Our Lady of Souls

Marian Advocation of Avila (Castilla y León)

El santuario de Sonsoles está documentado al menos desde la Edad Media, y su actual fábrica combina elementos de los siglos XV y XVI con ampliaciones posteriores. La tradición explica el nombre a partir de una leyenda: la imagen habría sido hallada por unos pastores tras oír una voz que repetía «¡son soles!» al encontrarla iluminada por los rayos del sol, de donde derivaría el título. Conviene distinguir esta etimología legendaria del dato documentado, que es la antigüedad medieval del lugar de culto.

Main data

Origin and history

El santuario de Sonsoles está documentado al menos desde la Edad Media, y su actual fábrica combina elementos de los siglos XV y XVI con ampliaciones posteriores. La tradición explica el nombre a partir de una leyenda: la imagen habría sido hallada por unos pastores tras oír una voz que repetía «¡son soles!» al encontrarla iluminada por los rayos del sol, de donde derivaría el título. Conviene distinguir esta etimología legendaria del dato documentado, que es la antigüedad medieval del lugar de culto.

The image and the sanctuary

The image is venerated in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sansols, in the municipal term of Avila, next to the Adaja River, a set that includes host and adjacent dependencies. The devotion of abulian pastors and laborers has left abundant exvotes for healing and for protection in droughts and livestock diseases. Local tradition refers that during the Civil War the image was guarded by devotees to avoid its destruction, although the exact detail of the place varies according to the sources and remains a local tradition.

Sponsorship and coronation

He is a popular patron of Avila and his land; the main canonical patron of the diocese is St. Teresa of Jesus. His canonical coronation took place on 8 September 1954, data collected from diocesan and local chronic sources.

Party and devotion

His main feast is on 8 September, Nativity of the Virgin; there are also Romries and parties on the Monday of Aguas and in the month of May, according to the local calendar. The Romeries bring together the cofradies and the city, with a procession of banners and pendons.

Link to the Rosary

There is no historical fellowship of the Rosary especially linked to the title of Sansols. The prayer of the Rosary in the Romries and Novies is common, but there is no specific link to the Rosary as a characteristic feature of the sanctuary.