The inauguration of a new oratory in honor of Our Lady of Aparecida, the patroness of Brazil, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception was a day filled with pilgrimage, reflection, prayer and great joy for nearly 3,000 pilgrims. They attended a special Mass celebrated in Portuguese by Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, the archbishop of Boston, on Sept. 14, 2024.
“The love and devotion of the Brazilian people for Our Lady of Aparecida serve as an example of unity for all. Under her mantle, every family should pray, engage in dialogue, and courageously fight for social justice, always remembering that the encounter with Christ happens through service to the most vulnerable,” Cardinal O’Malley said as he began his homily.
The cardinal also highlighted that the Virgin Mary continually inspires people to live the Gospel with faith and hope, reminding them that through prayer and her intercession, they can strengthen both peace and family bonds.
Pope Francis has a special devotion to Our Lady of Aparecida. The pope has said that she guided the bishops’ work on the themes of encountering Christ, discipleship, and their mission to the poorest during the Fifth General Conference of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopate in 2007. It was at this conference that the Aparecida Document was born, a text that remains influential to this day.
The concelebrants at the Mass included Cardinals Wilton Gregory of Washington and Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States; and Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune of Charleston, South Carolina; Boston Auxiliary Bishop Cristiano Barbosa; Baltimore Auxiliary Bishop Bruce Lewandowski; Bishop Adilson Pedro Busin of Tubarao, Brazil; Bishop Luiz Fernando Lisboa of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Brazil; and Msgr. Walter Rossi, the basilica’s rector. The homilist at the Mass was Bishop Edgar da Cunha, SDV, of Fall River, Massachusetts, a native of Brazil who is the promoter of the Oratory of Our Lady of Aparecida.
Going forward, the image of Our Lady of Aparecida will be displayed in an oratory near the National Shrine’s main entrance, serving as a gathering point for future pilgrimages by Brazilian devotees.
The basilica was overflowing with faithful of all ages, predominantly Brazilian and Portuguese, to the point that many had to listen to the Mass while sitting on the floor, standing in the aisles or on the stairs. They gathered in Washington, D.C., to show their devotion to Brazil’s patroness, Our Lady of Aparecida, waving white handkerchiefs to express their joy.
Patricia and Ronilson DePaul traveled from Boston with their children, Pedro and Luis, to participate in the Mass and dedication of the National Shrine’s new Oratory of Our Lady of Aparecida. They said, “We came from Boston to honor the Virgin, to thank her for life, for the families living here and in Minas Gerais, (Brazil), and to pray for world peace.”
Celso Cruz, José Araujo, and Joe Ribamar traveled from New Jersey to give thanks for the miracles they believe they have received from Our Lady of Aparecida’s intercession. They said, “We are from Belo Horizonte and have been living in the United States for two decades. We are here today because Our Mother always hears our prayers, never forgets her children, and consistently protects the immigrant community.”
Gaby Rodríguez, María, and Marina Ribeiro, catechists from Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish in Beverly, New Jersey, came to fulfill their promise of praying the rosary before the image of Brazil's patroness and to participate in the historic Mass. They said, “Today, we have strengthened our faith and honored the Virgin Mary once again.”
The 168 members of the youth group from St. Anthony Parish in Everett, Massachusetts, needed three buses to travel to Washington. They said they came to ask Our Lady of Aparecida to strengthen their faith and protect their families, and they also made the pilgrimage to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
In October 1717, Count Assumar, the governor of Brazil at the time, visited Guaratinguetá. Since it was a period of meat abstinence, Felipe Pedroso, Domingos Martins García and João Alves sought alternative food for the esteemed visitor and his entourage.
After several unsuccessful attempts, the fishermen discovered a terracotta image of the Immaculate Conception in their nets. The image was found in two parts: first the body, then the head. This happened at the Port of Itaguazú. Following this discovery, fishing in the area became extraordinarily plentiful, reminiscent of biblical stories.
The devout fishermen and their families would gather each night to pray before the image of Mary at Felipe Pedroso’s house. Later, Felipe built a small oratory where he placed the image that had appeared. Every Saturday, neighbors and those who had heard about it would come together to pray the rosary. From that moment on, miracles began to occur, and people started calling the image Our Lady of Aparecida.
In 1745, the first chapel was inaugurated. In 1842, construction of a new church began, and it was completed on Dec. 8, 1888. By 1893, it was elevated to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Aparecida.
In 1904, the image was solemnly crowned at the request of Pope St. Pius X. Then, in 1930, Pope Pius XI officially declared her the “Queen and Patroness of Brazil.”
In 1967, Pope St. Paul VI bestowed the “Golden Rose” upon the Basilica of Aparecida to mark the 250th anniversary of the image’s appearance.
The current National Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida was solemnly inaugurated in 1980 by Pope Saint John Paul II.
In May 2007, the Fifth General Conference of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopate was held at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Aparecida, inaugurated by Pope Benedict XVI. After several days of intense reflection and prayer, the document that would guide the pastoral actions of the Catholic Church on that continent was issued.
This document, now known as the Aparecida Document, was presented to the Holy Father and emphasizes the crucial role of promoting the family as a missionary priority for the continent. Pope Francis played an active role in that conference.
(Miguel Vivanco is the assistant editor of El Pregonero, the Spanish-language newspaper and website of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.)
