Charles, 16, Penitent

Christ, caparutxes, misteris, the Sanch procession can be unsettling for those unfamiliar with its ins and outs. This Catalan tradition, dating back to the Middle Ages, celebrates Good Friday. Every year, members of the Archconfraternity of La Sanch gather in the historic heart of the city of Perpignan to perpetuate, together, the Passion of Christ. Among them is Charles, one of the youngest penitents, who has the honor of carrying the Devout Christ.

Founded in 1416 by Vincent Ferrier in the Church of Saint James in Perpignan, the Archconfraternity of La Sanch—whose name means “blood” in Catalan—had the mission of accompanying those condemned to death on their final journey, in the image of Christ. Over the centuries, the Archconfraternity has had to overcome many obstacles. “At the time of the Revolution, the Catholic faith was respected, but some people hijacked this procession to flatter their egos. This contributed to the decline of the brotherhood and left many penitents traumatized,” explains Charles. These abuses led to excesses, such as public flagellation, resulting in the banning of processions in the streets of Perpignan. Following the separation of church and state in the early 20th century, the procession was not recognized as cultural heritage, which put a stop to any attempts at revival.

In the 1950s, a group of men revived the Archconfraternity, including Charles’s great-great-grandfather. However, the brotherhood continues to be controversial. The history and core values of the brotherhood, rooted in faith and tradition, are sometimes misinterpreted and still fuel debate in Perpignan today. This climate of mistrust leads many penitents to conceal their involvement with the Archconfraternity.