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The town of Aparecida do Norte lies in the province of Sao Paolo in Brazil. It is known as the most important Marian shrine in the country, the point onto which pilgrims from all over the country converge. This is the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Aparecida, the patron saint of Brazil.
It all began in the 18th century, when some fishermen, used to casting their nets into the River Paraiba near Sao Paolo, hauled up a headless statue with their catch. When they re-cast their nets, they brought up the head of the statue: it then appeared to be a Black Virgin. Legend has it that when the fishermen recovered the body, then the head, the slender figure of the Aparecida Virgin became so heavy that they couldn’t budge it.
Since then, in the Brazilian religious tradition, the Aparecida Virgin, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, is the Holy Mother, patron Saint of mothers-to-be and the new-born, rivers and the sea, gold, honey and beauty. Over the years, worship of the Immaculate “Aparecida” Virgin increased and many mercies have been obtained. In 1737, the curate at Guaratingueta had a chapel erected for worshippers.
Since the 19th century, the Feast Day of Our Lady Aparecida is celebrated on October 12. The date coincides with the foundation of the Empire of Brazil in 1822, and is regarded in Brazilian culture as children's day. In the Roman Catholic Liturgical Calendar approved for Brazil, the day of Our Lady Aparecida ranks as a solemnity, and is a holy day of obligation. The feast's rank as a day of precept was established by the Holy See at the request of the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops.
The feast day of Our Lady of Aparecida has been a National Holiday in Brazil since 1980. The federal statute declaring October 12 a National holiday in honour of Our Lady Aparecida, Patroness of Brazil, was passed by Congress and signed into law on June 30, 1980, during Pope John Paul II's first visit to the country; that was also the first visit by a Pope to Brazil, and during that visit the "New Basilica" of Aparecida was consacrated.
It all began in the 18th century, when some fishermen, used to casting their nets into the River Paraiba near Sao Paolo, hauled up a headless statue with their catch. When they re-cast their nets, they brought up the head of the statue: it then appeared to be a Black Virgin. Legend has it that when the fishermen recovered the body, then the head, the slender figure of the Aparecida Virgin became so heavy that they couldn’t budge it.
Since then, in the Brazilian religious tradition, the Aparecida Virgin, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, is the Holy Mother, patron Saint of mothers-to-be and the new-born, rivers and the sea, gold, honey and beauty. Over the years, worship of the Immaculate “Aparecida” Virgin increased and many mercies have been obtained. In 1737, the curate at Guaratingueta had a chapel erected for worshippers.
Since the 19th century, the Feast Day of Our Lady Aparecida is celebrated on October 12. The date coincides with the foundation of the Empire of Brazil in 1822, and is regarded in Brazilian culture as children's day. In the Roman Catholic Liturgical Calendar approved for Brazil, the day of Our Lady Aparecida ranks as a solemnity, and is a holy day of obligation. The feast's rank as a day of precept was established by the Holy See at the request of the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops.
The feast day of Our Lady of Aparecida has been a National Holiday in Brazil since 1980. The federal statute declaring October 12 a National holiday in honour of Our Lady Aparecida, Patroness of Brazil, was passed by Congress and signed into law on June 30, 1980, during Pope John Paul II's first visit to the country; that was also the first visit by a Pope to Brazil, and during that visit the "New Basilica" of Aparecida was consacrated.