Our Lady of Graces of Cimbres

Marian Invocation of Pesqueira (Pernambuco)

La Marian apparition of Cimbres is located in the district of Cimbres, municipality of Pesqueira, in the state of Pernambuco (Brazil), in the north-east region of the country. The visions took place in the Guard Sitean area linked to the indigenous community Xukura. The first apparition is dated 6 August 1936 and continues with several meetings during 1936-1937. The seers were two girls: Maria da Luz (later religious known as Sister Adélia) and María da Conceição.

Main data

Origin and history

La Marian apparition of Cimbres is located in the district of Cimbres, municipality of Pesqueira, in the state of Pernambuco (Brazil), in the north-east region of the country. The visions took place in the Guard Sitean area linked to the indigenous community Xukura. The first apparition is dated 6 August 1936 and continues with several meetings during 1936-1937. The seers were two girls: Maria da Luz (later religious known as Sister Adélia) and María da Conceição.

On the plane documented historythe diocese of Pesqueira opened research on the facts, which were initially received with reservation by the ecclesial authorities. Over the decades, local devotion was consolidated, especially among the Xukuru people, and the place of apparitions became a place of pilgrimage. Finally, 2021 the bishop of Pesqueira has recognized the supernatural character the events of Cimbres and dignity of faith, culminating in a long process of ecclesial discernment.

According to the devotional traditionthe Virgin would have presented herself under the advocation of Our Lady of Grace / Nuestra Señora de las Gracias, warning about punishments that would be laid down on the world and calling for the prayer and penance. The tradition also refers that the Virgin showed herself "over the clouds," between lights and colors, and that she spoke in a simple way to the girls, asking them for conversion and repair. These details belong mainly to the field of pious accounts transmitted in popular catechesis and devotional booklet, rather than to extensive critical documents published by the diocese.

The Virgin in the place became also known as Nossa Senhora das Montanhas / Our Lady of the Mountains, due to the steep topography of the site, and was received as Mother Tamain by the indigenous Xukuru, who recognize her as a protective mother of their people. This denomination expresses the encounter between the Catholic faith and indigenous culture, but it is more part of the historical-cultural development later than of the first accounts of the apparitions.

> Geographical note: although the commission mentions "department of Pernambuco, Colombia," the historical and ecclesial sources indicate unanimously that Pesqueira and Cimbres are in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. There is no Marian shrine of Cimbres equivalent in Colombia.

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The image and the sanctuary

In the place of the apparitions the Virgin is venerated under the title of Our Lady of the Graces of Cimbres. The image present in the sanctuary reproduces the iconographic type of Our Lady of Graces of French tradition (associated with the Miracle Medal): the Virgin standing, with her arms open and her hands extended, spilling graces on the world. However, the accessible sources do not specify the material of the image (wood, plaster or other); therefore, no consta in a documented way the exact material of the sculpture.

The main place of worship is known as Sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace in Pesqueira, which includes the area of Cimbres and the Guard Sitewhere the apparitions are located. The descriptions present it as a diocesan sanctuary of pilgrimagewith chapel and outdoor space for celebration of the Mass and activities of the pilgrims. It is not recorded in the consulted sources that the temple has been elevated to minor basilica or having the title of National sanctuary; it is mentioned as a diocesan and regional sanctuary.

The environment retains a strong natural and rural character, with access roads that go up to the place of the apparitions, which reinforces the popular nickname of "Nossa Senhora das Montanhas." The sanctuary especially integrates the presence and spirituality of the Xukuru indigenous people, who are actively involved in the celebrations and in the custody of the place.

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Sponsorship and coronation

Las fuentes consulted presentan to Our Lady of graces of Cimbres as spiritual patroness of Fishing and object of special devotion for the Xukuru community. However, no consta in the revised public documents a formal decree that proclaims the principal patron of the diocese or of the municipality with explicit legal formula; it is rather venerated as a major local and regional intercessor.

As for the canonical coronation, the ecclesial and devotional news focused on Cimbres mainly refers to the recognition of the supernatural character of the apparitions in 2021and do not mention celebration of canonical coronation approved by the Holy See. Therefore, according to the available data, does not contain a documented canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of Cimbres.

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Party and devotion

La main party of Our Lady of the Graces of Cimbres is celebrated 19 August, date associated by local tradition with the cycle of apparitions and the memory of the Virgin's intervention in Cimbres. In addition, 6 Augustthe anniversary of the beginning of the apparitions in 1936, is remembered with special devotion and is often the day of intense prayer and pilgrimage.

The sanctuary receives pilgrims from various areas of Pernambuco and other states of the Brazilian north-east, who come to Mass, confessions, processions and community prayers. There are no official figures of inflow in the sources consulted, but it is described as a important destination of regional pilgrimage, very visited on the anniversary dates and the great Marian parties. Between popular traditions The following are highlighted:

– Peregrinaciones a pie o en romería desde Pesqueira y otras localidades cercanas. – Presencia destacada de la Xukuru indigenous community, que participa con cantos, símbolos y expresiones de su cultura, integrados en la liturgia y la piedad popular, en comunión con la Iglesia. – Actos de penance and reparationinspired by the message attributed to Our Lady about the need for prayer and conversion.

The devotion has been reinforced in recent years by the spread of the history of apparitions in Catholic media and by the advance of the process of beatification of Sister Adélia (Mary da Luz), one of the seers, whose witness of life contributes to consolidating the ecclesial reception of the message of Cimbres.

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Link to the Rosary

The available sources on Nossa Senhora das Graças de Cimbres highlight the call to prayer, penance and conversionbut they do not explicitly specify that the Virgin has specifically requested the prayer of the Rosary in the official texts published by the diocese. Therefore, no consta with documentary certainty that the Rosary has been mentioned as a direct request in the apparitions, although it is highly likely that the practice has been spontaneously integrated into local piety, as in most Marian shrines.

In the present devotional life of the sanctuary, the Rosary occupies a central place like Marian prayer par excellenceespecially during pilgrimages and vigil. The message attributed to the Virgin in Cimbres - called to prayer, penance and intercession for the world - deeply harmonizes with the spirituality of the Rosary:

– Cada misterio permite contemplar, junto a María, la historia de la salvación y responder con fe a las llamadas de conver