Peto das ánimas - Barbadás, Ourense, Galicia, España - Stone Church Artefacts on Waymarking.com

The "peto das ánimas" (breastplates of souls) are small sanctuaries located on roads, crossroads and churches1 in the autonomous community of Galicia, which constitute material manifestations of the cult of the dead and devotion to the souls.2 The deep feeling of religiosity of many inhabitants de Galicia has been inherited from their ancestors and reflected in multiple traditions spread throughout the Galician geography, being the breastplates a sample of this.
The meaning of the breastplates comes from the Galician popular belief about the continuity of the souls after death and the existence of an intermediate step (Purgatory) to be able to reach Heaven, where sins and faults committed are redeemed. in life. Possibly of all the popular constructions, the breastplates are the ones that give the most importance to Purgatory. The purpose of these elements is that the living can offer alms for the salvation of souls in pain that due to their stay in Purgatory cannot find eternal rest, being able thanks to this act to reach Heaven. Once released, they will intercede on behalf of whoever made the offering. In this way, the ritual of the offering not only seeks the salvation of the souls of the dead, but also that of the soul itself. The alms offered can consist of various objects such as flowers, wax, potatoes, corn, bread or oil, although generally this is monetary. A large number of these small altars were built by the devotion of a parishioner or by the residents of the place, some of them carrying messages intended to raise awareness among passers-by who come across them, such as the message inscribed on a breastplate located in Famelga de Aguasantas , in Cotobade, which reads: "You have a soul and no more, if you lose it, what will you do?" Likewise, the ancestors are also invited to remember: "Ave María Purísima. Remember the souls of your parents or grandparents or uncles or relatives or friends ", the following message being found in another part of the oratory:" Pray for us, Lord, and help us with your votes that we will ask for you. "

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Approximate Age of Artefact: 1867 Relevant Website: Not listed

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Date Logged Log   03/05/2021 Ariberna visited it