Brazilians' devotion to Our Lady Aparecida dates to 1717

Published: 2007-05-14

APARECIDA, Brazil (CNS) -- Even before Pope Benedict XVI arrived May 11, this city of 35,000 people in a valley about 100 miles northeast of Sao Paulo was accustomed to receiving large crowds of pilgrims. Every Oct. 12, at least 100,000 people arrive to celebrate the feast of Our Lady Aparecida, Brazil's patroness. Since 1717, when three local men fished an image of Mary from the Paraiba River, Aparecida has been a pilgrimage destination. More than 7 million people now visit the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady Aparecida every year. Shops near the shrine are filled with souvenirs, including replicas of the original statue of a dark-skinned Mary wearing a dark-blue cape with gold decorations typical of South American colonial art. The earliest sites of the devotion to Our Lady Aparecida -- so named because she "appeared" to the fishermen -- were small grottos or chapels built by the fishermen's families. By 1745, the statue had become known as miraculous.

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .