The Procession of Our Lady of Sorrows on Holy Friday before Palm Sunday marks the anticipation of the Holy Week. It is organized by the Confraternita del Nome di Gesù, founded in the early 17th century, placed in 17th church of S. Mattia o of Madonna del Lume, a small temple located I the town centre, restored and re-decorated in the18th century. In this church the young Jesuit S. Francesco De Geronimo (1646-1716) grew up.
Holy Thursday is dedicated to the celebration of the Eucharist with the preparation of the “Sepulchrum Domini” in the main churches of the town: Mother Church, Carmine, S. Francesco De Geronimo, Paolotti, Madonna delle Grazie, Rosario and S. Maria in Campitelli. Barefooted people and the brothers of the Confraternita del Carmine known as “Bbubbli Bbubbli” visit these churches. The Rules of the confraternity were approved by Mons. Antonuo d’Aquiono in 1620. The confraternity is located opposite to the church of Carmine in an elegant Oratory that dates back to the early 17th century and keeps many art and cult memorabilia.
On Holy Friday the rites of Jesus Christ’s Passion spread an atmosphere of deep emotion with the Procession of Mysteries organized since the early 18th century by the Confraternita del Purgatorio, founded on 17th November 1641 by D. Federico Monaco and approved by Mons. Tommaso Caracciolo. The youngest of the confraternities in Grottaglie proposes every year a traditional procession full of popular devotion. It is located in the oratory erected in the main square of the town, next to the Mother Church and keeps jealously the artistic statues that are carried in procession, together with many objects and symbols of Jesus Christ’s Passion and death. Particularly interesting and expressive are the five papier-mâché statues made in the first half of 19th century; older and more precious are the wooden statues of Our Lady of Sorrows and Dead Christ lying in an artistic craved and decorated urn.
