold a conversation with me…)

 

[Don_Ruggero]

very cool, thank you. I may have to try to meet some of them or something (if my Spanish is good enough for them to actually hold a conversation with me…)

You will find that there are Europeans who do, actually, have the ability to communicate and even quite effectively in English.

 

[Chaoticdiscerne]

Oh I’m sure, though of course i hope to force myself to work on my Spanish over there.

But thank you, it’s really exciting to learn more things about a country that has such a long Catholic heritage that it goes further back than the cities I live in have even existed.