The Lenten season in the Azores, more precisely on the island of São Miguel, is essentially characterised by the Lenten pilgrimages, which have been going on for almost 500 years since they were first held, this being an act of faith unique and characteristic of the island.
The Lenten pilgrimages are a great example of religious manifestation on the island of São Miguel that demonstrate the great faith of the Azorean people. These pilgrimages originated in this same island, in the middle of the 16th century, a time when the island suffered successive earthquakes. In 1522, Vila Franca do Campo, the first capital of the island, suffered a violent earthquake, burying the entire town. In the aftermath of this catastrophe, the population, tormented, saw in faith a refuge to help all this suffering and difficulties they were going through. Thus, from this date onwards, many men from São Miguel got together in small groups and started to go to some churches of devotion to the Virgin Mary, on the island of São Miguel, on pilgrimage, as a promise and to thank God. These pilgrimages have prevailed over the years until today, passing from generation to generation, multiplying all over the island, where ranches of pilgrims, from all localities of São Miguel, during the time of Lent, travel the island in prayer, stopping at the churches of devotion to Our Lady and staying overnight at the houses of those who decide to welcome a pilgrim.
With emigration, the Micaelan Lenten pilgrimages, which recently also began to expand to other islands in the Azores archipelago, were not forgotten by those who left. In this way, we are witnessing the creation of some groups and ranches of pilgrims in the Diaspora, especially in the USA and Canada, which have the same initiative to continue this important religious tradition, whether there, in the Portuguese communities, or here, in São Miguel, with the coming of ranches of pilgrims mainly from Toronto to the island, which also make their pilgrimage, constituting themselves as an Emigrant Pilgrims’ Ranch or integrating Micaelan Ranches, which never forgot their roots and their Faith.
Last modified: 7 de April, 2022
