The Nun of the Stigmata: A Madrid Street Legend
🕯️ Legends of Madrid’s Streets: The Nun of the Stigmata
The story of the Nun of the Stigmata is one of the best-known legends of 19th-century Madrid 👻. It begins in 1829, when a young woman enters a convent on Caballero de Gracia Street, in the very heart of the city, not far from what is now
El Retiro Park
.
⛪ The origin of the legend
The young woman takes the name Sister Patrocinio. Soon after, mysterious wounds appear on her hands and other parts of her body ✋. The other nuns see these marks as something supernatural and compare them to the wounds suffered by Jesus Christ during his crucifixion ✝️.
👑 Fame and influence
The fame of Sister Patrocinio grows quickly 🔥. Influential figures begin to visit her. Nobles, aristocrats, and members of the court seek her out. Admiration grows, but so does suspicion.
⚖️ Trial and confinement
In 1835, the authorities open a legal case against the nun ⚖️. They order her arrest, but she refuses to surrender. As a result, they confine her to the Concepción Francisca Convent.
During this period, several political figures visit her. One of them is Salustiano Olózaga, a former suitor who hopes to rekindle a past relationship 💔.
🩺 Medical examination
Some years later, a medical commission examines Sister Patrocinio 🩺. Doctors treat the wounds and manage to heal them. Afterward, they conclude that the injuries were self-inflicted.
🚶 Exile and return to Madrid
The authorities decide to exile the nun. They send her to convents in Talavera de la Reina and Torrelaguna. In 1844, she returns to Madrid and re-enters the convent on Caballero de Gracia Street.
🔫 New scandals and accusations
For a time, public interest fades. However, in 1849, a woman fires a gun at the nun outside the convent 🔫. The incident revives rumors throughout the city.
Soon after, authorities accuse her of involvement in an attack on a priest. They order her exile to Rome, but she eventually settles in a convent in Montpellier 🌍.
🕊️ The end of a controversial life
After returning to Spain, she is moved between convents in Jaén, León, and Cantabria. She dies in 1891.
To better understand the historical context of the period, you can read more about the history of
Madrid
on Wikipedia.
The Nun of the Stigmata remains a deeply controversial figure. Her life was shaped by mystery, power, and suspicion. Today, she is still remembered as one of Madrid’s most enduring urban legends 🌑.
