Behold the Imagem Nossa Senhora Aparecida a symbol of faith in S\u00e3o Paulo. This image represents Our Lady of Aparecida. She is the principal patroness of Brazil.
Our Lady of Aparecida is associated with the Immaculate Conception. Her story began in October 1717. Dom Pedro de Almeida was passing through Guaratinguet\u00e1. He was the Count of Assumar and Governor of the Province of S\u00e3o Paulo and Minas Gerais.
The people planned a feast in his honor. Three fishermen Domingos Garcia Jo\u00e3o Alves and Filipe Pedroso went to the Para\u00edba River to fish. They prayed to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. They hoped for a good catch.
The fishermen had no luck. They cast their nets and pulled up a headless statue of the Virgin Mary. They salvaged the head. Legend says they then netted plenty of fish. After cleaning the statue they saw it was a black version of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.
The fishermen named the statue Nossa Senhora da Concei\u00e7\u00e3o Aparecida. This means Our Lady of the Conception who appeared. Neighbors began to venerate the statue. It became known as Our Lady Appeared. Devotion grew quickly. The first chapel was built in 1745.
Devotion to the Imagem Nossa Senhora Aparecida grew. It was especially popular among Afro-Brazilians. This was not only for its black Madonna status. It was also because it reportedly performed a miracle for an enslaved young man.
Veneration increased. Many miracles were attributed to her. For fifteen years the statue stayed with Filipe Pedroso’s family. Neighbors came to venerate it. Stories of miracles spread. The Pedroso family built a chapel. It soon became too small for the many worshippers. In 1737 the priest of Guaratinguet\u00e1 built a chapel. It was on the Morro dos Coqueiros. Public visits began in July 1745.
The number of worshippers increased dramatically. In 1834 work began on a larger church. This became known as the Old Basilica. Work on the even larger New Basilica started in 1955. It received pontifical approbation in 1980. In 1928 the City of Aparecida was consolidated around the old Bas\u00edlica.
The clay statue may have been imported from Portugal. Others say Frei Agostinho de Jesus made it. He was a monk from S\u00e3o Paulo. He was known for crafting sacred images in clay. The small statue is less than three feet tall. The image was made around 1650. It must have been underwater for years. It lost its original polychromy.
The image is dark brown. It is covered by a stiff dark blue robe. The robe is richly embroidered with the flags of Brazil and the Vatican City State. It has golden clasps. An imperial crown was added in 1904.
Pope Leo XIII mentioned the Brazilian devotion in 1903. Pope Pius X granted a canonical coronation in 1904. Pope Pius XI declared Mary under this title Patroness of Brazil in 1930. Pope Paul VI granted the image her first golden rose in 1967. Pope John Paul II consecrated her new shrine in 1980. He raised it to the rank of minor basilica. Pope Benedict XVI granted the image her second golden rose in 2007. Pope Francis granted the third golden rose in 2017. This honored the 300th anniversary of the devotion.
The image has faced controversy. In 1978 an intruder stole the statue. It was smashed as he was apprehended. In 1995 an evangelical minister insulted and vandalized a copy of the statue on Brazilian national television. This was known as the Chute na santa incident.
The Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady Aparecida is the second largest Basilica in the world. It can hold up to 45000 people.
The influence of Our Lady Aparecida on Brazilian Catholic society is immeasurable. Many towns and people are named after her. The modern art cathedral of Bras\u00edlia is dedicated to Our Lady Aparecida.
The Feast Day of Our Lady Aparecida is celebrated on October 12. It is a National Holiday in Brazil since 1980.
As you stand before the Imagem Nossa Senhora Aparecida remember its rich history. Consider its deep cultural significance to the people of Brazil.