Nossa Senhora Aparecida (Our Lady of Aparecida, or Our Lady Who Appeared) is the Principal Patroness of Brazil and the central Marian devotion of the world's largest Catholic country. The origin story belongs to October 1717 on the Paraíba do Sul River in the small fishing town of Guaratinguetá, São Paulo state. Three local fishermen — Domingos Garcia, João Alves, and Filipe Pedroso — had been ordered by the village to provide fish for a visiting dignitary, the Count of Assumar, but had caught nothing all day. After hours of fruitless work, João Alves cast his net once more and brought up the headless body of a terracotta statue of the Immaculate Conception. Casting again, he brought up the head. The men joined the pieces, prayed for the Virgin's intercession, and cast their nets a final time — pulling up a miraculous catch of fish so abundant that their canoes nearly sank. The small dark-clay statue (originally light brown, the river's iron-rich waters had darkened it) was taken home by Filipe Pedroso and venerated in his household for fifteen years; reports of healings and intercessions spread, and a small chapel was built in 1745. The devotion grew rapidly through Portuguese colonial Brazil and into the independent Brazilian Empire. Pope St. Pius X declared Nossa Senhora Aparecida the Principal Patroness of Brazil in 1930. Her feast (October 12) was elevated to a Brazilian national holiday in 1980 by President João Figueiredo at the request of Pope St. John Paul II during his first Brazilian pilgrimage. The current Basilica de Nossa Senhora Aparecida — completed in 1980 — is the world's second-largest Catholic church after St. Peter's in Rome, and one of the most-visited Marian shrines in the world. The Brazilian Catholic Bishops' Conference (CNBB) approves the standard novena text used worldwide.
12 min
Duration
9 days
Commitment
Beginner-Friendly
Level
Nossa Senhora Aparecida (Our Lady of Aparecida)
Patron Saint
Pray once daily for nine consecutive days. The novena is traditionally prayed in the nine days leading up to the Feast of Nossa Senhora Aparecida (October 12), the Brazilian national patronal holiday. In Brazil, the feast day is observed with: (a) the celebration of Holy Mass at the Basilica in Aparecida, broadcast nationally by Rede Vida and Canção Nova; (b) the singing of the traditional hymn 'A treze de maio, na cova da Iria' and 'Nossa Senhora Aparecida' across parishes nationwide; (c) family gatherings featuring the traditional Brazilian Catholic meal of fish (in remembrance of the fishermen's miraculous catch); (d) home altars displaying the dark-clay image of Aparecida often crowned with a small white veil. The novena structure at home: (1) Sign of the Cross; (2) Read a brief reflection on the apparition or on a related Brazilian saint (Frei Galvão, Padre Cícero, Mother Paulina); (3) Pray the novena prayer text; (4) Three Hail Marys; (5) Name the specific intention. Brazilian Catholics commonly pray the Aparecida novena for: healing of the sick; protection of the family; safe travel (the Basilica is a major pilgrimage destination); the conversion of distant family members; and during times of national difficulty. The devotion is also strong in the Brazilian diaspora — in the United States, the Brazilian apostolate of the Archdiocese of Newark and the Brazilian Catholic communities of Boston, Miami, and Massachusetts maintain Aparecida processions on October 12.
Most Holy Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Aparecida, you who appeared to the humble fishermen on the waters of the Paraíba and filled their nets with a miraculous catch, look upon us with the same maternal love. We are poor fishermen too, casting our nets again and again into the waters of life, sometimes hauling them up empty. Grant us your intercession in our present need (mention your intention). Strengthen our faith in moments of doubt. Bring unity to our families. Protect Brazil, your land, and all your children throughout the world. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Invite a small group to pray this each day with you. Everyone gets the same prayer text, the same rhythm, the same intention.