In the twilight of death, the hope of (re)union

Devotion to the bodily transcendence of Mary in the Recôncavo of Bahia

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7213/2175-1838.17.002.DS05

Keywords:

Esperança mariana, Irmandade da Boa Morte, Transcendência corporal, Esperança e ressurreição, Resistência cultural

Abstract

This article analyzes the devotion to the bodily transcendence of Mary within the Irmandade da Boa Morte (Sisterhood of the Good Death) in Cachoeira, Recôncavo Baiano, in dialogue with Pope Francis’ Marian reflection in the Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025, Spes non confundit (Rom 5:5) (2024). The research investigates how the Assumption of Mary is reinterpreted by the Sisterhood, integrating elements of Catholicism with Afro-Brazilian spiritualities. The hypothesis suggests that this devotion reinforces hope in the continuity of life and the sacredness of the body, aligning with Pope Francis’ view of Mary as the supreme witness of hope (SnC 24). The celebration of Mary’s transcendence also reveals ethical and social implications, promoting cultural resistance, community solidarity, and the strengthening of Afro-descendant identity. The objectives include: presenting the Marian dimension in the Bull Spes non confundit; analyzing Mary as Mother of Hope; and demonstrating how the Sisterhood celebrates this transcendence. The study concludes that the devotion expresses resilience and faith, reaffirming hope in the continuity of life and the sacredness of the body.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Author Biography

Anderson Moura, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio)

Master in Systematic-Pastoral Theology from the Catholic University of Pernambuco (UNICAP) and currently a doctoral candidate in the same field at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio). Holds a specialization in Mariology from the Sacred Heart Theological-Philosophical Institute – Dehonian College (ITEFISC), and in Biblical Hermeneutics from the Catholic University of Pernambuco (UNICAP). Currently serves as a professor at the Catholic College of Feira de Santana, Bahia (FCFS), where he teaches courses in Introduction to Theology, Theology of Revelation, Spiritual Theology, Liturgy, Mariology, Theological Synthesis (De Universa Theologia), and the seminar "Faith, Reason, and Science." He is a member of the Brazilian Society for Systematic Theology (SBTS) and the Brazilian Association of Mariology (ABM).

Published

2025-08-27

How to Cite

Moura, A. (2025). In the twilight of death, the hope of (re)union: Devotion to the bodily transcendence of Mary in the Recôncavo of Bahia. Pistis Praxis, 17(2), 263–277. https://doi.org/10.7213/2175-1838.17.002.DS05