Anima Sola

Did You Know?

• The female depicted is sometimes called Celestina, though the anima sola is usually anonymous.
• According to legend, a woman named Celestina Abdenago refused to give Jesus a drink at the crucifixion and was condemned to suffer thirst and heat in purgatory.
• The male Anima Sola is also known as Juan Minero or Juan Loco.

Brief history

Scholars have not provided a history of the Anima Sola, but the practice of praying for souls in purgatory extends at least as far back as the Council of Trent. That council determined that purgatory exists and that souls there are helped by the suffrages of the faithful, especially the Sacrifice of the Altar. Bishops were enjoined to teach and preach this doctrine everywhere.

Interpretations

The Anima Sola represents a soul suffering in purgatory. Although chromolithographs often depict a female soul, popes and other men also appear in such images. The most common image shows a woman breaking free from chains in a dungeon surrounded by flames, appearing penitent and reverent, with broken chains indicating her destined heaven. Praying to the Anima Sola differs from the cult of saints: rather than a saint appealing to God, the Anima Sola represents souls needing assistance from the living and the divine.

The Male Anima Sola

The female soul is the more common depiction of an anima sola, but a male figure also appears, often shown as a pope, priest, or monk. In the Guadalajara cathedral in Mexico, a painting shows a young tonsured monk surrounded by flames with a sad expression. Tradition holds this young man was a priest who ended up in Purgatory either because of his own sinful life or because he absolved so many people at his final mass that he went there in their place. This image of a suffering male soul became popular in Mexico and elsewhere, with reproductions made for the faithful.

Santería and Lukumi

In the Afro-Cuban religion of Santería, or Lukumi, the Anima Sola is linked to Eshu Alleguana, a specific Eshu. Eshus are messengers and tricksters who control roads and doors, making them essential for delivering prayers. Eshu Alleguana is considered the oldest Eshu, having existed since before humans and many gods. This connection followed the practice of hiding African deities behind Catholic saints during slavery. The Anima Sola also forms a triad with the Intranquil Spirit and the Dominant Spirit.