Paixão (Mother Brites da)
Original title: Paixão (Madre Brites da)
Madre Brites da Paixão, a nun of the Mercês convent in Funchal, venerated for holiness and credited with miracles.
Hers is a name almost entirely forgotten, above all since the abolition of the religious orders, and still more since the closure of the Convento das Mercês (Convent of Our Lady of Mercy) in this city, where she was a nun and where she died in the odour of sanctity. The tradition preserved in this convent and certain writings found in its archive attest the eminent degree of moral perfection this nun attained, and several miraculous acts are attributed to her, especially after her death and through her intercession. Her tomb was always the object of special veneration and was frequently visited by many people, who went there to ask God for special graces through the effective mediation of this humble nun.
Mother Brites da Paixão was the natural daughter of Aires de Ornelas e Vasconcelos, 6th holder of the entail (morgado) of Caniço (‘reed’), and she took her vows in the Convento das Mercês in 1673 or 1674.
We possess an interesting manuscript by Father António Gomes Neto recounting many miraculous events attributed to the nun Mother Brites da Paixão.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 01Place
Places mentioned · 02
- Caniço
Santa Cruz. Seat of her father's entailed estate.
Caniço is a parish in the municipality of Santa Cruz, lying on the boundary between the captaincies of Funchal and Machico. Its early settlers included Gaspar Rego, Vasco Fernandes Rego and Álvaro de Ornelas, whose family founded morgados there; its alcaide and judge were appointed by the Funchal senate. The parish includes the Garajau statue, the Jesuits' Socorro residence and the Quinta do Barão da Conceição.
- Convent of Our Lady of Ransom
Funchal. Convent where she lived, died and was buried.
The Convento das Mercês was a convent in Funchal, begun in 1654 as a lay retreat house for women, made a strict Poor Clare convent in 1663, and demolished from 1911. It was renowned for the austerity of its nuns, its foundation is the subject of a legend, and it gave the Rua das Mercês its name. Madre Brites da Paixão lived, died and was buried there, and its church held the image of Our Lady of Solitude.
People
People mentioned · 03-
Nun of the Mercês convent, professed 1673 or 1674, who died with a reputation for sanctity.
- Aires de Ornelas e Vasconcelos1866–1930
Sixth morgado of Caniço and father of Madre Brites da Paixão.
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Priest who wrote a manuscript on miracles attributed to Madre Brites.