Introductory note
Even though there is no absolute consent about the translation of the Portuguese word saudade, we would like to give you these possibilities of translation to allow you to achieve a better understanding of the text:
saudade = missing something
or someone, the feeling of loss, the feeling of nostalgia. Depending on the
situation it can be a good or a bad feeling.
History of Our Lady of
Saudade
Our Lady of
Saudade recalls the immense miss and loss that Virgin Mary felt
for her Son, during three incomplete days that His body was in the sepulcher.
The
devotion towards Our Lady of Saudade began
on March, 30th, 1918, after Virgin Mary had
appeared in dreams to Sister Ignez do Sagrado Coração de Jesus, one of the
founders of Carmelo de São José, in the city of Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro,
where resides the only, beautiful and moving, image of the saint, sculpted in
white marble.
It
is, therefore, a genuinely Brazilian invocation, “inspired
from Above, in a special way, to honor the pain, unknown until then, of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary, during the 36 hours, that is, three incomplete days,
of the closing of Jesus in the sepulcher.”
According
to the journalist Mozart Monteiro, in his book Nossa Senhora da Saudade (Our Lady of
Saudade),
“the
devotion of the Crown of Saudades of the Queen of Martyrs was immediately
presented to the eminent theologian Father Dr. João Gualberto do Amaral, and
examined by him. The illustrious priest declared this devotion to be perfectly
orthodox, having nothing to go against the sane church doctrine; and he added
that the number 36, of the hours of the burial of Christ, is found in the body
of ‘Suma’, by Saint Thomas Aquinas - whose work is the most perfect expression
of Catholic orthodoxy” (page 139).
At
that time, the city of Petrópolis belonged to the Diocese of Niterói, whose
Bishop, Dom Agostinho Benassi, approved the devotion, authorizing the printing
of leaflets with the formula of the Crown of Saudades.
Just
like explained by Nilza Botelho Megale, in the book Invocações da Virgem Maria no Brasil (Invocations of the
Virgin Mary in Brazil)
“Then,
it was instituted the ‘Crown of Saudade of the Queen of Martyrs’ (approved by
Niterói’s Bishop), a kind of chapelet formed with three mysteries, each one
consisting of one ‘Our Father’ and twelve ‘Memorare’, adding, therefore, this
last prayer the number 36, corresponding to the hours of suffering of the
Celestial Mother. In the medal of Our Lady, by the ending of the crown, three “Ave
Maria"’ and a special supplication to the Queen of Martyrs are prayed.”
After
the creation of the Diocese of Petrópolis, in 1948, the first Bishop, Dom
Manoel Pedro da Cunha Cintra, in an arbitrary decision, prohibited, in 1950,
the diffusion of the devotion to Our lady of Saudade
throughout the country, authorizing it only within the limits of Carmelo
de São José.
The
restauration of the Liturgy of Holy Week by Pope Pius XII, in 1956, ratifying
the intense mourning for Easter Saturday, former Hallelujah Saturday, made
evident the martyrdom of Saudade suffered by the Divine Mother during the
burial of Jesus, supporting the worship of Our Lady of Saudade.
The
only image of Our
Lady of Saudade is found in the
cloister of Carmelo de São José, in Petrópolis. Carved in Paris, in Carrara
marble, it measures 5’5” feet in height, not considering the terrestrial globe
at the feet of the Virgin. It was donated by a lady from the
society, in gratitude for the graces received from the Blessed Virgin.
The
image represents Mary in original size, standing on the globe and with her
head slightly tilted down, topped by her beautiful golden crown. Her sweetly
sad face shows a melancholic smile. Her left hand rests on her chest, pierced
with a golden dagger, while her right hand holds the ‘crown of Saudade’, made
as gold as well.
Above
the image you can read the inscription: “Come to Her, you who suffer, you who
weep; and She will comfort you”.
March 30th is a day dedicated to Her.
