Marian Advocations of Sao Tome and Principe

In these islands of the Gulf of Guinea, of ancient Portuguese root, the axis of Marian devotion is Nossa Senhora da Graça, Our Lady of Grace, headline of the diocesan cathedral and patron of the capital.

Diocese of Sao Tome and Principe

History of Marian devotion in Sao Tome and Principe

The devotion to the Virgin Mary in Sao Tome and Principe, although a minority in a country of Muslim majority or traditional African religions, has a significant presence among local Christian communities. Christianity has come to these lands through European missionaries since the 15th century (Portuguese, French, Spanish), and the figure of Mary was one of the pillars of evangelization. Marian apparitions in Africa, like Kibeho's in Rwanda (1981- 1989), have boosted Marian devotion throughout the continent.

In Sao Tome and Principe, the Virgin is venerated under various vocations, many of them introduced by the missionaries: the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Lourdes. The local Catholic communities keep the devotion to Mary alive through the prayer of the Rosary, processions and patronal parties, which are expressions of an incarnate faith in African culture.

Marian Advocations of Sao Tome and Principe

← Return to Marian Advocations of Sao Tome and Principe

Mary in the Ecuadorian islands of Sao Tome and Principe

Sao Tome and Principe, the second-smallest country in Africa, has a deep Lusophone Catholic heritage dating back to the 15th century, when Portuguese sailors discovered the uninhabited islands. The diocese of Sao Tome and Principe is one of the oldest in Africa, built in 1534. The Virgin Mary is the patron of the country under the title of Nossa Senhora da Graça (Our Lady of Grace), whose image is venerated in the Cathedral of Sao Tomé. The cathedral, originally built in the 16th century and rebuilt several times due to earthquakes and fires, houses a valuable image of the Virgin of Grace carved in cedar wood in the 17th century by Portuguese artisans.

Marian piety in Sao Tome and Principe is expressed with great colour and joy. The patron parties of each parish are occasions of community meeting where faith is mixed with local traditions. The feast of Our Lady of Grace (patron of the diocese) is celebrated on 8 December, solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, with a procession that runs through the streets of the capital, followed by traditional dances and a community banquet. On the island of Prince, the small Catholic community celebrates the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary with a maritime procession around the island, blessing the waters of the Atlantic and asking for protection for fishermen.

Sao Tome and Principe, with its rich history of meeting African and Portuguese cultures, has in the Virgin Mary a symbol of national identity. The image of Nossa Senhora da Graça, the country's patron, presides over the great civic and religious celebrations. Local cuisine joins Marian devotion with traditional dishes that are prepared especially for the holidays of the Virgin, such as the "calulu" (fish stew) and the "muamba de galinha" that are shared in community banquets after the processions. The Tchiloli culture, an African-Portuguese theatrical representation, includes Marian scenes in its traditional repertoire.

The diocese of Sao Tome and Principe has been celebrating the "National Mariana Week" every year since 1985, which takes place in the first week of May. During this week, the pilgrim image of Our Lady of Grace visits the parishes of both islands, bringing Mary's blessing to all corners of the country. The week culminates with a large maritime procession in the Bay of Sao Tomé, in which the image of the Virgin is transported on a decorated boat, accompanied by a flotilla of fishing vessels that honor its patron. This tradition has been declared an intangible cultural heritage of the country.