Brotherhood of Nazarenes of Our Lady of Piety

Processional Floats

Author: Francisco Font
Date: 1913

Iconography:
The Virgin, seated at the foot of the Cross, holds in her lap the lifeless body of her Son, gazing upon Him with tenderness and sorrow.

Looking back in order to look forward, we turn to a chronicle published in the magazine El Monte Carmelo in mid-1921.

At the General Assembly of the “Devout Week” Brotherhood held in late June 1921, Fr. Alfredo Mª de Jesús Crucificado, its Director, announced for the first time the project of building a new float through public subscription, as the old one had become severely deteriorated. The proposal was received enthusiastically, and generous contributions were promptly offered. The Carmelite Community, aware of the artistic talent of the then little-known Eugenio Valladolid, commissioned him to present a design for the new float.

Preparatory work continued until early January 1922, when subscription leaflets were distributed, including a reproduction of the proposed design.

What had seemed a dream soon became reality. On July 15, the people of Burgos were able to admire one of the most remarkable works ever executed in the city.

The float is designed in the Flamboyant Gothic style (third period), carved in native walnut wood and left in its natural color. The lower body or base consists of twenty-six ornate ogee arches combined with pinnacles. To avoid monotony, the arches are grouped in pairs, separated by artistic pilasters, four of which rise into exterior towers serving as candelabra or lanterns. These feature four windows with stained glass depicting Saint Elijah, Saint Joseph, Saint Joachim, and Saint Anne.

Along the lower front runs an elegant openwork frieze extending around the entire float, while above it a cornice or railing stretches for more than fifteen meters. From this railing rise two stepped tiers decorated with open tracery, forming the base for the central structure that houses the image of the Blessed Virgin.

The central body, the most important section, forms an irregular polygon divided into two levels, each adorned with four ogee arches. The lower arches contain four high reliefs carved in pine wood and richly gilded: Saint Elijah contemplating the prophetic cloud; the Transverberation of Saint Teresa (inspired by Bernini’s famous work); the apparition of the miraculous Child Jesus of Prague to Fr. Cyril; and Saint John of the Cross with one of his visions of Our Lord.

At the angles of each relief rise four octagonal, finely filigreed towers, divided into three sections with twenty-one windows in total. These display artistic stained glass images of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Saint Teresa, Saint John of the Cross, and the Child Jesus of Prague. Each tower is crowned with its own spire.

The third level or pedestal of the image bears within its arches the coats of arms of the Carmelite Order, Saint Teresa, Spain, and Burgos.

The front of the float features an elegant canopy supported by eight columns, sheltering a statue of Saint Simon Stock receiving the Holy Scapular from the Blessed Virgin.

The image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel crowning the float, created by Francisco Font, stands nearly two meters tall and is distinguished by the grace and delicacy of her features. She was blessed on July 15, the eve of the Feast of Mount Carmel, by the Cardinal Archbishop of Burgos, in the field adjacent to the Carmelite convent. The ceremony concluded with applause and acclamations to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The following day, the image processed devoutly through the streets of Burgos, accompanied by a large gathering of faithful.

History

Hermandad de Nazarenos de Nuestra Señora de la Piedad

This Holy Week Brotherhood has always had a common root: the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This mother Brotherhood has existed in the Church of Mount Carmel since the foundation of the Carmelite Fathers in the city of Burgos in 1608. The early chronicler of the Order, Fr. José de Santa Teresa, wrote: “Shortly after the foundation of the Carmelites, the Brotherhood of Mount Carmel was established, joined by the most noble families of the city.” It is reasonable to assume that this Brotherhood took part in Holy Week religious observances.

This Carmelite association was reorganized in 1988 in the form of a “Devout Week,” under the initiative and guidance of the Venerable Fr. Juan Vicente, Prior of Mount Carmel at that time. From then on, it attended the Good Friday Holy Burial Procession. In the minutes of the Quarterly Meeting of the gentlemen’s section of the Devout Week, dated March 21, 1920, it is recorded: “The Director recalls that on the day of the Holy Burial, according to previous agreements, all members must attend, presenting themselves in due time either at this convent or at the Chapel of Saint Tecla in the Cathedral.”

It is believed that this attendance took place without a distinctive habit, wearing only the external Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel as a sign.

In 1931, within the mother Brotherhood of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Section of Nazarene Brothers of Our Lady of Piety was established. While remaining members of the Carmelite Brotherhood, they formed this section. The foundation was carried out by Fr. Alfredo María de Jesús Crucificado, who directed the Devout Week Brotherhood of Mount Carmel from 1920 to 1935. A prominent preacher, he was highly active in Burgos. During his tenure, the project to provide Our Lady of Mount Carmel with a magnificent float was completed, created by the Burgos sculptor Eulogio Valladolid—the same float still used today.

The Section of Brothers of Our Lady of Piety began with 33 members, dressed in penitential habits, accompanying the Piety float of the Carmelite Fathers in the Holy Burial Procession, as they continue to do today.

The Brotherhood experienced its peak in the years following the Spanish Civil War, when Fr. Bruno de San José, a Carmelite from Burgos, served as Abbot. He not only increased membership to over one hundred but also significantly enhanced the Piety float, making it one of the most beautiful in the Holy Burial Procession (Minutes Book of the Gentlemen, session of June 19, 1955).

During this period, on December 31, 1944, a women’s group known as the “Marys of Piety” was established within the Nazarene Section. According to agreements of the Burgos Holy Week Board, these women were the only ones permitted to take part in the Holy Burial Procession, accompanying the Redeemer and the Co-Redemptrix in the Piety float. This women’s branch remained active and vibrant until 1954 (Minutes of the Ladies’ Carmelite Brotherhood, March 20, 1954).

From that time onward, the Nazarene Section gradually declined, despite being well organized and possessing a remarkable float. At present, it has 55 active members and 7 supporting members.

On October 5, 2008, the City Council of Burgos, in plenary session, granted the title of “Good Neighbor” to the Brotherhood of Nazarenes of Our Lady of Piety.