TRAVELS (and more) WITH CECILIA BRAINARD: Evora, Portugal: Mary Our Lady of Mothers

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Evora, Portugal: Mary Our Lady of Mothers

Portugal - Evora: the image that comes to my mind this early morning is that of the statue of a very pregnant Mary. I saw her at the ancient Cathedral of Evora, which was built in 1186, though restored in the Gothic style in the 1400s. Vasco de Gama had his ships' flags blessed at this same cathedral.

I was surprised to see the pregnant Mary on an altar. Called Our Lady of Mothers,, she was put there in the 15th century by priests who thought she could convert pagans who worship goddess/mothers.

Now I'm sorry I didn't buy a statue of her, but this particular statue was somewhat steep, and my luggage getting full.

As you look at her image, please say a Hail Mary for world peace.

Tags; #marian #portugal catholic christianity

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard's official website is ceciliabrainarddotcom. She is the award-winning author and editor of 22 books, including When the Rainbow Goddess Wept, The Newspaper Widow, Magdalena, Selected Stories, Vigan and Other Stories, and more. She edited Growing Up Filipino 1, 2, & 3, Fiction by Filipinos in America, Contemporary Fiction by Filipinos in America, and other books.. Her work has been translated into Finnish and Turkish; and many of her stories and articles have been widely anthologized. Cecilia has received many awards, including a California Arts Council Fellowship in Fiction, a Brody Arts Fund Award, a Special Recognition Award for her work dealing with Asian American youths, as well as a Certificate of Recognition from the California State Senate, 21st District, and the Outstanding Individual Award from her birth city, Cebu, Philippines. She has lectured and performed at UCLA, USC, University of Connecticut, University of the Philippines, PEN, Shakespeare & Company in Paris, and many others. She has served in the Board of literary arts groups such as PEN, PAWWA (Pacific Asian American Writers West), among others.