Our Lady of Aparecida National Patron Saint´s Day

On October 12, three dates are celebrated, but few remember them all: Our Lady of Aparecida, Brazil's official patron, Children's Day and the Discovery of America. The national holiday, however, is due only to the first date, and although the devotion to the Saint dates back to the eighteenth century, it was only enacted in 1980.

There are two sources found on the image, which are in the Archives of the Metropolitan Curia of Aparecida and the Roman Archive of the Society of Jesus in Rome.

According to these sources, in 1717 fishermen Domingos Martins Garcia, Joao Alves Felipe Pedroso fished in the Paraiba River, then called Itaguaçu river. Or rather, tried to fish, because every time they threw the net, it came back empty, until they brought the image of a saint, without the head. They threw the net once more, a little below where the saint had been fished, this time it came with the head which was missing in the image and the fishnet hitherto empty, went back to the boat full of fish. This is considered the first miracle of the saint. They cleaned up the image caught in the river and noticed that it was a dark color image of Our Lady of Conception, .

Over the next 15 years, the image stayed with the family of Felipe
Pedroso, one of the fishermen, and became the subject of the prayers of the entire community. The devotion grew as the fame of the miracles performed by holy spread. The family built a chapel, which was soon found too small to house the faithful who came in increasing numbers. In mid-1734, the vicar of Guaratinguetá built a chapel on top of Coconut Trees hill to shelter the holy image and receive his faithful. The image came to be called Aparecida and gave birth to the city of the same name.

In 1834 began the construction of the church now known as the Old Basilica. On November 6, 1888, Princess Isabel visited the basilica for the second time and left a holy crown of gold studded with diamonds and rubies, with the blue robe. On September 8, 1904 was held the solemn coronation of the image of Our Lady of Aparecida, and in 1930, Pope Pius XI decreed the patron saint of Brazil, statement reaffirmed in 1931 by President Getulio Vargas.

The construction of the current basilica began in 1946, signed by the project Engineer Benedito Calixto de Jesus. The inauguration took place in 1967 on the occasion of the commemoration of 250 Anniversary meeting of the miraculous image,
even with the unfinished temple. Pope Paul VI offered the saint a golden rose, symbol of love and trust for the many blessings and graces granted by it. Since 1950 it has been thought in the construction of a new Marian shrine due to the increasing number of pilgrimages. The majestic temple was consecrated by the Pope, after more than twenty-five years of construction, on July 4, 1980, the first visit of Pope John Paul II to Brazil.

The commemorative day to Our Lady of Aparecida (anniversary of the image appearance in the river) was set by in 1954, as Oct. 12. At this time of the year that the Basilica records the presence of a countless multitude of the faithful, although they mark notable presence throughout the year.

The image found and revered until today is made of terracotta and 40 cm high. The original color was certainly affected by the time the image was dipped in the river water as well as the smoke of candles and lamps that for so many years were the symbols of the holy devotion of the faithful.

In 1978, after an attack which reduced it to nearly 200 pieces, it was rebuilt by the artist Maria Helena Chartuni who was at that time a restaurateur at the Art Museum of Sao Paulo. Experts say it was molded from clay of the region, by the Benedictine monk Frei Agostinho de Jesus, although this is difficult to prove authorship.

If you want more information about the Basilica and its programming, visit www.santuarionacional.com.br
in which you can also light a virtual candle.

Some distances between the city of Aparecida and other locations:
Aparecida: - São Paulo: 160 km
Aparecida: - Campos do Jordão: 92 km
Aparecida: - Rio de Janeiro: 250 km

Adress: Av Dr Júlio Prestes - Aparecida- São Paulo

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