Mary Most Holy of the Llanos

Patrona de Albacete

Patroness of Albacete and his diocese, Mary Most Holy of the Llanos is to be venerated in the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist; his feast of 8 September is the religious heart of the Albacete Fair.

Origin and history

According to the Royal Association, the cult of the image dates back to 1447, and at the end of the 16th century the first documents on his devotion appear. Under the title of Santa María de los Llanos a hermitage was built in the area of Los Llanos, where tradition places the finding of the image by a farmer while plowing. Since ancient times, a spring procession carried the image from the hermitage to the church of San Juan, today cathedral, where it is venerated in its shrimp.

In 1632 the City Council agreed on an annual thanksgiving function on May 16 and declared it Patrona de la Villa de Albacete; it was later confirmed as patron of the city and of the diocese. Devotion is intensively identified with the life of Albacete, especially through the September Fair, whose day 8 is celebrated with solemn mass and mass procession.

Year of canonical coronation: is not accurately recorded in the sources.