Our Lady of Mount Serrat

Marian devotion of Salvador (Bay)

La advocación de Our Lady of Mount Serrat in Salvador de Bahia is linked to the ancient religious ensemble - fortified Monte Serratlocated on the Itapagipe peninsula, one of the oldest historical-religious cores in the city, with origin in the 17th century. The historical documentation about the place refers to the existence of a hermitage and fortin in this strategic promontory, associated with the defense of the bay and local Marian devotion.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of Mount Serrat in Salvador de Bahia is linked to the ancient religious ensemble - fortified Monte Serratlocated on the Itapagipe peninsula, one of the oldest historical-religious cores in the city, with origin in the 17th century. The historical documentation about the place refers to the existence of a hermitage and fortin in this strategic promontory, associated with the defense of the bay and local Marian devotion.

La devotional tradition It presents it as a protective image especially loved by the sailors and by the population linked to the port and the coast. On the other hand, the exact details about a primitive foundation of the image, an apparition or a miraculous transfer no constan with safety in the sources consulted for this file. What is documented is the ancient nature of the sanctuary and its religious and military role in the history of Salvador.

The image and the sanctuary

The venerated image corresponds to Our Lady of Mount SerratHowever, in the sources consulted for this purpose not accurately recorded the complete material description of the size - for example, if it is made of wood, its specific polychrome or iconography - and therefore it is appropriate not to add unverified details.

The cult is developed in the Ermida of Our Lady of Mount Serratin the historical-religious and fortified ensemble of the same name, on the peninsula of Itapagipe, Salvador de Bahia. It is not known to be a minor basilica; in the revised sources it is identified as hermitage o sanctuary / temple of local devotion, of great historical and landscape value.

Sponsorship and coronation

There is no documented universal or national patronage for this advocation in Salvador de Bahia. Its devotional profile is mainly linked to the the city of Salvadorthe Itapagipe Peninsula and the local marine tradition.

No documented canonical coronation in the verified sources for this sheet.

Party and devotion

The main feast of Our Lady of Mount Serrat in Salvador no con seguridad in the sources consulted here. It should be avoided to confuse this Bahian advocation with other homonymous or very close advocations, such as Montserrat in Catalonia or other shrines in Brazil and Latin America.

Local devotion is characterized by its relationship with the sea and the protection of the bay; in addition, the place is appreciated for both its religious meaning and its antiquity and its heritage value. The available sources point out that the whole is one of the oldest in Salvador and that devotion is part of the spiritual landscape of the city.

Link to the Rosary

There is no specific and exclusive historical relationship of this advocation with the prayer of the Rosary in the revised sources. Even so, like all Marian advocation, his cult is naturally integrated into the spirituality of the Rosary, which contemplates the mysteries of Christ with Mary and expresses the filial trust in his intercession.