Fieldwork Archive
Toda hermosa eres María
Performed by Parroquia de la Iglesia San Nicolás de Tolentino del Laborío.
Recorded December 6, 2025 at Iglesia San Nicolás de Tolentino del Laborío,
León, Nicaragua (acquisition date: December 12, 2025).
Performed during a novena to the Immaculate Conception.
Recorded by Claudio Alexander Urbina on behalf of Derek Piotr.
In the first week of December, Catholics in Nicaragua gather on evenings to pray novenas in preparation for la gritería ("the shout"), a Nicaraguan festival which originated in the early 18th century, held in honor of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, also nicknamed la Purísima.
This holiday celebration holds special significance in the city of León, where it originated.
Here, Fieldwork Archivist Claudio Alexander Urbina joins his parish in the Laborío neighborhood of León in singing a Purísima hymn for one of these novenas.
Toda hermosa eres María
desde tu instante primero,
pues la mancha original
no tuvo en tu ser derecho.
Tú eres de Jerusalén,
la gloria y sumo contento,
tú eres de Israel la alegría
y honra del cristiano pueblo.
Tú eres de los pecadores
la abogada a cuyo esfuerzo,
Oh, María, deben todos
tan favorable decreto.
Oh prudentísima Virgen
de la castidad espejo
oh clementísima Madre
abriga a todo tu gremio.
Por tu inmaculado ser,
Virgen y Madre del Verbo,
del enemigo maligno
déjanos, Señora, exentos.
Nicaragua de tu pueblo
te canta con alegría.
¡Viva en los cielos y tierra
la Concepción de María!
desde tu instante primero,
pues la mancha original
no tuvo en tu ser derecho.
Tú eres de Jerusalén,
la gloria y sumo contento,
tú eres de Israel la alegría
y honra del cristiano pueblo.
Tú eres de los pecadores
la abogada a cuyo esfuerzo,
Oh, María, deben todos
tan favorable decreto.
Oh prudentísima Virgen
de la castidad espejo
oh clementísima Madre
abriga a todo tu gremio.
Por tu inmaculado ser,
Virgen y Madre del Verbo,
del enemigo maligno
déjanos, Señora, exentos.
Nicaragua de tu pueblo
te canta con alegría.
¡Viva en los cielos y tierra
la Concepción de María!
All-beautiful you are, Mary,
from your very first moment,
for original sin
had no place in your being.
You are of Jerusalem
the glory and supreme joy,
you are the joy of Israel
and the honor of the Christian people.
You are the advocate of sinners,
to whose efforts,
O Mary, all owe
such a favorable decree.
O most prudent Virgin,
mirror of chastity,
O most merciful Mother,
shelter all your flock.
By your Immaculate Being,
Virgin and Mother of the Word,
from the evil enemy,
leave us, O Lady, free.
Nicaragua, your people,
sing to you with joy.
Long live in heaven and on earth
the Immaculate Conception of Mary!
from your very first moment,
for original sin
had no place in your being.
You are of Jerusalem
the glory and supreme joy,
you are the joy of Israel
and the honor of the Christian people.
You are the advocate of sinners,
to whose efforts,
O Mary, all owe
such a favorable decree.
O most prudent Virgin,
mirror of chastity,
O most merciful Mother,
shelter all your flock.
By your Immaculate Being,
Virgin and Mother of the Word,
from the evil enemy,
leave us, O Lady, free.
Nicaragua, your people,
sing to you with joy.
Long live in heaven and on earth
the Immaculate Conception of Mary!
