Fieldwork Archive
Alabado sea el Santísimo
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.
"Alabado sea el Santísimo" is traditionally the final hymn sung during this novena.
Each time the Most Blessed Sacrament is mentioned during the song, participants make the sign of the cross.
Candy and other small gifts are distributed to participants while this song is sung.
Finally, the novena concludes with a festive proclamation of the pregón most associated with this holiday season, "¿Quién causa tanta alegría?"
Sacramento del Altar
y María concebida
sin pecado original. (x3)
Alabemos a la Reina
de la corte celestial,
que es María concebida
sin pecado original.
Démosle al contrario guerra
cantando con alegría.
¡Viva en los cielos y tierra
la Concepción de María!
Y los ángeles en el cielo
te alaban con alegría
y nosotros en la tierra
la Concepción de María.
Alabemos por mil veces
al Sacramento Divino
para que de aquí se aparte
todo espíritu maligno.
¿Quién causa tanta alegría?
¡La Concepción de María! (x3)
¡Que viva la Concepción de María!
¡Que viva!
Sacrament of the Altar
and Mary conceived
without original sin. (x3)
Let us praise the Queen
of the heavenly court,
who is Mary conceived
without original sin.
Let us wage war against the adversary
singing with joy.
Long live in heaven and on earth
the Conception of Mary!
And the angels in heaven
praise you with joy,
and we on earth
the Conception of Mary.
Let us praise a thousand times
the Divine Sacrament
so that every evil spirit
may depart from here.
Who causes such joy?
The Conception of Mary! (x3)
Long live the Conception of Mary!
Long live!
