HOLY TUESDAY
Brotherhood and Confraternity of Penitents of Our Father Jesus of Health, Our Lady of the Waters, and the Archangels Saint Raphael and Saint Gabriel. |
Historical Background
The brotherhood developed within the parish community of San Rafael and San Gabriel, growing out of devotional initiatives promoted in the surrounding neighbourhood. The present image of Christ replaced an earlier sculpture by Miguel Ángel Segura and was blessed in 2012, marking the beginning of a new stage in the brotherhood’s development.
These developments reflect a gradual process of consolidation in which parish life, religious worship and the brotherhood’s public presence have reinforced one another. Its current canonical seat is the Parish Church of San Rafael and San Gabriel, at Plaza San Rafael, 1, 11408 Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz), which remains the focal point of its religious services and devotional activities.
The brotherhood makes its annual penitential procession on Holy Tuesday, as part of the Holy Week celebrations in Jerez. Its history also highlights the importance of its principal sacred images and the successive additions, conservation work and restorations that have helped preserve its identity. The history of the brotherhood can therefore be understood as a combination of religious devotion, institutional continuity and adaptation to the changing circumstances of each period.
Sacred Images and Patron Saints
Nuestro Padre Jesús de la Salud (Our Father Jesus of Health) was created by the Seville-born sculptor Fernando Aguado and blessed on 21 March 2012. The brotherhood’s principal Marian image is Nuestra Señora de las Aguas (Our Lady of the Waters). The Archangels Saint Raphael and Saint Gabriel complete its sacred dedications.
The brotherhood’s full official name is “Hermandad y Cofradía de Nazarenos de Nuestro Padre Jesús de la Salud, Nuestra Señora de las Aguas y Arcángeles San Rafael y San Gabriel”. This title brings together the different devotions that form the basis of the brotherhood’s religious life and reflects the particular role each plays within its spiritual identity.
The images of Christ and the Virgin Mary traditionally form the focus of contemplation on the Passion and the mysteries of Christ, while the brotherhood’s other sacred dedications complement its spiritual heritage. The artists responsible for these sculptures, their dates of creation, historical attributions and subsequent restorations help place them within Jerez’s rich tradition of religious processional sculpture and contribute to their distinctive artistic character. The continued veneration of these sacred images preserves the brotherhood’s collective memory and provides a lasting focus of devotion for its members and devotees throughout the year.
General information
Home Church: Parish Church of San Rafael and San Gabriel, at Plaza San Rafael, 1, 11408 Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz)
Website: http://saludesanrafael.blogspot.com/
Pictures / more info (Spanish)
