Vow to the Blessed Virgin
Original title: Voto à Santíssima Virgem
The solemn vow, made after the great flood of 9 October 1803, placing Madeira and Funchal under the protection of the Virgin, specifically Nossa Senhora do Monte, and the annual feast that resulted.
The great flash flood (aluvião) of 9 October 1803, regarded as the greatest calamity ever to strike Madeira, of which we have already given a brief account (I-54 ff.), gave rise to the solemn ‘vow’ to place this island and the city of Funchal under the special protection of the Blessed Virgin (Santíssima Virgem), as recorded in the article Patron saints (III-36 ff.). It should be added that this ‘vow’ included in particular the clause choosing Our Lady of the Mount (Nossa Senhora do Monte) as special protectress of the city of Funchal. This was confirmed by an Apostolic Rescript of Pius VII dated 21 July 1804, and the feast of the Patronage of Our Lady of the Mount was then instituted, celebrated on 9 October each year with a solemn procession that went from the Cathedral to the parish church of Santa Maria Maior (St Mary Major). The ninth of October was formerly a holy day of obligation, preceded by its own vigil with fasting.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 02-
The great flood of 9 October 1803, considered Madeira's greatest calamity, devastated Funchal and other parts of the island, killing about 600 people and destroying the Calhau church, stream walls, bridges and chapels in Machico, Santa Cruz and elsewhere. It prompted Oudinot's mission and the city's spread outwards.
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A rescript of Pius VII confirmed Our Lady of Monte as protector of Funchal and instituted the feast of the Patrocínio.
Place
Places mentioned · 04
- Church of St Mary Major
Funchal. Destination of the annual procession.
The Igreja de Santa Maria Maior, formerly the church of São Tiago Menor (Socorro), is a parish church in Funchal above the Barreirinha beach. It became the seat of one of Funchal's two parishes in 1558 and stood next to the old hospital. It was the destination of several processions, including the patronal procession to St James.
- Funchal
City placed under the protection of Nossa Senhora do Monte.
The capital of the archipelago and seat of the principal captaincy, where settlement began; it was made a vila c.1451–52. Its bay, the widest in the archipelago, lies between Ponta do Garajau and Ponta da Cruz and offers sheltered anchorage, though its harbour had never been studied oceanographically. The Elucidário discusses it as a health resort with climate data and records the January 1906 disturbances, the Danish prince's visit in May 1846 and recent volcanic cones in the area.
- Funchal Cathedral (the Sé)
Funchal. Starting point of the annual procession.
The Sé do Funchal is the cathedral of Funchal, in the parish of Sé. It was begun in 1493, became a parish seat in 1508 and a cathedral in 1514. It was the starting point of processions and the place of the vow to São Tiago, and bishops are buried there.
People
People mentioned · 01-
Pope whose apostolic rescript of 21 July 1804 confirmed Nossa Senhora do Monte as special protector of Funchal.