marian
anniversaries april
Second Monday after Easter
Nossa Senhora da Penha, Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Brazil
Perched on a 500' rock across the bay from the state capital, Vitória,
the monastery of Our Lady of the Crag got its start in 1558, when
Franciscan missionary Pedro Palácios arrived, bringing from Portugal a
painting of Nossa Senhora das Alegrias, Our Lady of Joys—the
first oil painting in Brazil. In 1569, the statue of Our Lady of the Crag
arrived from Lisbon. The shrine is named after a famous one in Fr.
Palácios'
homeland of Salamanca,
the Black Virgin of Peña de Francia. Over the years, the Brazilian
sanctuary, too, became a magnet for pilgrims. Its Hall of Miracles
displays many ex-votos left in thanks for healings and other blessings. In
1570, Fr. Palácios began the tradition of the Festa da Penha,
starting on Easter and culminating eight days later, a celebration that
now attracts some 600,000 participants. The Virgin and Child are usually
dressed in pink, blue, and white, the flag colors of the state of
Espírito Santo, of which she is patron.
Sources include:
| "Vila Velha/Penha, - Quem Somos - Franciscanos
Quem somos," Província Franciscana da Imaculada Conceição
do Brasil - OFM (shrine's website and picture source) |
| "Nossa
Senhora da Penha, Vila Velha," PlanetWare Travel Guide,
www.planetware.com |
|
Also celebrated this date:
| Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, Goianinha, Natal, Brazil (Our Lady of Joys).
Final and biggest day of festa, huge procession. |
| Madonna di Loreto, Peschici, Foggia, Apulia, Italy. Madonna di Loreto,
Peschici, Foggia, Puglia, Italy. Festa features can'strillë,
pastries in the shape of baskets with a whole egg baked into them. |
| Madonna della Pace, Tremestieri Etneo, Catania, Sicily, Italy. Town's
patronal festa; procession, solemn pontifical mass. |
| Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, Cebolais de Cima, Antas, Viseu, Portugal |
| Nossa Senhora da Boa Nova, Alandroal, Evora, Portugal (Our Lady of Good
News) |
| Virgen del Gozo, Los Santos, Salamanca, Castile and Léon, Spain (Virgin
of Joy) |
| Virgen de la Veguilla, Benavente, Zamora, Castile and Léon, Spain |
| Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, Cuacos de Yuste, Cáceres, Extremadura,
Spain |
| Nuestra Señora de la Jarrera, Mirabel, Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain |
| Nuestra Señora de Argamasa, Riolobos, Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain |
| Nuestra Señora de Gracia, Villar del Campo, Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain.
Romería. |
| Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, Segura de León, Badajoz, Extremadura,
Spain |
| Virgen de Arcos, Albalate del Arzobispo, Teruel, Aragon, Spain. Romería. |
| Virgen de los Remedios, Olvera, Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain. Romería. |
|