The experience of encountering the image of Aparecida
The experience of encountering the image of Our Lady of Aparecida is a privileged moment in Brazilian Marian spirituality. Our Lady of Aparecida, the patroness of Brazil, encountered fishermen in 1717 through the miraculous image from the Paraíba River. This experience of encountering Our Lady of Aparecida has become a national devotion and official Marian worship. The small image of Our Lady of Aparecida, found in the waters of the Paraíba River, symbolizes Mary’s spiritual motherhood for the Brazilian people.
O Encontro com Maria: A Experiência da Imagem de Aparecida
Mariology, as a theological discipline, encompasses the study of Mary in Divine Revelation and her influence on the dogmatic and liturgical thought of the Church. Beyond Marian apparitions, which are widely known, there are other terms related to the presence of Mary: mariophanies and visions. Among these, “inventio” is an important concept within the Marian phenomenon, referring to the encounter or discovery of something significant.
The word “inventio” originates from Alexander of Cyprus, who wrote the work *Inventio Crucis*, dedicated to the discovery of Christ’s Cross and the praise of the Trinity on the Cross. Theodore Syncellus, in the seventh century, applied the term to the Marian question in his work *Inventio et depositio vestis in Blachernis*, dealing with the discovery of the garments of the Mother of God and their translation to the Church of Constantinople.
Historically, both the cross and the garments symbolize a hidden reality that is revealed through an unexpected encounter. From a Mariological perspective, it is the invisible God who manifests Himself through Mary, who represents a unique presence.
In the Latin tradition, Mary is called *inventrix gratiae*, or “finder of grace,” reflecting the precise search and the goal of achieving the radicality of the Holy Spirit, prefigured in Mary and led to the Father through Christ. Saint Bernard, in his words, sums up this idea: *”Through you we have access to the Son… O blessed ‘finder’ of grace…”*
The image of Our Lady Aparecida, originating from various shrines, is an example of this “mariological encounter.” To deepen knowledge about Mary and her veneration, the Apostolic Exhortation Marialis Cultus by Paul VI offers valuable guidelines for renewing Marian devotion in Christian life.
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See the complete list of Mary’s recognized apparitions by the Church.
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