Privileged Peek

This is the patron saint of Mourão, Nossa Senhora das Candeias, as you'll not see her again for a year, and then, only for a brief while. After the Eucharist today, a group of men and women reverentially removed all her adornments and took her down from her niche at the front of the main church. She is made from stone and extremely heavy; you could tell what an effort it was for the man who carried her - he's on the left in the extra.

I couldn't find out her age, but she must be from before 1681, as that is when this church was built, and she was brought here from the older church within the castle. Baby Jesus is holding one of the pigeons that his mother sacrificed for her purification. As the two of them were brought down to our level, folk gathered round for photos with her, many with tears in their eyes - I liked the way the Baby seems to nestle into Aline's side here - (she's the sacristan). 

In the extra, you can see her niche at the front of the church. The men are fixing her onto the platform she will be carried on through the streets on the 2nd February. But then, they'll both have beautiful filigree crowns on their heads, she'll have a head of black real hair ringlets, and gold embroidered robes, and be piled high with flowers. Before then, there will have been nine successive nights of services for her - a novena.

So much to think about. So much I don't begin to understand. But felt privileged to have a small insight into something so obviously meaningful for folk here...