marian anniversaries     november

November 15

Nossa Senhora do Rocio, Paranaguá, Paraná, Brazil

One story goes that in the mid-1600s, an African or native fisherman called Pai (Papa) Berê, finding his nets repeatedly empty, said a prayer for help, then cast out into Paranaguá Bay one more time. Instead of fish, he caught a small statue of the Virgin and Child. After that, fishing was good. People began coming to pray at Pai Berê's house before the image they identified as Our Lady of the Rosary of the Dew.[1] Over the years many miracles and healings were attributed to the intercession of Our Lady of the Dew in this area along the south coast of Brazil. People called on her successfully for help during storms at sea, the plague of 1901, and the flu of 1918.[2] In 1920, the present Shrine was built near the traditional site of Pai Berê's lucky catch.[3] 

There is no clear connection between this Virgin of the Dew and Nuestra Señora del Rocío, devotion to whom spread from Andalucia to other parts of Spain and some of its colonies, but not especially to Portugal. Some suggest that the title was a reference to the drops of water on the statue when Pai Berê pulled it from the bay, or to the name of his neighborhood, or a corruption of rossio, plaza or gathering space. A different origin story relates that a mysterious beam of light directed people to a bed of roses where they found the statue, covered with dew.[1] To believers, the title symbolizes the blessings and spiritual refreshment Our Lady gives.[3] The metaphor is familiar to Catholics from the mass prayer asking God to “Make holy ... these gifts ... by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall.”[4]

In 1977 the Catholic bishops and Pope declared Nossa Senhora do Rocio patron of the state of Paraná, where her feast day is celebrated annually on November 15, traditional date of the statue's finding. Thousands of devotees converge on the shrine for a solemn outdoor mass and a procession to the cathedral. On the following day, another procession returns the statue to the shrine. Since 2013, a maritime procession is held on the previous Sunday.[5] 

1. Rosy de Sá Cardoso, "O sumiço da santa," Gazeta do Povo, www.gazetadopovo.com.br/vida-e-cidadania/especiais/litoral/o-sumico-da-santa-9r74u2h0913rbgy41ybd208y6/
2. Valdis Grinsteins, Nossa Senhora do Rocio, Padroeira do Paraná, catolicismo.com.br/materia/materia.cfm?IDmat=3E313988-E80A-48A7-AB70CB151EA3679D&mes=Novembro2003
3. "Nossa Senhora do Rosário do Rocio," Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre, pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nossa_Senhora_do_Ros%C3%A1rio_do_Rocio
4. Felix Just, S.J., "Eucharistic Prayers I-IV," Catholic Resources, catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/RM3-EP1-4.htm
5. Santuário Nossa Senhora do Rocio, www.santuariodorocio.com (Shrine's website)

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