“Ever feel lost at sea even on land?” I ask. Welcome to Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem. It is a beacon of hope for travelers. It’s a symbol of faith for those seeking safe journeys. Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem translates to Our Lady of Good Voyage. The devotion to her is old. It is common in Portugal and Brazil. It was brought to Brazil by seafarers. They built chapels in her honor.
In Portugal, you will often find small shrines along main roads. These shrines offer blessings to passersby. Some shrines became sanctuaries. They welcome many devotees. The oldest sanctuary is near Lisbon. It is dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem.
The people of Ericeira in Portugal celebrate her every year. The celebration lasts from August 15th to 18th. Since 1947, there have been dances. There are shows. There are processions. There is an open-air Mass. She is also the patron saint of Moita. This Portuguese village honors her in September. The first week of September is full of festivities. There are processions. Bulls run loose. Bullfights occur. A naval procession takes place. Boats on the Tagus River receive blessings.
Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem is linked to fishermen. A large organizing committee plans the traditional festival. Each year the sea and beach get blessed. Sailors once carried her image on their ships. They hoped for success in their voyages.
In Brazil, she is the patron saint of Belo Horizonte. Pope Pius XII made it official. Cardinal Dom Carlos Carmelo de Vasconcelos Mota requested it. In 1706, Francisco Homem Del Rey and Luís de Figueiredo Monterroyo went to Brazil. They sought gold. They specifically wanted the Mina de Cata Branca. It was near the Itaubira Peak of Rio de Janeiro.
They founded a village. It was named Itaubira do Rio de Janeiro de Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem. They built a chapel to honor her. They had brought her from Portugal. They also brought the altarpiece. They brought liturgical materials. This was for the future Parish of Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem de Itabirito. The chapel became a parish in 1742.
Later in the 1700s, Curral Del Rey formed in Minas Gerais. It had 30 to 40 houses. They had thatched roofs. There was a small chapel too. It had the same roof. It stood by the Acaba Mundo stream. A cross stood in front. A troop ranch was beside it. This chapel was dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem. She was beloved by explorers because of their nomadic life. The original chapel was destroyed. The current Cathedral of Boa Viagem replaced it.
The patron saint’s name meant she protected those leaving. They departed for various destinations. These were cattle drivers, traders, and travelers. The locals wished them “boa viagem”. This meant they hoped for a successful journey. Every year in Belo Horizonte, a luminous procession happens. Thousands of people participate. It starts at Rio Branco Square. It goes down Afonso Pena Avenue. It ends at the Cathedral. A solemn Mass follows.
Even children know her importance. She is an ancient devotion from the Age of Exploration. Explorers called her Star of the Sea. They engraved her name on their ships’ sterns. They sought protection from dangers. The oldest sanctuary to her was built around 1618 in Portugal. It was in Arrabia near Lisbon.
In Brazil, the first temple to her is on Boa Viagem Beach in Salvador, Bahia. Many faithful gather in Belo Horizonte annually. They hold a luminous procession for Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem.
Remember the story of Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem. She is a protector for all those who travel. Her story reminds us to seek blessings on our journeys. Whether those journeys are physical or spiritual, may we all have a “boa viagem.”