History
Without attempting to undertake a rigorous historical study of the appearance of the original sacred image of the Virgin, which can currently be traced back to approximately 1447, worship, love and devotion towards this blessed image quickly spread under the title of SANTA MARÍA DE LOS LLANOS. She received this name because the image appeared in the area known as Los Llanos, within the municipality of Albacete, approximately eight kilometres from the city.
During the period of the Muslim invasions, the image had been buried, probably in order to protect it from damage and desecration. According to tradition, once the Christian Reconquest was well under way, an anonymous farmer ploughing in the area known as Los Llanos discovered a small and unusual figure. Joaquín Sánchez Jiménez historically dates this discovery to around the year 1447.
Surprised by his discovery, the humble farmer picked it up and carefully wrapped it in a blanket, intending to give it to his young daughter as a toy. When he finished his work and arrived home, however, he discovered that the figure had disappeared.
The following day, the image appeared once again in the same place, in the opening of a furrow. Astonished, the farmer hid it once more inside his blanket, this time firmly tying the ends together to prevent it from becoming lost as it had the previous day. According to the Real Asociación de la Santísima Virgen de los Llanos, the same thing happened again, even though the bundle remained securely tied.
Intrigued by what had happened, the farmer informed the ecclesiastical authorities. They travelled to Los Llanos and witnessed the small image appearing at ground level after once again being brought to the surface by the ploughshare, just as it had been on the two previous occasions. There was no longer any doubt that this was considered the miraculous discovery of the ancient image of Santa María.
The image quickly began to be venerated under the title of Santa María de Los Llanos. An hermitage bearing the same name was later built on the site where it had been found, financed through alms and donations from the inhabitants of the town of Albacete and its surrounding area.
The first written records documenting devotion to the Virgen de los Llanos in Albacete date from the late 16th century. Indeed, from 1591 onwards, a spring procession took the Virgin from her hermitage to the Church of San Juan, where the people of Albacete would pray to her.
In 1632, the Town Council of Albacete agreed that every year, on 16 May, a thanksgiving ceremony should be held for the favours and blessings received from the Blessed Virgin. This marked the beginning of the solemn celebrations of the traditional Novena, and from that time onwards SANTA MARÍA DE LOS LLANOS was officially proclaimed PATRONESS OF THE TOWN OF ALBACETE.
During the 19th century, Spain experienced major social, political, cultural and religious events that significantly affected the life of the Spanish Church.
In 1833, the State confiscated Church property and decreed the dissolution of the religious orders.
As the Franciscan community at the Convent of Los Llanos, which cared for and venerated the sacred image in the hermitage built on the site, was forced to disband, the Town Council invoked its right of patronage and, on behalf of the city, requested custody of the sacred image. It was subsequently transferred to the Church of San Juan Bautista.
In order to promote worship of and devotion to the distinguished Patroness of the City of Albacete, a brotherhood was founded on 28 April 1875. Since 1917, it has held the title of REAL ASOCIACIÓN DE MARÍA SANTÍSIMA DE LOS LLANOS.
In 1939, following the end of the Spanish Civil War, a remarkable discovery was made. The sacred image of the Virgen de los Llanos had providentially escaped destruction by fire on two occasions, although it had been left “decapitated and partially destroyed”. During its restoration, the secret hidden inside the image was revealed.
A small cavity was found inside the wooden bust. It contained the head of a figure measuring approximately seven centimetres, apparently representing the Virgin, together with an even smaller head representing the Child Jesus. Both were made in a similar manner, although the latter was somewhat more roughly modelled.
Attached firmly to the reverse of the lifted wooden panel was a piece of paper bearing the following inscription:
“This is the head of the Virgen de los Llanos from which devotion to her in this house first began. Because it was made from such fragile material, this body and this wooden head were made. Year sixteen hundred and thirty-one.”
On 2 November 1949, His Holiness Pope Pius XII established the new Diocese of Albacete. The papal bull establishing the Diocese stated:
“We constitute as the heavenly Patroness [of the Diocese] the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY under the title of ‘LOS LLANOS’.”
From that moment onwards, the Blessed Virgen de los Llanos became Patroness of both the Diocese and the City of Albacete.
Under the same Papal Bull, the Archpriest Church of San Juan Bautista became the Cathedral, the principal church and Mother Church of the newly created Diocese.
When the Cathedral Chapter was established, it assumed patronage of the Blessed Virgen de los Llanos. From among its members, the Spiritual Director and Deputy Spiritual Director of the Real Asociación are appointed, and the Chapter oversees worship of and devotion to the distinguished Patroness.
One of the most important events in the history and activities of the Real Asociación was the Canonical Coronation of María Santísima de los Llanos. This had been a deeply cherished aspiration of the first Bishop of the Diocese, Dr Arturo Tabera Araoz, later Cardinal of the Holy Church. His enthusiastic support drove the unforgettable process that culminated on 27 May 1956, the solemn day of the Coronation.
The entire City and Diocese of Albacete experienced an extraordinary outpouring of fervour and love for the Virgin, a feeling that remains alive among those who experienced it.
For a period of time, the Real Asociación de María Santísima de los Llanos consisted of two separate associations, one for men and another for women, in accordance with the customs of the time. Each had its own Board of Directors and members, although both shared the same purpose.
In 1983, by mutual agreement, the two associations merged to form a single association open to faithful of both sexes wishing to become members, under the name REAL ASOCIACIÓN DE NUESTRA SEÑORA MARÍA SANTÍSIMA DE LOS LLANOS.