“Safe travels.” That’s what Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem means. It is also the name of this church. This is the Igreja Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem.
The Igreja Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem is more than just a building. It’s a beacon of hope for travelers and a testament to faith. This church stands as a symbol of protection for all journeys. It is especially meaningful for those who venture out to sea.
Devotion to Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem is common in Portugal. It is also common in Brazil. Seafarers brought this devotion to Brazil. They built chapels in her honor.
Along Portugal’s roads, you’ll often find shrines to her. Some of these have grown into sanctuaries. Many devotees visit these sanctuaries.
The people of Ericeira, Portugal, celebrate Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem every year. This celebration lasts from August 15th to 18th. It started in 1947. There are dances and shows. Processions and an open-air mass take place.
Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem is also the patron saint of Moita. This Portuguese town holds a ten-day festival in her honor. It takes place in September. Processions are held. There are bull runs and bullfights. A naval procession and blessing of boats on the Tagus River occur.
Fishermen traditionally celebrate her. Every year, the sea and beach receive a blessing. Sailors carried her image on their ships. This ensured success on their voyages.
Pope Pius XII made her the patron saint of Belo Horizonte. Belo Horizonte is the capital of Minas Gerais. Cardinal Dom Carlos Carmelo de Vasconcelos Mota requested this.
Francisco Homem Del Rey and Luís de Figueiredo Monterroyo arrived in Brazil in 1706. They sought gold. Specifically, they wanted the Mina de Cata Branca. It was near Pico do Itaubira do Rio de Janeiro.
They founded Itaubira do Rio de Janeiro de Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem in 1709. It was near the Mina de Cata Branca. They built a chapel to Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem. They had brought her from Portugal. They also brought the altarpiece. They brought liturgical materials for the future parish. This was for the Parish of Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem de Itabirito.
The chapel became a parish in 1742.
Curral Del Rey was a small village in Minas Gerais in the late 18th century. It had 30 to 40 houses with thatched roofs. A rough little chapel stood there too. It also had a thatched roof. It was near the Acaba Mundo stream.
A cross stood in front of it. A troop ranch was beside it. The chapel honored Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem. She was the favorite saint of explorers and outsiders. This was because of their nomadic lives. The current Cathedral of Boa Viagem replaced that chapel.
The patron saint of Curral Del Rey protected those leaving. They left for different destinations. Cattle drivers, peddlers, and all sorts of outsiders passed through. “Safe travels” was the wish for their journeys.
Thousands of people gather in Belo Horizonte every year. They participate in the Procession Luminosa. It starts at Rio Branco Square. It goes along Afonso Pena Avenue to the Cathedral. The solemn mass is celebrated there.
So, as you stand before the Igreja Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem remember its significance. It is a testament to faith. It is a symbol of safe travels. May your own journey be blessed. May it be filled with hope and protection under her watchful gaze.