Aparecida - a Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Brazil´s Patron Saint

The town of Aparecida which lies about 180 kilometers north east of São Paulo city is the site of the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida who is Brazil´s patron saint. She is said to have appeared before three fishermen there in 1717 and it is now a major shrine and attracted almost 10.5 million pilgrims in 2025. This makes it the second-largest Marian shrine in the Americas behind Guadalupe in Mexico which receives about 20 million pilgrims annually.

I had passed through Aparecida several times on my way to and from Rio de Janeiro but had never stopped off so I decided it was time to make a pilgrimage and am glad I did. I am also glad I went with a group of fellow parishioners from São Domingos church in Perdizes and was able to share the experience with them.

Like many pilgrims I returned home with a better understanding of my faith and a feeling of optimism for the future. When you see thousands of people of all ages who have traveled from all over a country as vast as Brazil come together in prayer and worship it lifts your spirit and boosts your morale. This latter aspect is especially important as Brazil, the world´s biggest Catholic country, is currently losing ground to Evangelicals who are set to become the largest religion within the next decade if the current trend continues. The fact that many of the pilgrims were young – families with toddlers, schoolchildren and teenagers – was encouraging and a harbinger for the future.

The Basilica complex helps the faithful by providing access to spiritual solace and comfort through masses, rosaries, confessions and the opportunity to mix with priests and nuns and meet fellow Catholics. I noticed several people on their knees as they passed in front of the Image of the Virgin in the modern Basilica and others as they crossed the Footbridge of the Faith (shown in the photo) to the old Basilica built in 1818 and located in the historic center.

It also presents beautiful architectural and artistic treasures. We were fortunate enough to arrive just days after the West Facade was inaugurated after a massive mosaic portraying Biblical themes was completed. This project which started in 2019 and was undertaken by the Centro Aletti in Rome has led to the  Sanctuary being described as the largest “open-air Bible” in the world. Check it out on Google Images to see how impressive it is – a true work of art.

The timing of our visit – the first half of September – could not have been better. The Feast of the Nativity of Mary falls on September 8 while the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary was on September 12, the very day we were there. Furthermore, the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows occurs on September 15.

This latter day recalls one of the most heartbreaking episodes in the life of Mary perhaps even worse than the agony she experienced on Good Friday. On that date I watched a televised mass from Loretto Abbey in Toronto in which the priest, Father Peter Turrone, gave a thoughtful sermon. He pointed out that when the old man Simeon, who had waited in the temple to see Jesus before he died, said to Mary, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” he was sentencing her to a life of apprehension. The good news that Jesus would be the savior was offset by the bad news of his fate and her suffering. Father Turrone pointed out that when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary at the Annunciation he made no mention of this but only referred to the positive aspects of her becoming the mother of Jesus.

“He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

He did not tell her anything about the horrible end her son would meet. Simeone´s prophecy may have been well meant but perhaps he should have kept quiet as he unwittingly sentenced Mary to a life of anxiety knowing that one day her beloved son would be tortured and killed in front of her eyes. Mary´s joy at holding her tiny son was blighted by the knowledge of what was to come. Father Turrone referred to a painting by an American artist, Liz Lemon Swindle, called “Be It Unto Me” which depicts Mary holding the baby Jesus. (Link: https://lizlemonswindle.com/products/be-it-unto-me-by-liz-lemon-swindle?variant=40833776976064).

The artist herself said later, “I remember a moment after the birth of my first child when everyone had left and I was alone with my son for the first time. I looked at him lying on the bed and realized I was responsible for this new life. How could I teach him everything he needed? I was terrified. I held him close and the two of us cried. Those were tears of fear and tears of joy, but most of all they were tears of love.”

Every mother must have known exactly how Mary - and the artist - felt then. I have always noticed how strong the devotion to Mary is in Latin cultures particularly among women who can identify with her. I went on a similar pilgrimage last year to Guadalupe in Mexico where the Basilica is dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe who is the patron saint of the Americas. I was astonished at the vast multitude which crowded into the main square and Basilica for a mass attended by about 800 people. Most of the visitors that day were indigenous people, many of them tiny women in traditional dress all paying their respects to their spiritual mother. Brazilian women of all races and backgrounds are also passionate devotees. A memorable highlight of our visit was when we all joined in the short hymn “Dai nos a benção, Ó mae querida, Nossa senhora Aparecida” which we sing after mass back in São Paulo. I joined in as enthusiastically as any Brazilian.

This was a day to remember and far better than most of the other famous places of pilgrimage I have visited such as the Vatican, the Santiago de Compostela shrine to St James and Montserrat monastery in Spain and even the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

If you are ever in Brazil try and visit Aparecida. It is only about three hours from São Paulo and four from Rio de Janeiro. The town is full of hotels and tourist infrastructure if you don´t fancy a return trip in one day. However, avoid October 12 which is the feast day of Our Lady of Aparecida and the town is overwhelmed by visitors.

© John Brander Fitzpatrick 2026