Capilla de la Novena

You may not know that Spanish comedians have had their own confraternity since 1631. It is the Cofradía de Nuestra Señora de la Novena and has its headquarters in the church of San Sebastián, at Calle Atocha, 39. As soon as you enter, on the right, there is a small altar with a canvas of the Virgin and Saint Joseph contemplating the sleeping Jesus. The devotion of the actors to this canvas comes from the miracle attributed to it in the 17th century, curing a comedienne, Catalina Flores, who was unable to carry out her work. The confraternity still exists and only people related to the theatre belong to it.

Text and photos by Antonio Castro Jiménez, Chronicler of the City of Madrid.