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Also known as: Our Lady
Who Appeared
In October 1717, Dom Pedro de Almedida, Count of Assumar passed through
the area of Guarantinqueta, a small city in the Paraiba river valley. The
people there decided to hold a feast in his honor, and though it was not
fishing season, the men went to the waters to fish for the feast. Three of
the fishermen, Domingos Garcia, Joco Alves, and Felipe Pedroso, prayed to
the Immaculate Conception, and asked God's help. However, after several
hours they were ready to give up. Joco cast his net once more near the
Port of Itaguagu, but instead of fish, he hauled in the body of a statue.
The three cast their net again, and brought up the statue's head. After
cleaning the statue they found that it was Our Lady of the Immaculate
Conception. Naming their find Our Lady Aparecida, they wrapped it in cloth
and continued to fish; now their nets were full.
While we do not know why the statue was at the bottom of the river, we do
know who made it. Frei Agostino de Jesus, a carioca monk from Sao Paulo
known for his sculpture. The image was less than three feet tall, was made
around 1650, and must have been underwater for years. It is a dark brown
color, is covered by a stiff robe of richly embroidered thick cloth, and
wears an imperial crown which was added in 1904. Only her face and hands
can be seen. Pope Pius XII proclaimed her principal patroness of Brazil in
1930. It was recently vandalized by being broken into several pieces just
prior to a visit by Pope John Paul II, but a group of dedicated artists
and artisans carefully pieced it together again.
Patronage: Brazil
source:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/mary0005.htm
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