Sure! Here’s the translated text:
—
Following the completion of the restoration of the Sacrarium of the Main Altar of the conventual church, the piece has been returned to its usual place. The project—supported by the City Council of Ciudad Real—involved cleaning, repairing, and conserving it to restore stability and shine while respecting its original material and polychromy.
The restored sacrarium is part of the sentimental memory of the locality: it was donated in February 1957 by Mr. Manuel Fernández Paniagua and Mrs. Dolores Díaz-Meco, and was installed on March 19 of the same year. Since then, it has housed the Blessed Sacrament in the temple and presides over the daily devotion of the faithful and brotherhoods.
The conventual church, devotional heart of Las Mercedes
The church of the Convent of Our Lady of Las Mercedes is one of the most cherished religious complexes in Herencia. Historically linked to the Order of Mercy, it represents the model of a Manchegan conventual temple: sober layout, single nave space with side chapels and an aesthetic Baroque-Classical style characteristic of the 17th and 18th centuries. Inside, it venerates images and altarpieces deeply rooted in local religiosity.
Here, the Virgin of Las Mercedes is worshiped, the ancient Patroness and Perpetual Mayor of Herencia, whose feast day (September 24) marks one of the milestones of the religious calendar. The church hosts novenas, solemn functions, concerts, and encounters of brotherhoods, keeping alive the twin spiritual and cultural character of the convent.
A conservation plan that adds up
The intervention on the sacrarium is part of a recent effort to care for the heritage of the complex: cleaning of roofs and gutters, removal and sanitation of stork nests with ventilation solutions to combat humidity, and cleaning of the Sacred Heart that crowns the parish. These actions have institutional support and the collaboration of businesses and individuals.
Why this restoration matters
- Protects an essential liturgical piece and prolongs its useful life.
- Recovers original aesthetic values that had faded over time.
- Reinforces the cultural appeal of the temple for locals and visitors.
- Educates about heritage, showing that conservation is also a way of believing and building community.
From the convent community and the parishioners, there has been an explicit appreciation for the City Council of Ciudad Real and all the individuals and companies that made this work possible. With the sacrarium now in its place, the convent once again offers its best image for prayer and visitors, adding a new chapter to the living history of Herencia.
Photos: Diputación Ciudad Real and Facebook
—
Let me know if you need further assistance!
Spanish post in una pieza clave del patrimonio de Herencia
