Mystique of María’s bodily transcendence in the Recôncavo Baiano

the celebration of the integrality of the finite in the infinite

Abstract

This text aims to analyze the theme of the cult of Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte in Cachoeira, a municipality located in Recôncavo Baiano, developed by the Irmandade da Boa Morte (Brotherhood of Good Death), since the end of the 19th century. The Marian cult, promoted by a group of black women, called “Irmãs da Boa Morte” (“Sisters of the Good Death”), belonging to an African-based cult, more precisely Candomblé, stands out as a tradition whose importance is highlighted by the syncretism that unites elements of Afro-Brazilian religiosity with those of an ancient Christian festival, the bodily transcendence of Mary. Thus, this text – adopting bibliographic research as a methodology and having as theoretical references the phenomenologist of religion and scholar of Christian mysticism Juan Martín Velasco, as well as theologians Bruno Forte and Clodovis M. Boff, O.S.M. – intends to analyze the mystical phenomenon of Marian devotion maintained by the Brotherhood of Good Death. For the Sisters of the Good Death, Mary assumed into heaven in body and soul demonstrates the totalizing character of interiority, but also of human corporeality, that is, all of humanity finds itself involved in the absolute realization of being. Our study aims to contribute to the theological knowledge of the experience of faith lived in the Brotherhood of the Good Death.