Shrine of Our Lady of Piety, Baroque chapel on the Serra da Piedade in Caeté, Brazil
The Shrine of Our Lady of Piety is a chapel situated on a mountain in Caeté, designed with Portuguese architectural features and intricate stone elements. The structure displays detailed craftsmanship in its walls and ornamental decorations throughout.
Antônio da Silva Bracarena received permission from the bishopric on 30 September 1767 to build the chapel, the date taken as the sanctuary's foundation. He built it as a retreat for himself after completing Caeté's main church, and lived there as a penitent brother of the Third Order of Carmel until his death. In the late 19th century the site housed an asylum run by the Sisters of Piety. On 19 November 2017 Pope Francis raised the hermitage and the pilgrimage church to basilicas.
Since 2014 the shrine has hosted the Minas Gerais pilgrimage of the Terço dos Homens, when thousands of men, called tercistas, climb the Serra da Piedade between August and September. They pray a set of rosary mysteries and attend Mass; the movement's spiritual director is Dom Gil Antônio Moreira, archbishop of Juiz de Fora, and Dom Walmor, archbishop of Belo Horizonte, often takes part.
The location on a mountain means visitors should be prepared for a climb, though the surroundings offer natural views along the way. Good planning with sturdy footwear and extra time will make the visit more enjoyable.
The chapel's interior is tiny and holds a side chapel besides the main chancel. Its altarpiece is of the oratory type, with a tracery arch and a medallion above, and the throne carries the image of Our Lady of Sorrows with the fainting Christ, which some authors attribute to Aleijadinho.
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