Nhá Chica
| Blessed Francisca de Paula de Jesus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Laywoman | |
| Born |
1810 São João del-Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| Died |
14 June 1895 Baependi, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 4 May 2013, Baependi, Minas Gerais, Brazil by Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B. (on behalf of Pope Francis) |
| Major shrine | Our Lady of Conception Sanctuary, Baependi |
| Feast | 14 June |
Blessed Francisca de Paula de Jesus, also known as Nhá Chica (Aunt Francie, in Portuguese, 1810[1]– 14 June 1895), was a Brazilian laywoman and a popular religious figure in Brazil, known for her humble life and her dedication to God and charity.[2] She is the first Afro-Brazilian woman to be blessed.[3]
Biography
Nhá Chica was born to a slave family in Santo Antônio do Rio das Mortes Pequeno, neighborhood of the Brazilian city of São João del-Rei, where she was also baptized.[4] Later her family moved to the city of Baependi, where she lived until 1895.[5]
By the age of ten, Nhá Chica had dedicated her life to religion and to help the poor at her dying mother's request. She chose to live alone rather than with her brother and refused marriage proposals.[6] With a number of donations, she built the Our Lady of Conception Sanctuary, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Despite being illiterate and impoverished, she welcomed the poor into her sanctuary and became known as the "Mother of the Poor". Nhá Chica lived in a humble two-room hovel and constructed a small altar, adorned with roses.[7] She was especially known for giving acts of comfort and spiritual/physical healing to those that visited her.
Nhá Chica died in June 14, 1895 of natural causes in her chapel. It was reported that there was an unusual smell of perfume when she was buried and when her coffin was opened years later.[8]
Beatification
On 2013, the Vatical approved a miracle to a Brazilian woman, Ana Lucia Meirelles, who was miraculously healed from pulmonary hypertension.[9] Her beatification was celebrated on 4 May 2013 in her sanctuary and was presided over by Cardinal Angelo Amato on behalf of Pope Francis, which was joined to the Brazilian people in prayer during the Regina Coeli of Sunday 5 May.[10] Her feast day in 14 June.
References
- ↑ Travessia com Nhá Chica
- ↑ https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2013/documents/papa-francesco_regina-coeli_20130505.pdf
- ↑ http://ncronline.org/news/people/cardinal-beatifies-first-lay-black-brazilian-woman-nha-chica
- ↑ https://americasouthandnorth.wordpress.com/2013/05/05/get-to-know-a-brazilian-nha-chica/
- ↑ Registro religioso de óbito - Francisca de Paula de Jesus
- ↑ https://americasouthandnorth.wordpress.com/2013/05/05/get-to-know-a-brazilian-nha-chica/
- ↑ http://www.hamilton.cwl.on.ca/PDFs/Directives/BlessedFrancisca_dePaula_deJesus.pdf
- ↑ http://catholicsaints.info/blessed-francisca-de-paula-de-jesus-isabel/
- ↑ https://gloria.tv/article/JnaXRJHKdCRf5dPH38d5KPzcK
- ↑ Regina Coeli, May, 5th, 2013