In Malagón (Castilla-La Mancha) a solemn Mass and an extraordinary procession in honour of San Juan de la Cruz and Santa Teresa de Jesús were held on 18 October 2026. The occasion was the 300th anniversary of the canonisation of San Juan de la Cruz (1726) and the 100th anniversary of his appointment as a Doctor of the Church (1926). According to the municipality, the main celebrations began at around 11.30am at the Plaza del Convento and carried images of both Carmelite saints through the town’s streets.
According to the regional government and the town council, Church officials and local representatives paid tribute to the spiritual and cultural influence of the Carmelites on Malagón. The government representative Blanca Fernández highlighted the historical, spiritual and cultural significance of Santa Teresa and San Juan de la Cruz for the town. The event was organised by the Convent of San José of the Discalced Carmelite nuns, the Cofradía de Santa Teresa and the Ayuntamiento de Malagón; members of the order, worshippers and local authorities took part in the procession.
The dual jubilee is being marked nationwide: across Spain, numerous Church events in 2026 commemorate the mystic’s canonisation by Pope Benedict XIII 300 years ago and his declaration as a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI 100 years ago. Malagón, closely linked to the Teresian-Johannine heritage through the Convent of San José, has launched an expanded cultural programme, including readings, exhibitions and events focusing on mystical poetry. The town council published accompanying information on dates and routes for the celebrations.
Representatives of the religious order described the unusual joint procession with images of Santa Teresa de Jesús and San Juan de la Cruz as a visible expression of the spiritual bond between the two saints. For the municipality, the religious celebration connects tradition and the present: it strengthens local customs, raises the town’s profile in the province Ciudad Real and may encourage religious and cultural tourism. Whether this leads to a sustained increase in visitor numbers depends on the continuation of the programme and the availability of further events.
The information given here relates to the public celebrations held in Malagón on 18 October 2026. Details of times, schedules and participants were released by the regional government, the Ayuntamiento de Malagón and religious order bodies. The town council has announced further events during the jubilee year, but specific dates remain subject to official announcements.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).