La Caridad (Los Legionarios) – Charity (The Legionaries)

Royal Brotherhood of the Lord of Charity.

HISTORY.
The alms to rescue those captives, the burying of the sentenced, the provisions for orphans and widows and the collaboration in health centres were for centuries the main ideas of the scheme of Hermandad del Señor de la Caridad (Brotherhood of the Lord of Charity). In fact, one of the first rule of this hospital brotherhood, founded in the 15th century, highlights social work and completely puts aside the religious duties or devotion for the image. Although there is not a specific date of the foundation of the brotherhood, several documents suggest the 15th century, more specifically 1469. However, it disappeared due to successive crises, and it was refounded in 1939.

TEMPLE.
Church of San Francisco y San Eulogio. This temple belonged to the previous Convent of San Pedro el Real, a Fernando III’s foundation that belonged to the Franciscans until the expropiations of the 19th century.

THE IMAGE.
Señor de la Caridad (Lord of Charity) – [PHOTO #1; #2]
The image of Señor de la Caridad (Lord of Charity) is an anonymous sculpture from the 16th century, which arrived at the brotherhood thanks to the donation by Juan Draper in 1614, who had received it from the Brotherhood of San Bernandino as payment of a debt.
It is a crucified Christ, dead on the Cross, pounded to it through three nails. His large torso is slightly turned right, while his head falls also on the right. His shoulders, at different levels, contribute to the bending of his body, which is turned, thus remembering some famous anatomical resources from the 16th century. The shroud, with great quality creases, is tied on his right side.
On his face, full of serenity and calmness after death, we can barely see any signs of the pain suffered by the Lord. His closed eyelids hide his very big eyes. His fine and elegant eyebrows, straight nose and half-opened mouth give him a great character and majesty to the nature of the moment. His beard is divided in two and it is formed by wide locks.
Up to date, the image has experienced some restorations; the most recent one was carried out by Miguel Arjona Navarro. In it, he found out that the shroud had previously been restored. Howevery, Arjona realised that, under the polychrome layer from the 17th century, there was the original one from the 16th century, which was perfectly preserved. Therefore, the work has nowadays an appearance which is very similiar to the original one.

Virgen del Señor de la Caridad (Virgin of the Lord of Charity) – [PHOTO #1; #2]
Virgen del Señor de la Caridad (Virgin of the Lord of Charity) is also an important image of the brotherhood, attributed to the circle of sculptor from Granada José de Mora, who carried out his work along the 18th century.
It is a fully carved image with polychrome. She is kneeling, with her head slightly leaned, and her hands are interlaced in a praying attitude. She is wearing a white tunic with the widow’s shawl, and a dark blue mantle that covers almost her whole body. Her especially beautiful face stands out due toher prominent frowned eyebrows that show the cointained pain of the Virgin. She has a low look and up to six tears fall down her sad and disconsolate eyes.

NAZARENE HABIT.
Black tunic with red buttons, black face-coverer and red cincture. The important posts wear a black cape with red edges.

IMPORTANT INSIGNIAS.
 Silver Guiding Cross by Manuel Aumente (1941) with silver lanterns by Díaz Roncero (1958).
 Nickel silver horns by Herrera (1956).
 Banner with the crest embroidered in silk and gold by the Adoring Mothers (1944-45).
 Banner of the brotherhood in black velvet and red satin embroidered in gold, silver, silk and lamé by the Adoring Mothers, accompanied by nazarenes wearing dalmatics that reproduce their coats of arms.
 Banners of Enrique IV, Juan II (1986) and Juana I (1987) by the workshops of Pozo-Aguayo.