Name/Title
Santa LibradaDescription
Retablo depicting Santa Librada.
Santa Librada was a virgin martyr dating to at least the 14th century. Legend has it that she prayed to God to make her ugly to avoid an engagement and maintain her vow of chastity. In a fit of anger, her father had her crucified. Many versions of her story exist, and she is often conflated with other saints, such as Saint Wilgefortis, who sprouted a beard to ward off her suitor and met the same fate. In Latin America, the saint is revered for her suffering and death by crucifixion, similar to that of Jesus, and as a representation of the sanctity of marriage. Women would pray to her when having troubles with their husbands, but she also became a symbol of hope and protection for women facing domestic abuse and forced marriages.Made/Created
Date made
circa 1800 - circa 1850Time Period
19th Century