LA CONQUISTADORA !!!
NUESTRA SENORA LA VIRGEN DE LA ESCALERA
Our Lady of the Conception of the ladder, is a former Portuguese popular Marian devotion linked to the sea and taken root in Brazil.
His devotion is prior to the XII century and its name comes from the 31 esacalones you should climb to the chapel containing the image.
No wonder that the marked Portugal's maritime tradition, was the devotion of the sailors of Lisbon, one of the most popular in the country, and for that reason, one of the first to be implemented in Brazil.
The tradition of this title is prior to the conquest of Lisbon. The first called Corredoura, name of the ancient Gothic chapel north of the Dew, and then the reign of D. Afonso II, Our Lady of the Conception of the ladder, in abbreviated form, Our Lady of Escalera.
Built the Convent of Santo Domingo, in the reign of D. Sancho II, the chapel was next to the new church.
THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME
Anyone with basic culture knows the great importance they had navigation and the Portuguese discoveries in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and the fact that they were sailors sea lusos that incorporated several continents. And this was through epic voyages on ships, compared to today, nutshells fragile.
The courage did not fail to mariners of the time. Neither fast to its faith and strength to run all risks. And this faith lusos sailors found a delightful expression of devotion to Our Lady of the Conception of the ladder in the city of Lisbon.
The original image of the Virgin, which later became known as the invocation-is very old, before the recapture of the city from the Moors in 1147. She was in a chapel located on the banks of the River Tagus. Upon leaving, the sailors
work entrusted to him, and thanked his return protection.
As the margin of the river is high, they had to go up or down the 31 steps that separate the chapel from the river. Thus, as time passes, the image of Our Lady of Conception began to be called the Conception of the ladder, to differentiate it from other images of Our Lady of Conception (devotion widespread in Portugal). From this fact, the image came to be known as Our Lady of the Conception of the ladder.
Given the importance of the sea life was linked to the Portuguese people at that time, it is understandable that this was one of the most revered. Where is it that every time they decided to take out processions to celebrate this or that victory, or seek protection against this or that scourge, were the processions of the Chapel of Our Lady of the most popular ladder.
Over time, they began to get to the chapel people from distant places to fulfill promises and vows, and thanks for favors received. At a certain time there was a procession with torches, possibly at night, down the river to get to the chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Escalera.
ALJUBARROTA VICTORY REINFORCE THE DEVOTION
The most important procession was commemorating the victory of the Portuguese in aljubarrota in 1385.
The Portuguese troops, led by the Venerable Nun'Alvares Pereira, fought not only to defend the country's independence, but especially not to fall into the schism that threatened to split the Christianity as the king of Castile at that time supported a antipope.
After waging the struggle in conditions outnumbered, the Portuguese won a memorable victory.
Upon hearing of the victory, the people flocked to various temples in the country and one of the most popular was that of Our Lady of the Stairs, where people from all walks of life came to thank Our Lady for the excellent protection. They must have been from all social classes is not surprising, because the Navy is engaged representatives of all segments of society at the time. From the highest nobility who commanded the army destined to Africa or Asia, even the most humble servants.
DEVOTION EXPANDS TO BAY AND SAO PAULO
With the maritime discoveries being made, the Catholic faith was expanding. Therefore, to master new territories, one of the first concerns of the Portuguese, was to teach the truths of the faith to the inhabitants. And nothing better for the consolidation of a soul on the path of true religion to be taught to love and trust one who is the Mother of God, and therefore, our advocate.
As two of the first sites to be colonized in our country were the Bay of All Saints, and areas close to the coast of Sao Paulo, it is understandable that there are the first two chapels dedicated to Our Lady of Escalera.
The existing Bay has a very ancient feature related to the time of slavery: slaves, when they were not yet baptized, could not be inside the church and stood on the porch near the entrance. That's why the small temple has a large porch.
The other chapel was located in a village called Escalera, a name from Marian devotion itself. This chapel is located near Guararema town 80 kilometers from the state capital. Due to its proximity to the river Paraíba, this town was frequented by fishermen and travelers navegban to Rio de Janeiro.
When went there in 1717, the Earl of assumar, governor of Sao Paulo, Escalera was a town that already had its own City Council. But the small center was not successful, and its decline was also decreasing the Marian devotion that gave it birth.
TWO EARTHQUAKES AND DETERIORATION OF DEVOTION
The Marian devotions are not, as a rule, a fact artificial, caused by some human interest. They bloom naturally when the Virgin distributes his graces, availing for example, an image of any invocation particular. And if the people are truly pious, used to correspond to these thanks and devotion naturally extends that which holds it in the hard struggles of life.
But when the population declines in fervor and no longer relies more to the Blessed Virgin, devotions attached to any chapel or an image also fell. People no longer frequent the place, and go forgetting the graces received. Under these conditions, it is not uncommon for Our Lady operate a prodigy, in order to reconstruct the ancient devotion. But unfortunately, men do not always correspond to the new manifestation of maternal kindness.
That's what happened with the image of Our Lady of Escalera in Portugal. In 1531 an earthquake destroyed the chapel, which was rebuilt. But as devotion continued to decline gradually allowed Our Lady a new earthquake in Lisbon, more terrible than the last, and destroyed the small temple in 1755. In both cases, the buildings that housed the image were destroyed, miraculously saved, among the ruins, both the image of Mary as the altar where he was.
The decline of the cult of the Virgin under this title had reached such a point that the chapel was no more rebuilt staircase. Therefore, the original image was brought to the church of Our Lady of Mercy of Lisbon, where it is today. It seemed a sad end of a once so widespread Marian devotion.
RENAISSANCE PROMISING
However, the devotion did not die. It took root in Brazil emerged several chapels dedicated to her, as it was built in the village of the ladder, or the already mentioned the state of São Paulo, Curitiba and years ago, in the neighborhood of New World.
For the invocation of Gararema can easily see how the brothers of Mount Carmel, in the task of pacifying and converting the Indians of the region, used intelligently indigenous custom associating it with a advocation known in Portugal as Our Lady of the ladder.
The Indians who inhabited the region east of Mogi das Cruzes, where he later established the town of Guararema, solemn ritual practiced for the burial of their dead. And following the old legend learned from their ancestors raised a grand staircase at the foot of the graves so that the dead could reach heaven without difficulty.
Featuring an image of Our Lady with a ladder in his hands, the Indians fully accepted the friars and the image. Peace does not give any problem, and the religious built a large local church.
NUESTRA SENORA LA VIRGEN DE LA ESCALERA
Our Lady of the Conception of the ladder, is a former Portuguese popular Marian devotion linked to the sea and taken root in Brazil.
His devotion is prior to the XII century and its name comes from the 31 esacalones you should climb to the chapel containing the image.
No wonder that the marked Portugal's maritime tradition, was the devotion of the sailors of Lisbon, one of the most popular in the country, and for that reason, one of the first to be implemented in Brazil.
The tradition of this title is prior to the conquest of Lisbon. The first called Corredoura, name of the ancient Gothic chapel north of the Dew, and then the reign of D. Afonso II, Our Lady of the Conception of the ladder, in abbreviated form, Our Lady of Escalera.
Built the Convent of Santo Domingo, in the reign of D. Sancho II, the chapel was next to the new church.
THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME
Anyone with basic culture knows the great importance they had navigation and the Portuguese discoveries in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and the fact that they were sailors sea lusos that incorporated several continents. And this was through epic voyages on ships, compared to today, nutshells fragile.
The courage did not fail to mariners of the time. Neither fast to its faith and strength to run all risks. And this faith lusos sailors found a delightful expression of devotion to Our Lady of the Conception of the ladder in the city of Lisbon.
The original image of the Virgin, which later became known as the invocation-is very old, before the recapture of the city from the Moors in 1147. She was in a chapel located on the banks of the River Tagus. Upon leaving, the sailors
work entrusted to him, and thanked his return protection.
As the margin of the river is high, they had to go up or down the 31 steps that separate the chapel from the river. Thus, as time passes, the image of Our Lady of Conception began to be called the Conception of the ladder, to differentiate it from other images of Our Lady of Conception (devotion widespread in Portugal). From this fact, the image came to be known as Our Lady of the Conception of the ladder.
Given the importance of the sea life was linked to the Portuguese people at that time, it is understandable that this was one of the most revered. Where is it that every time they decided to take out processions to celebrate this or that victory, or seek protection against this or that scourge, were the processions of the Chapel of Our Lady of the most popular ladder.
Over time, they began to get to the chapel people from distant places to fulfill promises and vows, and thanks for favors received. At a certain time there was a procession with torches, possibly at night, down the river to get to the chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Escalera.
ALJUBARROTA VICTORY REINFORCE THE DEVOTION
The most important procession was commemorating the victory of the Portuguese in aljubarrota in 1385.
The Portuguese troops, led by the Venerable Nun'Alvares Pereira, fought not only to defend the country's independence, but especially not to fall into the schism that threatened to split the Christianity as the king of Castile at that time supported a antipope.
After waging the struggle in conditions outnumbered, the Portuguese won a memorable victory.
Upon hearing of the victory, the people flocked to various temples in the country and one of the most popular was that of Our Lady of the Stairs, where people from all walks of life came to thank Our Lady for the excellent protection. They must have been from all social classes is not surprising, because the Navy is engaged representatives of all segments of society at the time. From the highest nobility who commanded the army destined to Africa or Asia, even the most humble servants.
DEVOTION EXPANDS TO BAY AND SAO PAULO
With the maritime discoveries being made, the Catholic faith was expanding. Therefore, to master new territories, one of the first concerns of the Portuguese, was to teach the truths of the faith to the inhabitants. And nothing better for the consolidation of a soul on the path of true religion to be taught to love and trust one who is the Mother of God, and therefore, our advocate.
As two of the first sites to be colonized in our country were the Bay of All Saints, and areas close to the coast of Sao Paulo, it is understandable that there are the first two chapels dedicated to Our Lady of Escalera.
The existing Bay has a very ancient feature related to the time of slavery: slaves, when they were not yet baptized, could not be inside the church and stood on the porch near the entrance. That's why the small temple has a large porch.
The other chapel was located in a village called Escalera, a name from Marian devotion itself. This chapel is located near Guararema town 80 kilometers from the state capital. Due to its proximity to the river Paraíba, this town was frequented by fishermen and travelers navegban to Rio de Janeiro.
When went there in 1717, the Earl of assumar, governor of Sao Paulo, Escalera was a town that already had its own City Council. But the small center was not successful, and its decline was also decreasing the Marian devotion that gave it birth.
TWO EARTHQUAKES AND DETERIORATION OF DEVOTION
The Marian devotions are not, as a rule, a fact artificial, caused by some human interest. They bloom naturally when the Virgin distributes his graces, availing for example, an image of any invocation particular. And if the people are truly pious, used to correspond to these thanks and devotion naturally extends that which holds it in the hard struggles of life.
But when the population declines in fervor and no longer relies more to the Blessed Virgin, devotions attached to any chapel or an image also fell. People no longer frequent the place, and go forgetting the graces received. Under these conditions, it is not uncommon for Our Lady operate a prodigy, in order to reconstruct the ancient devotion. But unfortunately, men do not always correspond to the new manifestation of maternal kindness.
That's what happened with the image of Our Lady of Escalera in Portugal. In 1531 an earthquake destroyed the chapel, which was rebuilt. But as devotion continued to decline gradually allowed Our Lady a new earthquake in Lisbon, more terrible than the last, and destroyed the small temple in 1755. In both cases, the buildings that housed the image were destroyed, miraculously saved, among the ruins, both the image of Mary as the altar where he was.
The decline of the cult of the Virgin under this title had reached such a point that the chapel was no more rebuilt staircase. Therefore, the original image was brought to the church of Our Lady of Mercy of Lisbon, where it is today. It seemed a sad end of a once so widespread Marian devotion.
RENAISSANCE PROMISING
However, the devotion did not die. It took root in Brazil emerged several chapels dedicated to her, as it was built in the village of the ladder, or the already mentioned the state of São Paulo, Curitiba and years ago, in the neighborhood of New World.
For the invocation of Gararema can easily see how the brothers of Mount Carmel, in the task of pacifying and converting the Indians of the region, used intelligently indigenous custom associating it with a advocation known in Portugal as Our Lady of the ladder.
The Indians who inhabited the region east of Mogi das Cruzes, where he later established the town of Guararema, solemn ritual practiced for the burial of their dead. And following the old legend learned from their ancestors raised a grand staircase at the foot of the graves so that the dead could reach heaven without difficulty.
Featuring an image of Our Lady with a ladder in his hands, the Indians fully accepted the friars and the image. Peace does not give any problem, and the religious built a large local church.