Our Lady of Charity

Patrona de Illescas (Toledo) · sanctuary with five canvas of El Greco

In the sanctuary-hospital that Cardinal Cisneros founded in 1500, Illescas sold to his patron, Our Lady of Charity; his altarpiece is the work of El Greco, and the sanctuary keeps five great canvas of the cretense.

Origin and history

The Hospital de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad was founded by Cardinal Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros in 1500, with plans of Pedro Guerio; the whole brings together hospital and temple around a Spanish courtyard. The Renaissance factory, of herriian features, rose between 1558 and about 1600. The main altarpiece is the work of El Greco, and the sanctuary retains five great canvas of his: The Virgin of Charity, The Coronation of the Virgin, The Annunciation, The Nativity and San Ildefonso. The central furnace is presided over by the image of the Virgin of Charity, patron of Illescas, canonically crowned on 12 October 1955 by Cardinal Plá and Deniel.

The documentation notes that in the place chosen for the hospital an ancient image of the Virgin was already venerated, an indication of an earlier Marian cult, although the sources do not collect apparitions or miracles in historical detail. His devotion is deeply linked to charity with the sick and needy, because of the hospital nature of the whole: charity was practiced in the hospital, and in the sanctuary the Mother of Charity was honored. The popular Miracle Fiestas, in March, revolve around the sanctuary.