THE SHRINE OF HOLY MARY OF SALAS

The hermitage of the ‘Virgen de las Huertas’ was situated to the southeast of the city of Huesca. Legend has it that when the angels brought the image of the Virgin and child from Salas Altas, a village near Barbastro, the dedication of the temple changed to Nuestra Señora de Salas. The year the image was transferred is not known, but it was certainly before the year 1200, when it was decided to enlarge the temple. The image of Holy Mary, sitting on a throne and with the Child on her left arm, is a wooden carving from the end of the 12th century. Doña Sancha, widow of Alfonso II, first king of the Crown of Aragon, and grandmother of Jaime I, had the Romanesque church of Salas rebuilt at the beginning of the 13th century and it was completed at the end of 1202. Berengario, prior of San Pedro el Viejo, and Garcia de Gudal, the bishop of Huesca, were in dispute over the temple, and from January 1203 the property passed into the hands of the bishopric. Its fame grew in Aragon in just a few years, due to the numerous miracles associated with the Virgin's image. It was so famous, that King Alfonso X the Wise, made these miracles into 23 cantigas in honour of the Virgin of Salas and kept them safe with their miniatures in the royal codices.

The shrine at Salas stands out among all those on the peninsula, due to the considerable number of cantigas associated with it and dedicated to the Virgin, only comparable to the miracles of Santa Maria de Terena in Portuguese Alentejo, of Santa Maria del Puerto (Cadiz) and of Villalcazar de Sirga in Palencia. The church became a preferred place of pilgrimage due to its cobbled path and was favoured by the many pilgrims on their way to Santiago. New bishops and dignitaries visiting the city were received at the shrine of the Virgin of Salas. Records show that the donations given to the shrine from 1206 onwards, made it possible for it to be used for worship. In 1210, Toda de Abiego founded the chaplaincy with permission to celebrate daily mass. This was when the apse, the detached rectangular bell tower and the façade with its six-arch portico and geometric ornamentation were built, as well as the churchyard mentioned in cantiga 164. The shrine reached its pinnacle of importance in the first half of the 13th century at the time of Bishop García de Gudal (1201-1236) who embarked on the construction and improvement with donations from royals, nobles and rich neighbours who gave lands, houses, vineyards and orchards. Pedro Aguado Bleye studied all this in 1908 in his book the Libro de la Cadena.

King Jaime I was so devoted to this shrine that in 1250 he granted ‘a privilege of security and safety’ to all pilgrims visiting the miraculous Virgin of Salas. Privilege that Jaime II later ratified. The shrine grew to have so much power that Popes Innocent III, Nicholas III and Innocent IV (thirteenth century) granted privileges to everyone who made a pilgrimage to it.

HOLY MARY OF SALAS IN THE CANTIGAS

This musical work is a collection of 23 miracles under the name of Holy Mary of Salas, made into songs telling short stories in verse. All are lyrical, narrative cantigas, rather than cantigas of praise. The hermitage at Salas is the scene of the events related.

King Alfonso X of Castile and Leon (1221-1284) married Violante of Aragon in 1246, daughter of Jaime I of Aragon (1208-1276), and it may have been her who gave her husband the songbook of the Aragonese miracles of Salas. The first codex containing 100 cantigas, completed before the year 1265, known as the Toledo Codex, contains only two of these cantigas (43 and 44). The rich codex of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, which contains the first 200 cantigas, includes all the cantigas of Salas with the exception of cantiga 408, which is found in the codex of Florence. It is remarkably interesting to note how these miracles are grouped in the codices indicating that they must have reached the king in the form of a songbook. For example, 13 of the cantigas from 161 to 179 (17 narrative cantigas), correspond to miracles associated with Salas. This suggests that poetry and music were created sequentially in a short time and with the same style criteria.

The chronology of the cantigas repertoire from Salas is dated between 1235 and 1249, since cantiga 109 mentions the mendicant friars of Huesca, while the order of Saint Francis of Assisi appears in the testaments of Huesca after the year 1234. Don Fernando, abbot of Montearagon, who died in 1248, appears in cantiga 164.

The cantigas have a common structure. They begin with a refrain, saying or ‘reason’ - so named by the wise king and probably composed by him – which is a song of praise to Mary and summarises the theme presented. The refrain is repeated at the end of each stanza. The location in space and time is given at the beginning of the cantiga when the main characters are described. Immediately afterwards, reference is made to their woes, sorrows and difficulties. The body of the cantiga relates the miracle. After the miraculous intervention of the Virgin, it concludes with more praise to Holy Mary in gratitude for the good that comes from lovingly seeking her remedy.

Diverse subjects are dealt with in the miracles. There are 12 cantigas about healing ailments, from healing weapon injuries to healing paralysis or colic or giving the blind back their sight. There are also cantigas about being saved from the poison of a dragon, from devils by exorcism and from a fatal fall in a ravine. There are five cantigas about resurrection. Children who come back to life in dramatic family stories, and the resurrection of a small mule. There are three cantigas about loss and recovery: the precious goshawk, the child who was lost in the river, and a peasant's vineyard saved from hail. The rest are 3 special miracles: the release of a prisoner, the salvation of the merchant and his goods in a sea storm and, finally, the ‘miracle of anger’, as Holy Mary is enraged by the abbot of Montearagon because he wrongly accused a friar.

The characters are from a variety of geographical origins. Most of the protagonists are from Aragon: Daroca, Borja, Zaragoza, Moriella, Peraces, Huesca, Montearagon, Albarracín and Alquezar. There are also miracles that took place in Lombardy, Mallorca, Lleida, Segovia, Valencia, Sagunto and Molina de Aragon. All share the essentials; faith and trust in Holy Mary, to whom they pray to intercede and solve their problems. And indeed, Mary always gives relief to her own, and even to those who ‘are not her own’ (the case of the Moor of Borja), thus proving that being loyal to Mary, in our case to Holy Mary of Salas, always brings its reward.

CD1 CANTIGAS OF HUESCA

1 CSM 166 THE LAME MAN HEALED AT SALAS.

Because of his sins, a man suffered a disease that twisted his limbs and left him crippled. He remained so for five years. He swore that if cured he would bring a pound of wax to Salas every year. He was immediately healed. Without delay, he went to Salas with the wax. Although he hadn't walked for a long time, he was agile and felt no pain. The people thanked and praised Holy Mary for the miracle.

2 CSM 167 THE MOOR OF BORJA AND HER CHILD WHO WAS REVIVED AT SALAS.

A Moorish woman from Borja had a beautiful son. The child became ill and died. His mother had heard of the miracles performed by the Virgin of Salas and decided to trust her. Despite the objections of other Moorish women, she entrusted her son to the Virgin and bought a wax image to offer in Salas. She went to Salas, taking her dead son with her. She prayed to the Virgin and kept vigil all night. The Virgin brought the child back to life, although he had been dead for three days. The grateful woman became a Christian

3 CSM 164 THE ABBOT OF MONTEARAGON, THE CRY OF THE VIRGIN.

A monk, prior of Salas, was falsely accused of minting money. Don Fernando, prince and abbot of the castle-abbey of Montearagon, ordered his arrest. The monk took refuge in his church thinking that there he would find protection. But the abbot ordered him to come out, imprisoned him, and forcibly removed him from the churchyard. The statue of the Virgin was so angry that it emitted a loud cry and pushed the holy Child away from her. The statues of Mother and Son also grew pale. When the abbot heard the news, he ordered the monk to return. To make amends, he and his men entered the church with ropes around their necks as penitents. The bishop of Huesca came to Salas and redressed the wrong done to the Virgin. As a sign that she had forgiven the deed, she embraced her Son again, but she never regained her former colour and neither did her Son.

4 CSM 168 THE WOMAN FROM LÉRIDA AND HER CHILD REVIVED AT SALAS.

Several children of a woman from Lérida died in a short time. While she mourned the last one, she felt overwhelmed by the pain. For two days she prayed to the Virgin to revive him. Then she decided to take him to Salas and lift him up before the altar. She did this and the child came to life in her arms. The people praised and blessed the Virgin.

5 CSM 161 THE VINEYARD PROTECTED FROM HAIL IN MORELLA.

A man from Morella often made a pilgrimage to the shrine of the Virgin at Salas. He always carried an image of the Virgin so that he would be protected from harm. The man's only property was a vineyard, which he tended with the help of his wife. One day in August a storm broke out and the man prayed to the Virgin to spare his vineyard. While he prayed, he placed the image of the Virgin in the midst of the vines. The hail struck neighbouring vineyards, but his was not damaged. The Virgin heeded the prayers of the man who made pilgrimages to her shrine at Salas.

6 CSM 189 THE DRAGON OF VALENCIA.

A man from Valencia was travelling alone on a pilgrimage to Salas. While in a forest, night fell, and he lost his way. He saw a strange dragon-shaped beast coming towards him. He did not run away for fear that the beast would catch him. He prayed to the Virgin and struck the beast with his sword. He cut the dragon in half, splitting his heart in two. However, poison spurted out of the creature and spattered the pilgrim’s face. A few days later he was like a leper. Staff in hand, he set off for Salas. When he arrived there, he wept so much before the altar that he was soon healed of his disease by the Virgin.

7 CSM 109 FIVE DEVILS, EXORCISM AT SALAS.

Five devils joined forces to torment a man. He set out for Salas, but the startled devils prevented him from continuing his journey. Two friars arrived and took him to church. The devils grumbled that the Virgin would make them release the man. A Jew asked the devils why they did not capture Jews. One of them replied that they did not harm Jews because they belonged to them and served them. The Jew escaped and the devils came out of the possessed man. Everyone praised the Virgin for his deliverance.

8 CSM 247 THE BLIND GIRL CURED IN SALAS.

A woman vowed that if she had a daughter, she would offer her to the Virgin to serve in her church. She also promised to offer a wax candle there every year. The woman gave birth to a blind daughter, which made her and her husband very sad. When the blind girl turned ten, her father died, leaving her mother alone. The woman was devastated and took the girl to Salas. She prayed to the Virgin, saying that, if she had known that her daughter would be born blind, she would not have wanted her and that, as she had promised, she gave the girl as a servant to the Virgin of Salas. After asking the Virgin to give her daughter back her sight, she left her there. The Virgin healed the girl and she stayed in the church sweeping diligently as she had been instructed.

9 CSM 171 THE BOY FROM PEDRAZA SAVED FROM THE RIVER.

A man from Pedra-Salce (Piraces in Huesca, or Pedraza in Segovia) whose wife could not give him a child, vowed to go to Salas if they had children. His wife gave birth to a son. When the boy was two years old, his parents set out on the journey to Salas. On the way, they crossed a torrential river. The mother and child, who were travelling on horseback, fell into the river. The parents searched for the child along the riverbanks but could not find him. The father wanted to go home, but the mother insisted that they go to Salas. When they arrived, they saw their son alive before the altar. They praised the Virgin for the miracle and the mother promised to spread the news.

10 CSM 179 THE WOMAN OF MOLINA DE ARAGON.

The Virgin provides medicine to cure our sufferings. She learned this medicine from her Son, and it surpasses the laws of nature. A woman from Molina de Aragon was completely crippled. Her legs were paralysed and twisted. She had herself taken from Molina, where she lived, to Salas. And there while they sang Mass in the church, her tendons began to loosen and stretch. She got up and ran outdoors, praising the Virgin.

11 CSM 172 CRYSTAL CROSS PILGRIMS FROM ACRE TO JERUSALEM.

A merchant, bound for Acre, loaded his ship with goods. The ship was hit by a storm; the mast broke and so did the sails. The merchant vowed that if he arrived at port safe and sound, he would make a pilgrimage to Salas and make a beautiful offering. The Virgin calmed the storm, and the sailors repaired the mast and commended themselves to Holy Mary of Salas. The wind blew so favorably that they arrived in Acre the next morning. They sold their merchandise and then returned to their land. Then they went on a pilgrimage to Puy and to Salas. At Salas, the merchant gave a crystal cross to the Virgin.

12 CSM 173 STONE DISEASE.

A man from Aragon had kidney stones. He was in so much pain that he could not eat, sleep, or do anything other than call on the Virgin. He had consulted several doctors, but they didn't help him. He went to Salas to pray to the Virgin and asked her to overlook his wrongdoings. Back at home, when he woke up, he found in his bed a stone the size of a chestnut. He praised the Virgin.

CD2 CANTIGAS OF HUESCA

1 CSM 408 THE SQUIRE OF LOMBARDY.

A squire of noble birth was seriously injured by an arrow while fighting in Lombardy. The arrow was shot from a crossbow and struck him in the side. The squire was badly hurt and very distressed, believing he would die and so he commended himself to Holy Mary. When the arrow was removed, it came out cleanly from the other side and the wound healed, leaving no scar. All who saw this praised Holy Mary of Salas and advised the squire to go on a pilgrimage to her shrine.

2 CSM 114 WOUNDED YOUTH CURED IN SALAS.

It was the custom of a certain woman to place long wax candles before the altar of Holy Mary of Salas. The woman had a son who she loved very much and who she commended to the Virgin, asking her to protect him from any harm. One day, her son's enemies beat him brutally and tore him to pieces. His mother brought him home and healed his wounds, wrapping them in linen cloths. She prayed to the Virgin of Salas to heal him. As soon as the wounds were bandaged, they healed completely, leaving no scars. In the morning, the son asked his mother to remove the bandages and she discovered that the wounds had healed. Both the mother and the son went to Salas where they reported the miracle, and everybody praised the Virgin.

3 CSM 118 THE WOMAN OF ZARAGOZA, A STILLBORN CHILD REVIVED AT SALAS.

A woman who lived in Zaragoza always gave birth to stillborn children. This was a cause of discomfort and quarrels with her husband. She had already had three ‘bad births’. In her fourth pregnancy, she offered the Virgin a child made of wax that she paid for with her own money. But the time came, and she gave birth to another dead baby. In tears, she prayed so much to Holy Mary that she later found the child alive. With joy she called her husband, and both went to take the child to praise her for her miracles before her altar in Salas.

4 CSM 129 AN ARROW IN THE EYE AND HOLY MARY OF SALAS.

In a fierce battle, an arrow wounded a man from Murviedro. The arrow passed through his eye and lodged in his neck. He commended himself to the Virgin and vowed to make an offering at Salas if she healed him. The arrow was pulled out of his eye, and he was completely healed. His eyesight was just as it used to be. He immediately went to Salas to praise the Virgin and the miracle was proclaimed far and wide. Everyone who heard about it praised Holy Mary of Salas and went on a pilgrimage to her shrine.

5 CSM 191 THE FALL OF THE WIFE OF THE GOVERNOR OF RODENAS IN ALBARRACIN.

The castle was on top of a cliff and there was a spring at the bottom in a valley. When the castellan went to collect his pay, he left his wife in charge of the place. Every day, she went to fetch water from the spring at the bottom of the cliff. One day, a strong wind swept her off the cliff, and blew her down the hillside. She called on the Virgin to help her. Although she fell from very far above, she was not killed or injured. This miracle became known throughout Spain, as a legend of Salas.

6 CSM 43 THE BOY FROM DAROCA REVIVED AT SALAS.

A man from Daroca had a wife who was infertile, but he loved her a lot. She suggested that they go on a pilgrimage to Salas to ask the Virgin for a son. She promised the Virgin that if she had a son, she would give her weight in wax and offer him as a servant in the church of Salas. The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a child but did not keep her promise. When the boy was seven years old, he contracted a fever and died. The woman and her husband took the dead boy in a coffin to Salas where she laid him before the altar.

She also brought the wax she had originally promised. Praying and moaning all night, she asked the Virgin to revive the boy. Although the child had been dead for six days, the Virgin caused him to cry out from his coffin and brought him back to life. The people broke the coffin and crowded around to witness the miracle.

7 CSM 44 THE KNIGHT'S LOST GOSHAWK.

A noble from Aragon lost his goshawk while hunting. The bird was large, handsome and skilled at catching birds, both large and small. The nobleman was distressed and sent a proclamation throughout the land. As he didn't find the bird, he took a wax image of the goshawk to Salas. He asked the Virgin to return his bird and vowed to serve her and tell of her preeminence among the saints. He attended Mass, but before he left, the Virgin made the goshawk alight on his hand. With tears in his eyes, he praised the Mother of God.

8 CSM 163 THE BLASPHEMOUS GAMBLER OF HUESCA.

A gambler, playing dice in Huesca, lost everything and renounced the Virgin. He was instantly crippled and struck dumb. He could not move from the place, and if he wanted something he had to make a gesture.

Using sign language, he asked to be taken to Salas. At the shrine of Salas, he gazed at the statue of the Virgin and asked for her forgiveness. The Virgin healed him, and he praised her ever after.

9 CSM 176 ETHE CAPTIVE IN MALLORCA WHO WAS FREED.

When the Moors held Mallorca, they captured a Christian and put his feet in irons. They also put a yoke around his neck. The captive Christian vowed that if he were set free, he would make a pilgrimage to Holy Mary of Salas bringing generous gifts, including a wax statue of her. The Virgin made the captive drowsy and he fell asleep. She appeared to him in a vision, and she told him to get up and leave the prison. She undid the lock, freed him from his bonds and told him that his sins would be forgiven if he made a pilgrimage to her. The man woke up and was free. He went to Salas with the wax statue, and everyone marvelled at the miracle.

10 CSM 178 THE MULE OF THE BOY FROM ALCARAZ.

A farmer gave his son a mule as a gift. The boy was pleased with the mule and looked after it with care. One night the mule died. The farmer, who did not want his son to find out, took him to the field where he was working. The mother, seeing the dead mule, ordered a servant to skin it. The farmer and his son returned, and the boy saw the mule being skinned. The child told them to leave the mule alone because he had promised it to Holy Mary of Salas, who would certainly come to his aid. The mule's hind legs had already been skinned and the mother rebuked the boy for making an offering of something that was dead. However, the boy paid no attention and used his belt to measure the beast. Then he made a wax candle the same size as the dead mule. When he presented the candle, the mule sprang to life and the boy gave it some food. Everybody praised the Virgin.

11 CSM 177 EYES RESTORED.

In Aragon there was a good man who loved the Virgin and faithfully served his lord. Some slanderers spread lies about him. His lord, without bothering to uncover the truth, ordered both eyes to be gouged out. After the man’s eyes had been put out, he asked to keep them and went to a surgeon who he asked to put his eyes back in place. Then the man went to Salas to ask the Virgin to heal him and to make him see again and to pardon his sins. The Virgin healed him immediately and it was impossible to detect his injury. He took a wax image to her altar.