Quick Summary
- 1In late December, thieves broke into the monastery of La Santa Espina in Valladolid, Spain, stealing only consecrated hosts from the tabernacle.
- 2The delinquents did not take any sacred art or other valuable objects, focusing solely on the Sacred Forms awaiting the next Eucharist.
- 3The parish priest reported the desecration to the Guardia Civil and to the President of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, Luis Argüello.
- 4In response to the outrage, Argüello announced a formal act of restoration.
Quick Summary
Thieves desecrated the monastery of La Santa Espina in Valladolid on December 28, stealing consecrated hosts while leaving other valuables untouched. The perpetrators specifically targeted the sagrario to remove the Sacred Forms waiting for the next Eucharist.
Bishop Luis Argüello, President of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, responded to the profanation by organizing a formal act of restoration. A mass of desagravio was held on January 3 to address the spiritual harm caused by the theft.
The Profanation at La Santa Espina
On the afternoon of December 28, criminals entered the monastery of La Santa Espina in Valladolid. The thieves violated the sacred space during the Christmas season, targeting the tabernacle specifically.
Despite the presence of valuable items, the delinquents ignored sacred art and other objects of worth. Their sole objective was the removal of the consecrated hosts stored in the tabernacle. The parish priest reported the incident to the Guardia Civil, confirming that only the Sacred Forms were taken.
"No tocaron nada más: su objetivo fue el Señor"— Source Content
Bishop Argüello's Response
The news of the theft reached Luis Argüello, the Archbishop of Valladolid and President of the Conferencia Episcopal Española. He reacted to the outrage immediately.
Argüello announced a specific act to repair the damage done to the sacred liturgy. He organized a mass of desagravio, a formal ceremony of restoration intended to address the desecration of the hosts.
The Mass of Desagravio 🙏
The act of restoration took place on Saturday, January 3. The ceremony was held at the parish church of Santa María, located within the monastery of La Santa Espina.
The mass was attended by a diverse group of community members. This included:
- Several mayors from the surrounding area
- Religious representatives
- Faithful members of the congregation
The event served as a communal response to the theft, emphasizing the spiritual significance of the stolen items.
Conclusion
The incident at La Santa Espina highlights the specific nature of the crime, where the perpetrators sought to profane the Eucharist rather than acquire material wealth. The swift response by Bishop Argüello underscores the gravity of the loss to the Catholic community in Valladolid. Through the mass of desagravio, the church hierarchy aimed to restore sanctity to the violated space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Only consecrated hosts were stolen from the tabernacle at the La Santa Espina monastery. No sacred art or other valuable objects were taken.
Bishop Luis Argüello, President of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, responded by organizing a mass of desagravio to restore the sanctity of the profaned space.
The mass of desagravio was celebrated on Saturday, January 3, at the parish church of Santa María within the monastery.
