Our Lady of Aparecida

“The Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida stands as the spiritual heart of Brazil, receiving approximately 11 m...”

Type

Basilica

Country

Brazil

Location

Aparecida

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01At a Glance

The Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida stands as the spiritual heart of Brazil, receiving approximately 11 million pilgrims annually, making it the largest Marian shrine in the Americas after Guadalupe. It was consecrated in 1980 by Pope John Paul II and completed in 1984, its soaring concrete nave capable of holding 45,000 worshippers at once — the second-largest Catholic basilica in the world by area after St Peter's. The devotion began in 1717 when three fishermen on the Paraíba River pulled from its dark waters a headless terracotta statue of the Virgin, and then the head. Though their nets had been empty all morning, after casting again with the statue aboard they returned with an overwhelming catch. The image — dark from the clay of the river — became the basis of a pilgrimage that grew steadily over three centuries. Pope Francis, who was born in Argentina and chose the name Francis partly in honour of Our Lady of Aparecida, declared her Patroness of the Amazon synod. The October 12 feast, which coincides with Brazil's national holiday, draws over one million pilgrims for the principal celebration, many completing long stretches of their journey on foot.

Second-largest Catholic basilica in the world by area — capacity of 45,000 worshippers The small terracotta image of Our Lady was found in the Paraíba River in 1717 by three fishermen October 12, the feast of Our Lady of Aparecida, is

Brazil's national holiday Pope John Paul II consecrated the new basilica on July 4, 1980, and

Pope Francis visited in 2013 The original 18th-century chapel and old basilica still stand alongside the modern structure

02Plan Your Visit

Getting There

Avenida Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco, 600, Aparecida, SP 12570-000, Brazil

Aparecida is 170 km from São Paulo. Regular buses from São Paulo Tietê terminal take about 2.5 hours. By car take BR-116 Presidente Dutra highway. Ample pilgrim parking is available on the basilica grounds.

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Sao Paulo Time (BRT)

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Oct 12 feast Open 24 hours The image is carried in solemn procession on October 12. Daily Masses run from early morning. Modest dress required throughout the complex.

Opening Hours

Basilica (new)6:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Old Basilica (Basílica Velha)6:00 AM - 6:00 PM

03Must See

What to seek out, and why it matters

Via Wikimedia CommonsI

The Original Image

visible behind glass The small terracotta figure, just 36 cm tall, is clothed in a brocade mantle and crowned with a jewelled diadem. This unassuming image gathered a nation. The Old Basilica (Basílica Velha) — 100m from the main basilica The 1888 neo-Gothic church that housed the image for most of its history. Inside, centuries of ex-voto offerings crowd every wall: crutches, plaques, wax limbs, photographs, each one an answered prayer. Room of Miracles (Sala dos Milagres) — Adjacent to the new basilica Thousands of offerings left by pilgrims whose prayers were answered — photographs, artificial limbs, wedding dresses, letters. One of the most moving rooms in all of South American Catholicism.

Via Wikimedia CommonsII

Coronation Chapel

Visible from the basilica esplanade [OUTDOOR] The dark waters from which the image was drawn in 1717 still flow below the hill. At dawn the mist rises from the valley and the basilica glows against the hills — one of the great religious landscapes of the Americas.

04Masses & Events

Daily Masses6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 AM; 12, 3, 5, 7 PM

Multiple Masses in both basilicas daily

Oct 12 Pontifical Mass12 October, 10:00 AM

National feast Mass presided by the

Archbishop-Primate of Brazil Solemn Translation12 October, 7:00 AM

Procession of the image from Old to New Basilica

5Reflection & Prayer

The three fishermen who pulled the image from the Paraíba River in 1717 had caught nothing all day. They were poor men, facing an empty return. What they could not know was that their empty nets were about to become the origin of the greatest Marian pilgrimage in the Americas. Our Lady of Aparecida came not to the powerful but to the empty-handed. She still does.

John 21:6

“Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some. When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.”

Read in full on Bible Gateway →

A Pilgrim's Prayer

Our Lady of Aparecida, you who rose from dark waters to become the light of a nation, I come to you in my own darkness. Whatever nets I have cast in vain, whatever mornings I have returned empty-handed — take them into your hands. My faith is small, but it is all I have. Intercede for me before your Son, and restore what I have lost. Amen.

06More

The Legend

The devotion began in 1717 when three fishermen on the Paraíba River pulled from its dark waters a headless terracotta statue of the Virgin, and then the head. Though their nets had been empty all morning, after casting again with the statue aboard they returned with an overwhelming catch. The image — dark from the clay of the river — became the basis of a pilgrimage that grew steadily over three centuries.

Pilgrimage

Pope Francis, who was born in Argentina and chose the name Francis partly in honour of Our Lady of Aparecida, declared her Patroness of the Amazon synod. The October 12 feast, which coincides with Brazil’s national holiday, draws over one million pilgrims for the principal celebration, many completing long stretches of their journey on foot.

Gallery5 photos

Saints Associated With This Site