“Light”. Does this word spark curiosity about Paróquia Nossa Senhora da Luz? This church in Alto da Boa Vista has a special connection to light. It is not just in its name. It is woven into its very origin story.
Paróquia Nossa Senhora da Luz is more than just a beautiful building. It is a testament to faith. It is a place of reunions. It is a backdrop for important family moments.
The devotion to Nossa Senhora da Luz started with Pedro Martins. He was a humble Portuguese man from Carnide. He owned land in Algarbe through his wife. Once he was captured by the Moors. This happened during an incursion into Portuguese territory. He was taken to North Africa.
Around 1453 a mysterious light appeared over the Fonte do Machado in Carnide. No one could figure out where it came from. The people were alarmed. People came from Lisbon and the surrounding areas to see it. The place became known as “A Luz” meaning “The Light”. The light hovered about 100 meters high. People could not reach it no matter how close they got.
Pedro Martins was very devoted to the Virgin Mary. He had given up hope of being freed by men. So he turned to her for help. The Virgin Mary heard his prayers. She appeared to him in a dream for 30 consecutive nights to comfort him. On the last night she told him he would return home to Carnide soon. He should go to the Fonte do Machado. There he should look for an image of her hidden near the source. A light would indicate where the image was. Pedro was to build a chapel on that spot.
The Virgin Mary announced that his journey home had arrived. He should act normally. He should walk to the ship. He should pay for the trip with his work on the ship. He should leave without fear. Everyone would be looking at him. But they would not see him.
Days later Pedro Martins appeared in his hometown. He was grateful for his miraculous liberation. Pedro immediately sought to fulfill the Holy Mother’s wish. One night he went with a relative to find the image. The light sparkled above the source. They walked through the trees. They noticed the light moved until it stopped at a certain point. They cleared the area. They removed some stones. They found the image of the Queen of Heaven.
News of the discovery spread. Many people flocked to the site. The Virgin Mary began to be invoked as Nossa Senhora da Luz. Pedro Martins started building the chapel. He had permission from the Bishop of Lisbon. The Bishop laid the first stone in a solemn religious ceremony. Later a sumptuous temple replaced this chapel. It opened in 1596.
The feast of Nossa Senhora da Luz began to be celebrated every year. Portuguese noble houses competed for the honor of paying for the expenses. However a devastating earthquake nearly destroyed this grand sanctuary in Lisbon in 1755. According to legend this catastrophe led to the construction of Nossa Senhora da Luz in Diamantina.
Jesuits and Benedictines spread this devotion in Brazil. It is present in the Luz neighborhood in São Paulo. It is also in Diamantina MG. It can be found in Rocha and Alto da Boa Vista RJ. It is also in the southern states. Curitiba has Nossa Senhora da Luz as its patron saint.
Families still celebrate important events at Paróquia Nossa Senhora da Luz today. Baptisms are common. The church provides a beautiful and peaceful setting. The sun’s energy blesses all who gather there. The parish has a special meaning for many families. Some couples even get married here.
Every year on September 8 the church celebrates the day of Nossa Senhora da Luz. There is a novena or triduum. There is a solemn mass. There is a procession. Every month on the 8th the Church dedicates a special mass to the Patroness.
Paróquia Nossa Senhora da Luz stands as a beacon. It is a place where faith community and family intertwine. Its history is rooted in a miraculous light. It continues to illuminate lives today.