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(ZENIT News \/ Madrid, 01.25.2026).- In barely two weeks, a charitable appeal turned into a national gesture of solidarity.<\/p>\n
Spain\u2019s cloistered nuns\u2014and monks\u2014are heading into the heart of winter with at least a little more warmth than in previous years, thanks to an unexpectedly rapid fundraising success by the DeClausura Foundation. Its campaign, tellingly titled \u201cSo They Don\u2019t Have to Be So Cold\u2014It\u2019s in Your Hands,\u201d reached its initial target of \u20ac100,000 in just fourteen days, a milestone that will help cover heating costs for contemplative communities across the country.<\/p>\n
The original goal was to assist 80 monasteries during the harshest winter months. Donations have already begun reaching the first communities, although DeClausura acknowledges that the amounts sent so far fall short of fully covering seasonal energy bills. For that reason, the campaign will remain open until January 31, as planned, with the hope of expanding aid to even more monasteries.<\/p>\n
The speed of this year\u2019s response marks a dramatic change from 2025. Last winter, DeClausura raised \u20ac68,400, enabling support for 64 contemplative communities, with an average of \u20ac1,070 per monastery. This time, surpassing \u20ac100,000 in record time reflects not only donor generosity but also heightened public awareness\u2014an awareness sparked in large part by recent media coverage.<\/p>\n
A widely read report in the Spanish daily ABC revealed the stark reality inside many cloisters: some communities simply avoid turning on the heat, or run it sparingly, to keep costs down. The article quickly became one of the paper\u2019s most viewed online stories, amplified by viral videos on social media. The result was a surge of contributions in the campaign\u2019s final week.<\/p>\n
For DeClausura, the issue is far from symbolic. \u201cCold in monasteries is not a metaphor\u2014it\u2019s a real problem that affects health and quality of life,\u201d the foundation said in its statement. Many convents occupy centuries-old buildings designed long before modern insulation: thick stone walls, soaring ceilings, and minimal thermal protection. In winter, these architectural treasures become endurance tests.<\/p>\n
Some religious sisters describe wearing multiple layers throughout the day\u2014sometimes even several pairs of socks\u2014just to remain functional during long hours of prayer and manual work. It is a quiet hardship, rarely visible beyond monastery walls.<\/p>\n
The foundation stresses that reaching the \u20ac100,000 benchmark does not mean the crisis is resolved. Energy poverty remains a persistent threat for contemplative communities, whose income is often limited to small-scale crafts, donations, or modest pensions. DeClausura is therefore urging continued support throughout the winter months.<\/p>\n
The response from the monasteries themselves has been characteristically simple\u2014and deeply spiritual. \u201cSpain will be saved by its generosity,\u201d one community remarked.<\/p>\n
Sister Micaela, abbess of the Poor Clares in Carri\u00f3n de los Condes, in the northern province of Palencia, offered a characteristically candid reflection on faith and providence. \u201cThese are miracles God works\u2014but only if we ask,\u201d she said. With gentle humor, she added: \u201cSometimes people tell me, \u2018I don\u2019t receive anything.\u2019 And I ask, \u2018But did you ask?\u2019 If the answer is no, then it\u2019s not God\u2019s fault.\u201d<\/p>\n
DeClausura sees this year\u2019s campaign as proof that prayer and practical action can move together. \u201cThey asked for help, and many people chose to answer,\u201d the foundation noted, expressing gratitude for what has already translated into warmer rooms, functioning radiators, and a more bearable winter for dozens of cloistered communities.<\/p>\n
Founded to serve Spain\u2019s monastic world, DeClausura operates in a country that holds a unique distinction: Spain has more monasteries and convents than any other nation. Hidden behind walls and grilles, these communities devote their lives to contemplation, intercession, and quiet service.<\/p>\n
This winter, thanks to thousands of anonymous donors, their prayer will rise from spaces that are no longer quite so cold\u2014and from hearts warmed by a reminder that even the most secluded lives remain deeply connected to the wider world.<\/p>\n
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