Plegarias

Plegarias is the plural form of plegaria, a term used in Spanish, Portuguese, and Galician to denote prayers or supplications addressed to God, the saints, or other divine beings. In everyday usage, plegarias can refer to both private, informal prayers and formal, liturgical prayers.

The word derives from Iberian Romance language traditions and is closely linked to the broader vocabulary of Catholic devotion. In contemporary Spanish and Portuguese, plegarias can function as a general term for religious prayers as well as for specific invocations directed to figures such as the Virgin Mary or various saints. The term is often used alongside oración (Spanish) or oração (Portuguese) to emphasize different nuances of prayer.

Forms and contexts for plegarias vary. They may be oral or silent, memorized or improvised. They include short invocations, litanies, and longer prayers such as supplications, novenas, or Marian devotions. Plegarias appear in private personal devotion, family prayer, and public liturgical settings within Catholic communities.

Regional usage and historical context: In many Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries, plegarias are embedded in religious culture and literature, appearing in manuals of devotion, catechetical texts, and devotional poetry. They are attested in historical sources describing popular religious practices of the Middle Ages and early modern period.

See also: prayer, litany, novena.