Summary: | In this paper we aim to analise one aspect which normally goes unnoticed when studying the history of Christianism: charity. During the end of the Middle Ages, Andalusian fraternities were institutions which carried out an intense activity for social welfare amongst the inhabitants of the places where they resided. Members of fraternities or not, those who enjoyed a comfortable socioeconomic position turned to them in order to be helped in the transit to the eternal glory, as they wanted. They asked for assistance in the wake before leaving the wordly life, in funeral processions, and in funeral services to shorten the time for purging sins. But fraternities also shared this solidarity with poor people. This assistance also included other kinds of activities which met the interests and needs of people of the age.
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