Petos de Ánimas on Caminos — help me find them!

[peregrina2000]

On a recent thread, @Wendy Werneth has introduced us to the Camiño de Taverneiro, a route through Galicia that reportedly takes you past 15 (FIFTEEN!!!) petos de ánima. As she explained in that thread, these petos are collection boxes for people willing to donate to help get their departed loved ones (and others) out of purgatory. Most seem to have been constructed in the XVI and XVII century.

I can think of three I have seen on the Invierno, but I may be forgetting others.

After crossing the bridge over the Miño at Belesar




Leaving Chantada



In Penasillás



I have seen some in the Ribeira Sacra, but not on the camino, and what I would like help finding are more petos de ánima on an actual Camino. So if you’ve seen some, please add a photo or two! Thanks, buen camino, Laurie

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Laurie, I have just replied on Wendy's thread, but assumed they all had pastel coloring, but apparently not so, from your photos. I will pay close attention when I head to the Invierno in a month and hope I might see a couple.

 

[Stephan the Painter]

Would this also be a Peto de Animas? These are right on the Camino Frances in Santiago at the Capilla de Animas about a km from the Cathedral.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Would this also be a Peto de Animas? These are right on the Camino Frances in Santiago at the Capilla de Animas about a km from the Cathedral.

View attachment 176732View attachment 176734

I'm no artist, but it sure looks like one to me!

 

[peregrina2000]

Would this also be a Peto de Animas?

So the carving of the souls in purgatory is exactly the kind of figures that are put in the petos de ánimas. But the distinguishing feature that’s missing is that we need a box below the carving for people to put in their alms for the suffering souls.

So it would have to be down at ground level, I think, to be a peto de ánimas.

I have never seen that frieze in Santiago, and it’s now on my list for the next time!

 

[El Cascayal]

This one is in Tui!
I remember a beautiful one after climbing a hill and don’t remember which Camino, Ingles v. Invierno, still looking for a picture. It is on top of the climb on a curve on the left, perhaps after Monforte???

 

[Camino Chrissy]

This one is in Tui!
I remember a beautiful one after climbing a hill and don’t remember which Camino, Ingles v. Invierno, still looking for a picture. It is on top of the climb on a curve on the left, perhaps after Monforte???

Wow, what a wonderful picture of one of them!

 

[peregrina2000]

This one is in Tui!

That’s beautiful. I walked the Portugués so many years ago, and I am sad to say that I had no idea then what a peto de ánimas was, so I undoubtedly either didn’t see it or paid no attention to it if I did.

 

[peregrina2000]

Does anyone have a good answer as to why people would think they could get loved ones out of purgatory by donating money? That seems so antithetical to the little I know about Catholic dogma - it’s prayers and good works that reach the ears of the almighty, not money.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Just a guess but the money may be used for pay to pray.

 

[Stephan the Painter]

Does anyone have a good answer as to why people would think they could get loved ones out of purgatory by donating money? That seems so antithetical to the little I know about Catholic dogma - it’s prayers and good works that reach the ears of the almighty, not

I think it is about Indulgences.

I’m not an expert on this but indulgences were something you could get by prayer or good deeds. But also by donating money to the church until about 150 years ago.

And an indulgence would lessen your time in purgatory.

So it seems to follow that you could make a donation to the church to help out a friend!

The whole indulgence system was one of the things that triggered Martin Luther‘s reformation and the beginning of protestantIsm.

There’s a thorough Wikipedia article on indulgences.

 

[dougfitz]

Does anyone have a good answer as to why people would think they could get loved ones out of purgatory by donating money? That seems so antithetical to the little I know about Catholic dogma - it’s prayers and good works that reach the ears of the almighty, not money.

No, but I did consider that this might also be associated with the notion that even a small donation from someone in a poor community would involve a level of sacrifice by the donor and their family in an opportunity foregone by the family.

It doesn't seem clear who might have collected these alms, and what purpose they were put to when they were collected. Was there someone in a parish who had this role? Where the funds put to some good works sponsored by the parish, or just go into the parish revenue?

In response to the question in the OP, I am sure that I have seen these walking the CP, and perhaps the Sanabres. I don't recall seeing any on the CF or CI, but I could easily have missed them.

 

[El Cascayal]

Does anyone have a good answer as to why people would think they could get loved ones out of purgatory by donating money? That seems so antithetical to the little I know about Catholic dogma - it’s prayers and good works that reach the ears of the almighty, not money.

O peto dás ánimas

En Galicia, tierra de brumas y de meigas, la vida y la muerte han ido siempre de la mano. No se puede concebir la vida sin el misterio de la muerte. En una

recreacionhistoria.com

This website explains the reason for them. It is in Spanish or Galego. Very informative.

It doesn't seem clear who might have collected these alms, and what purpose they were put to when they were collected. Was there someone in a parish who had this role? Where the funds put to some good works sponsored by the parish, or just go into the parish revenue?

Does not answer these questions but were not necessarily linked to a parish and were placed at crossroads. I find them so very interesting.
The underlying Catholic belief was that through prayers, good works and alms one could help “push” souls from purgatory to heaven. In other words, “I get by with a little help from my friends”.

 

[dougfitz]

Does not answer these questions but were not necessarily linked to a parish and were placed at crossroads. I find them so very interesting.

Thank you for finding that website. It suggests that the alms collected were collected from travellers, and used to pay for masses for the deceased.

And thanks to @peregrina2000, I will be looking out for these next time I am walking in Galicia and northern Portugal.

 

[Turga]

Does anyone have a good answer as to why people would think they could get loved ones out of purgatory by donating money?

I am not certain, but perhaps it could be linked to the widespread (at least in Europe) catholic practice in the middle ages of buying letters of indulgence. The German Dominican munk Johannes Tetzel became notorious for selling letters of indulgence using a slogan something like this: “As soon as the coins rattle in the box, the soul jumps out of purgatory”.

 

[dick bird]

Is this what you mean? These are all on the Invierno. Unfortunately, I have mislaid my diary so off-hand Ican´t tell you exactly where, but if they are what you are looking for, I will do some digging and find out for you.

 

[dick bird]

Does anyone have a good answer as to why people would think they could get loved ones out of purgatory by donating money? That seems so antithetical to the little I know about Catholic dogma - it’s prayers and good works that reach the ears of the almighty, not money.

I guess donating money to the church was considered a good work.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I would like help finding are more petos de ánima on an actual Camino. So if you’ve seen some, please add a photo or two!

This link is for the search results (in English) for peto das animas on the turismo.gal website.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

These additional pictures are interesting, but do not specifically show the suffering souls waiting in purgatory to be released. I particularly like Dick Bird's first picture of the adult with the two children.
I find this thread fascinating.

 

[Stephan the Painter]

This link is for the search results (in English) for peto das animas on the turismo.gal website.

Thats a good link. Not to many photos, but it seems to show the location of a lot of them if one wants to track them down.

It was also a listing for a diocese museum in Tui that says it has peto de animas in its collection.

 

[Bradypus]

The German Dominican munk Johannes Tetzel became notorious for selling letters of indulgence using a slogan something like this: “As soon as the coins rattle in the box, the soul jumps out of purgatory”.

The Pardoner in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" was a similar seller of indulgences. A trade ripe for satire even before the Reformation. More relevantly for this forum is that Chaucer's Pardoner sold his indulgences on behalf of the daughter house of the Roncesvalles monastery which was built on ground which is now on the southern edge of Trafalgar Square in London. The daughter house sent part of its revenue back to Roncesvalles. Thus indirectly supporting pilgrims on their way to Santiago...

 

[TaijiPilgrim]

Thanks for all the information. I did not know about "peto das animas." Always learn something new in this forum!

 

[t2andreo]

You can choose to view the web site (posts #18 and #20 above) in Castellano.

See: https://recreacionhistoria.com/o-peto-das-animas/

There is a button to select either Castellano or Gallego. Then, it is easy to use an online translator, like the Chrome default, for example. The article was very interesting and informative. Thank you for providing the link.

If I may chime in regarding the issue of indulgences. It is true that much of the Catholic Church got off on a tangent in the 1400 and 1500's regarding paying for indulgences. That was wrong. Martin Luther was right on that and many of his other criticisms of the Catholic Church. Many of these criticisms were simple statements of fact. Of course, the leaders of the Church back then did not take this kindly. The repercussions and persecutions are well documented.

The Protestant Reformation in (@) 1525 brought the misdeed of paying for indulgences to the forefront, among other errors in dogma. Given that many, if not most of these Petos de Animas (Breastplates of the Soul) appear to date to the years following the start of the Reformation, I opine that the request for donations should be seen in context.

I suggest, subject to correction as always, that the donation request was similar in context to giving a donation when lighting candles, then or now. Contrary to some sources, the smaller churches along the Camino routes, or in villages, were not all wealthy, either in land ownership, political or wealthy family sponsorship. These smaller parishes and chapels would have had to make their own way, financially.

So, seen in this context, I suggest that the donations to ask for the religious persons associated with a particular shrine / collection box to pray for the soul of the departed person referenced on the pato. This was requested in the hope that the prayers would help get the departed person's soul from Purgatory to Heaven.

Today, it is still a common practice across the Catholic world to offer prayers for the souls of departed persons. Whether a donation is offered or not, praying for the deceased souls is built into the celebration of the Holy Mass every time it is done by any priest anywhere in the world.

So, seen in context, this is not strictly a "pay to pray" scheme, or a "get out of purgatory chit." I see it more as a church or shrine seeking donations to support their livelihood. In this context, I think it not different that a poor person seeking donations at the side of the road. It is also similar in concept to a Buddhist using his or her "begging bowl" seeking alms or food.

Almsgiving is hard-wired into the religious dogma of most all of the world's major religions. I suggest that these shrines just offer a generous person a more direct connection between the money they donate and the purpose it is expected to go to.

Hope this helps the dialog.

Tom

 

[Wendy Werneth]

Would this also be a Peto de Animas? These are right on the Camino Frances in Santiago at the Capilla de Animas about a km from the Cathedral.

View attachment 176732View attachment 176734

That building in Santiago is called the Capela de Ánimas. I'd say it's the same concept as a peto de ánimas, but on a much larger scale, as it's a full-size building where people can go in and pray for the souls in purgatory. Undoubtedly, there are also alms boxes inside where one can leave an offering.

@peregrina2000, there are several petos de ánimas on the Camiño da Geira e dos Arrieiros. If you have the cultural and natural heritage guide for that Camino (available on Amazon at this link), it includes photos and descriptions of them.

 

[Elle Bieling]

On the Sanabrés, after Ourense, a Peto Ánimas can be found after approximately 15.3 kilometers in the center of the town of Sobreira, right along the Camino. You can't miss the cultural sign that announces it! For some reason, I can't post photos of it, from my mobile phone. The button aren't enabled. Can someone help me out here as to why?? I can only attach a long link to my article, if you wish to see it. You will have to scroll down about half way on the page: https://www.pilgrimagetraveler.com/camino-sanabres-ourense-to-cea.html (the button to insert links is also not enabled! )

Also, along the Variante Espiritual, I documented the Peto de Ánimas de Santa Baia de Ribadumia church which can be seen from the Camino, across from the highway EP-9501, but it is off-Camino. I did not walk off-Camino to see it, but with that name, it's highly likely there is one there! For more specifics, this page documents it: https://www.pilgrimagetraveler.com/variante-espiritual-from-barrantes-to-vilanova-de-arousa.html.

 

[peregrina2000]

there are several petos de ánimas on the Camiño da Geira e dos Arrieiros

I just went through my pictures quickly and found this one outside Cortegada. Thanks, I do have that book somewhere and will have to hunt for it now.

 

[NicolaWyke]

I am not certain, but perhaps it could be linked to the widespread (at least in Europe) catholic practice in the middle ages of buying letters of indulgence. The German Dominican munk Johannes Tetzel became notorious for selling letters of indulgence using a slogan something like this: “As soon as the coins rattle in the box, the soul jumps out of purgatory”.

The marketing is not so different from today - urging one to act now.

 

[peregrina2000]

On the Sanabrés, after Ourense, a Peto Ánimas can be found after approximately 15.3 kilometers in the center of the town of Sobreira, right along the Camino. You can't miss the cultural sign that announces it! For some reason, I can't post photos of it,

Elle, I was able to just copy the picture from your blog, so here it is. We’re compiling quite a collection!

 

[judydaisy]

Catechism of the Catholic Church
1471 The doctrine and practice of indulgences in the Church are closely linked to the effects of the sacrament of Penance.
What is an indulgence?

"An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints."

"An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin." The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead.

I’m guessing that in the days of yore one paid for a Mass/es to be said for the deceased

 

[pelerine]

I’m guessing that in the days of yore one paid for a Mass/es to be said for the deceased

Not only in the days of yore, but nowadays as well. At a funeral if you want to do something you normally have a choice whether to give flowers, or make a donation for a good cause or pay for having a mass read for the deceased.

As to indulgences I thought that if, in a Holy Year, you go to confession and receice communion in the Santiago cathedral (at the end of your pilgrimage?) your sins are forgiven - past sins, not future ones. Is this still the case? I was told this when I walked my first camino in 2010.

 

[Bradypus]

As to indulgences I thought that if, in a Holy Year, you go to confession and receice communion in the Santiago cathedral (at the end of your pilgrimage?) your sins are forgiven - past sins, not future ones. Is this still the case? I was told this when I walked my first camino in 2010.

The plenary indulgence still exists. And as you have said it is linked to receiving the sacraments of penance and communion and therefore is separate from the rules around the Compostela which is an entirely different thing. The pilgrim office website lists the conditions for receiving a plenary indulgence.
https://oficinadelperegrino.com/peregrinacion/indulgencia-plenaria/

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I just went through my pictures quickly and found this one outside Cortegada. Thanks, I do have that book somewhere and will have to hunt for it now.

View attachment 176759

That is an awesome one, Laurie! It even still has the pale peachy/pinky color lined "robes". I wonder if the color is original on a few of them and not touched up.

I will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled when I walk next month!

 

[pelerine]

That is an awesome one, Laurie! It even still has the pale peachy/pinky color lined "robes". I wonder if the color is original on a few of them and not touched up.

I will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled when I walk next month!

“robes”? Or rather the purgatory fire?

 

[El Cascayal]

“robes”? Or rather the purgatory fire?

Same difference.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

“robes”? Or rather the purgatory fire?

I think you are probably right...flames faded over the centuries.

 

[Philtration]

I am not certain, but perhaps it could be linked to the widespread (at least in Europe) catholic practice in the middle ages of buying letters of indulgence. The German Dominican munk Johannes Tetzel became notorious for selling letters of indulgence using a slogan something like this: “As soon as the coins rattle in the box, the soul jumps out of purgatory”.

And NOW how much would you pay for that indulgence? But wait, there’s more!!

 

[JillGat]

On a recent thread, @Wendy Werneth has introduced us to the Camiño de Taverneiro, a route through Galicia that reportedly takes you past 15 (FIFTEEN!!!) petos de ánima. As she explained in that thread, these petos are collection boxes for people willing to donate to help get their departed loved ones (and others) out of purgatory. Most seem to have been constructed in the XVI and XVII century.

I can think of three I have seen on the Invierno, but I may be forgetting others.

After crossing the bridge over the Miño at Belesar

View attachment 176723 View attachment 176722


Leaving Chantada

View attachment 176724

In Penasillás

View attachment 176725

I have seen some in the Ribeira Sacra, but not on the camino, and what I would like help finding are more petos de ánima on an actual Camino. So if you’ve seen some, please add a photo or two! Thanks, buen camino, Laurie

Here's one on the Camino de Sanabres, in the village of Sobreira.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Here's one on the Camino de Sanabres, in the village of Sobreira.

This looks nearly identical to the one in post #28, both on the Sanabres, but in a different location.

 

[MariaSP]

Does anyone have a good answer as to why people would think they could get loved ones out of purgatory by donating money? That seems so antithetical to the little I know about Catholic dogma - it’s prayers and good works that reach the ears of the almighty, not money.

The donation doesn't have to be money necessarily. It could be flowers, potatoes, corn...
Also, the person who donates does it partly for selfish reasons: by making a donation and saving someone else's soul from purgatory, they hope that the saved soul will put in a good word for them when their time comes
Some more info: https://spanishforcamino.com/2022/09/16/walking-through-galicia/

 

[MariaSP]

Would this also be a Peto de Animas? These are right on the Camino Frances in Santiago at the Capilla de Animas about a km from the Cathedral.

View attachment 176732View attachment 176734

No. "Peto" is a Galician word for money box. The petos de ánimas are usually found at crossroads or near churches and they must have a "peto", a little box or space for people to leave their donations. So, also there are some souls in purgatory in this carving, it's not a peto de ánimas.

 

[pinkwadingbird]

I am not certain, but perhaps it could be linked to the widespread (at least in Europe) catholic practice in the middle ages of buying letters of indulgence. The German Dominican munk Johannes Tetzel became notorious for selling letters of indulgence using a slogan something like this: “As soon as the coins rattle in the box, the soul jumps out of purgatory”.

"As in the box the money rings, the soul from purgatory springs." Guess I do still remember a few things from Lutheran Sunday school all those years ago.

 

[peregrina2000]

I appreciate the education on this matter and am especially gratified t

Is this what you mean? These are all on the Invierno. Unfortunately, I have mislaid my diary so off-hand Ican´t tell you exactly where, but if they are what you are looking for, I will do some digging and find out for you.View attachment 176744View attachment 176745View attachment 176746View attachment 176747

I am not sure where the first one is. I can’t tell if the second one is a peto de ánimas or just a roadside cruceiro. The last two are, I think, the peto at Penasillás (compare with my shots)

Thanks!

 

[JillGat]

This looks nearly identical to the one in post #28, both on the Sanabres, but in a different location.

It is the same, in the same location.

 

[Turga]

"As in the box the money rings, the soul from purgatory springs." Guess I do still remember a few things from Lutheran Sunday school all those years ago.

Thanks - I was using a 'raw' translation of the Danish version: "Når pengene i kassen klinger, straks sjælen ud af skærsilden springer".

 

[Corned Beef]

I’m guessing that in the days of yore one paid for a Mass/es to be said for the deceased

There was a trend around the time of the Black Death for Chantry churches to be built with the same idea as the Petos.

Chantry | Gothic, Medieval & Monastic

Chantry, chapel, generally within a church, endowed for the singing of masses for the founder after his death. The practice of founding chantries, or chantry chapels, in western Europe began during the 13th century. A chantry was added to the cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris in 1258. During the

www.britannica.com

"As in the box the money rings, the soul from purgatory springs." Guess I do still remember a few things from Lutheran Sunday school all those years ago.

Since 'purgatory' is a peculiarly catholic idea, and Lutherans reject the idea of 'purgatory' then this comment seems to be an ancient slight on the idea of both Petos and Chantries.

Denominations - Frequently Asked Questions - The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Frequently asked questions about Lutheran and other denominations

www.lcms.org

Just shows how unconscious bias can be passed around from generation to generation.

 

[Bradypus]

Just shows how unconscious bias can be passed around from generation to generation.

I don't think this can be counted as "unconscious bias". Luther's strong opposition to indulgences and in particular to Johann Tetzel's selling of indulgences forms part of the "Ninety-five Theses" which is considered one of the foundational documents of Lutheranism and of the wider Reformation. Nothing unconscious about it.

 

[Kathar1na]

Just shows how unconscious bias can be passed around from generation to generation.

I don't want to continue to the thread drift but the slogan quoted by others is really widely known and documented. In the medieval German of his time and his region, Tetzel's slogan sounded like this:

Sobald der Gülden im Becken klingt im huy die Seel im Himmel springt.​

​

PS: It is even a bit relevant because as we've learnt thanks to this thread the petos da animas in Galicia are a feature of the Counter Reformation movement in the Catholic Church that followed the Protestant Reformation movement.

 

[David Tallan]

Does anyone have a good answer as to why people would think they could get loved ones out of purgatory by donating money? That seems so antithetical to the little I know about Catholic dogma - it’s prayers and good works that reach the ears of the almighty, not money.

I'm no great expert in Catholic dogma, beyond what shows up in medieval literature. And I'm a bit biased in that I sometimes play a pardoner in my local medieval living history group. But here goes.

You say it is prayers and good works that reach the ears of the Almighty. It might be that charity could be construed by some as "good works". If the money that is donated goes towards good works (the support of the poor, the furtherance of the important works of the Church, etc.), then the donation itself could be seen as a "good work".

It is my understanding that in times past, "indulgences" (essentially, time off from Purgatory) were sold to raise money for the Church. I seem to remember that there is a cathedral in Germany somewhere, built before the Reformation, with a tower called the "Butter Tower", because it was built with funds that had been raised selling indulgences for eating butter on fast days. We know that indulgences have not been totally removed from Catholic doctrine, because they are still available for pilgrims to Santiago. Perhaps they are still available for donations.

Another possibility is that we know it was a common practice for the wealthy to endow ecclesiastical institutions with money for the purposes of prayers to be said for their souls after they had passed. They wouldn't have done this if they hadn't believed that someone was listening to those prayers. Perhaps the funds donated will be used to purchase prayers for these souls in a similar way.

Again, I'm no expert. I'm not even Catholic. So I am certainly open to correction by those who know more (and learning more myself). But these seem two reasonable rationales for these from my perspective.

 

[CHITITA]

On a recent thread, @Wendy Werneth has introduced us to the Camiño de Taverneiro, a route through Galicia that reportedly takes you past 15 (FIFTEEN!!!) petos de ánima. As she explained in that thread, these petos are collection boxes for people willing to donate to help get their departed loved ones (and others) out of purgatory. Most seem to have been constructed in the XVI and XVII century.

I can think of three I have seen on the Invierno, but I may be forgetting others.

After crossing the bridge over the Miño at Belesar

View attachment 176723 View attachment 176722


Leaving Chantada

View attachment 176724

In Penasillás

View attachment 176725

I have seen some in the Ribeira Sacra, but not on the camino, and what I would like help finding are more petos de ánima on an actual Camino. So if you’ve seen some, please add a photo or two! Thanks, buen camino, Laurie

Here you have one I saw in A Sobreira, on the Sanabres Camino, from Ourense to Cea. I took a pic with the explanation in Galego.

 

[Levi]

This one is between Laza and Vilar do Barrio on the Sanabres.