The Catholic Festival of the Círio de Nazaré

June 22, 2023219 views0

The Catholic Festival of the Círio de Nazaré

2023-06-22T09:37:07+01:00

By Marie

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Saturday that he will invite Pope Francis to visit the Catholic festival of the Círio de Nazaré, which takes place annually in October in the northern city of Belem.The celebration of Círio de Nazaré in Brazil is an important religious and Catholic festival celebrated in honour of Our Lady of Nazaré.This fascinating ceremony is part of Brazilian culture. Círio is a manifestation of faith and devotion. The festival has been celebrated in Belém for over 200 years and has been declared a Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.In 1793, the first procession was held in honour of the patron saint of the people of Pará. Since then, Círio de Nazaré has been held every year and always attracts a large number of believers.The history of the Círio began in 1700 with the discovery of the image of the Virgin of Nazaré by the Caboclo Plácido on the banks of a stream near the present-day Basilica of the Pilgrimage of the Virgin of Nazaré. “Círio” comes from the Latin word “cereus” and means “large candle”, used on Holy Saturday to indicate the presence of the risen Jesus Christ.The Feast of the Virgin of Nazareth takes place in October with the Círio and twelve other processions.During the two-week festival, millions of people flock to the streets of Belém, where an extensive program of events also takes place.Masses, prayer vigils, the Arraial de Nazaré, the musical Círio, and the descent of the image of grace to the altar of the Basilica of Pilgrimage, where it can be seen during the festival. The month of October is also called the “Month of the Círio“.It is a phenomenon of very strong popular religiosity, joyful and devotional. That is why it is usually said that it is again the Círio, it is “another year of joy and great love for Mary and her Son Jesus Christ,” emphasizes the Bishop of Marabá.ALSO READ: Hundreds Attend the Oklahoma Baptist University Annual Meeting