Our Lady of the Rock

Advocación mariana de João Pessoa (Paraiba)

La local tradition places the origin of devotion to Our Lady of Penha / Nuestra Señora de la Peña en la costa de João Pessoa hacia 1760in the time of the Portuguese colony. According to this pious account, a group of Portuguese sailors would have faced a strong storm off the coast of Paraíba; in the midst of the danger they invoked the protection of the Virgin under the apvocation of the Peña and promised to erect a chapel in the place where they managed to arrive safe and sound. Achieved landing at then Aratu beach, today called Playa de la Peñathey fulfilled the vote by raising a first chapel in honor of the Virgin. This narrative is presented in the ecclesial and journalistic sources as tradition linked to the origin of the sanctuary, not as a strictly documented fact in all its chronological details.

Main data

Origin and history

La local tradition places the origin of devotion to Our Lady of Penha / Nuestra Señora de la Peña en la costa de João Pessoa hacia 1760in the time of the Portuguese colony. According to this pious account, a group of Portuguese sailors would have faced a strong storm off the coast of Paraíba; in the midst of the danger they invoked the protection of the Virgin under the apvocation of the Peña and promised to erect a chapel in the place where they managed to arrive safe and sound. Achieved landing at then Aratu beach, today called Playa de la Peñathey fulfilled the vote by raising a first chapel in honor of the Virgin. This narrative is presented in the ecclesial and journalistic sources as tradition linked to the origin of the sanctuary, not as a strictly documented fact in all its chronological details.

As for the documented historysources indicate that 1763 a capilla dedicated to Our Lady of Penha in that place of the Paraibano coast, which marks the verifiable historical beginning of public veneration to this advocation in João Pessoa. From then on, devotion grew in the region, until the current Sanctuary of Our Lady of Penha, which over time became one of the main Marian centers in the state of Paraíba, closely linked to the great annual Romeria that takes place in the city. There is no direct historical relationship in the sources consulted between this acvocation of João Pessoa and other homonymous asvocations of "Our Lady of the Peña" in other countries or cities of America or Europe; this is a devotion propia de Paraíba (Brazil), arising in its colonial and maritime context.

(Note: João Pessoa is the capital of the state of Paraíba, Brazil; the mention of "department of Paraíba, Colombia" does not correspond to the actual location of this sanctuary.)

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The image and the sanctuary

The available sources describe the place of worship as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Penha, located next to the coast, in the area of Playa de la Peña, in the municipality of João Pessoa (state of Paraíba, Brazil). It is a Marian sanctuary with temple and open area for the mass celebrations of the Pilgrimage; devotion is especially concentrated in the small historical church (heiress of the ancient chapel) and in the surroundings of the sanctuary, where many pilgrims come together. It is not clear from the sources consulted that the temple has been declared minor basilicaor having the official title of National sanctuary; it is simply mentioned as sanctuary diocesan or local Marian. No detailed technical data on their architectural style or subsequent construction phases have been found.

On the image venerated, the specific information about the material, measures or authors are not included in the public access sources consulted. It is mentioned in a generic way as an image of Our Lady of Penha / Nuestra Señora de la Peñawithout a detailed iconographic description. In other homonymous asvocations of "Our Lady of the Peña" there are wooden or baroque-style images, but no consta that these characteristics can be safely attributed to the image of João Pessoa; by rigour, it is not possible to describe it beyond its character of imagen mariana de altar venerated in the local sanctuary.

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Sponsorship and coronation

The sources of the Church and the Catholic press point out that the Romeria and the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Penha are of great importance to the ciudad de João Pessoa y para el State of Paraíbabut No explicitly statedin the references consulted, a formal decree declaring it patrona principal of the city, of the diocese or of the state. It is a highly rooted and popular and regional devotion, with impact throughout Paraíba, but without the easy finding of official documents of proclamation of patronage.

In relation to the canonical coronationthe sources consulted on the pilgrimage and the sanctuary do not mention a ceremony of canonical coronation granted by the Holy See or by a pontifical delegation for the image of Nossa Senhora da Penha de João Pessoa. Accordingly, and following the criterion of not stating what is not clearly documented, it should be indicated: does not contain a documented canonical coronation for this advocation in João Pessoa.

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Party and devotion

La main party of Our Lady of Penha in João Pessoa is celebrated con una great romance that takes place every year on the night of the last Sunday of November. This romance, known as Romería de la Peña, is one of the largest Marian manifestations in northeastern Brazil: it brings together around 600,000 pieces in its recent editions, according to Catholic press sources. The pilgrims go on foot, in organized groups, in caravans and in procession, along roads that culminate in the coastal sanctuary.

The Romeria is characterized by a climate of penitential and festive pilgrimage, with masses, prayers, songs, novies preparatory and an intense participation of parishes, movements and communities from all over the region. Each year a spiritual motto is proposed to guide the life of the party; for example, a recent edition highlighted the theme: "With the Lady of Peña, we are all pilgrimage of Hope"in line with the Jubilee of Hope called by the Church. Devotion includes personal promises, thanks for favors received, offerings and a strong family dimension, making celebration an important moment of renewal of faith for the people of Paraíba.

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Link to the Rosary

In the specific sources on the Romeria and the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Penha in João Pessoa no consta a particular historical or normative link of this advocation with the prayer of the Rosary (for example, as a sanctuary officially linked to a Rosary fellowship, or a peculiar obligation to pray). Devotion is presented above all as a great Marian pilgrimage of thanksgiving and supplication, with the usual forms of popular piety (misas, novenas, processions).

However, in Catholic spirituality, every Marian advocation - also Nossa Senhora da Penha - is naturally integrated into the tradition of Rosarywhich is one of the most rooted prayers to contemplate the life of Christ with the eyes of Mary. The Rosary allows the faithful to come to the sanctuary to join their journey of pilgrims to the mysteries of the life of the Lord, asking for the intercession of the Virgin in the specific situations that motivate the Pilgrimage: family, work, health, peace and Christian hope. Thus, even if there is no specific historical link documented, the Rosary is presented as a privileged way to spiritually accompany devotion to Our Lady of the Rock and to let Mary lead to a deeper union with Christ.