Creencias y devociones en las cofradías sevillanas de finales de la Edad Media y comienzos de la modernidad

In this paper we aim to study the diversity of Christian beliefs and devotions in Sevillian confraternities during XIV to XVI centuries. In order to achieve our purpose we have used confraternities' rules. We have studied four different aspects: the devotion to the Holy Trinity -made up of three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit-; the devotion to the Virgin; the devotion to the saints; and the cult of images. We can verify that God was always present in people's lives, and they normally turned to Mary and the saints in order to obtain protection and celestial favours. Therefore we can affirm that Christian beliefs and devotions in Seville during the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of Early modern period were according to Rome's rules. Resumen: En este trabajo estudiamos el extenso panorama de las creencias y devociones cristianas presentes en las cofradías sevillanas de los siglos XIV al XVI a través de las reglas o estatutos de estas corporaciones. Desarrollamos cuatro aspectos distintos: la adoración a la Santísima Trinidad a través de las tres personas que la forman, la veneración de la Virgen María, la de los santos y el culto a las imágenes. La documentación nos permite constatar que la presencia de Dios en las vidas de los creyentes era constante, que acudían frecuentemente a la intercesión de la Virgen y los santos para obtener protección y favores, y que la veneración de imágenes estaba también muy extendida, algo que permite verificar que el cristianismo vivido en la capital andaluza durante este período entroncaba perfectamente con los cánones marcados desde Roma.Abstract: In this paper we aim to study the diversity of Christian beliefs and devotions in Sevillian confraternities during XIV to XVI centuries. In order to achieve our purpose we have used confraternities' rules. We have studied four different aspects: the devotion to the Holy Trinity -made up of three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit-; the devotion to the Virgin; the devotion to the saints; and the cult of images. We can verify that God was always present in people's lives, and they normally turned to Mary and the saints in order to obtain protection and celestial favours. Therefore we can affirm that Christian beliefs and devotions in Seville during the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of Early modern period were according to Rome's rules