Our Lady of the Granada of Llerena

Marian devotion of Llerena (Extremadura)
Recognized by the Church

Our Lady of Granada es la patrona de Llerena (Badajoz), in the region of Campiña Sur. Tradition links its origin to the reconquest of these lands by the Order of Santiago in the 13th century: 1241 the Virgin appeared to don Rodrigo Iñíguez, Master of the Order, carrying the Child on one arm and, on the other, a pomegranate, fruit that was interpreted as a sign of fruitful companies. The devotion was settled in Llerena, a key square of the Order of Santiago, and the advocation was linked to the identity of the villa.

Main data

Origin and history

Our Lady of Granada es la patrona de Llerena (Badajoz), in the region of Campiña Sur. Tradition links its origin to the reconquest of these lands by the Order of Santiago in the 13th century: 1241 the Virgin appeared to don Rodrigo Iñíguez, Master of the Order, carrying the Child on one arm and, on the other, a pomegranate, fruit that was interpreted as a sign of fruitful companies. The devotion was settled in Llerena, a key square of the Order of Santiago, and the advocation was linked to the identity of the villa.

The image and the sanctuary

The image is venerated in the parish church of Our Lady of Granadain the main square of Llerena, one of the great temples of the diocese. According to the iconography of this advocation, the Virgin often supports the Child and a pomegranate open, symbol of the fullness of life and abundance. It does not contain a unique and ancient documentary description of the size beyond its secular veneration in the parish.

Sponsorship and coronation

Es patrona de Llerena. Su canonical coronation se celebró el August 15, 1966, chaired by the auxiliary bishop of Badajoz, Don Doroteo Fernández and Fernández. That same year the villa named her alcaldesa perpetua honoraria, title donated by the City Council. There is no declaration of patronage beyond the local Llerena.

Party and devotion

His holiday is associated with August 15 (Asunción) and the Marian celebrations of Llerena, with great popular roots. The grenade bearing the image has given name and seal to devotion: the faithful see in it the promise of spiritual fertility under the protection of the Mother. It does not contain a critical catalogue of miracles, but it does contain a living and multitudinary devotion.

Link to the Rosary

As a Mother who led the Child and the grenade of life, Our Lady of Granada invites the Rosary to be scattered as one-by-one, the seeds of grace that Mary distributes. To pray in Llerena is to extend the confidence of those knights of Santiago who put their company under their cloak.