The Sanctuary of Canindé which is situated in the North eastern region part of Brazil is the point of reference for the whole year in as far as the spiritual life is concerned. Many people arrive there from all over the country. With almost 300 years of devotion to the stigmata of St. Francis, he is known as “of the stigmata” and many times the pilgrims identify themselves with these marks of suffering which are always accompanied by the hope of Saint Francis of Assisi who is always alive on the altar.
Be it entering the Basilica on one’s knees, wearing brown clothes which resemble the Franciscan habit, removing the hut, or leaving pieces of wood as the reminder of the graces obtained, the pilgrims leave in the place the sign of their faith by making the place to be a big center of Franciscan spirituality.
In order to celebrate the feast of the stigmata of St. Francis, this year, a program was organized. It begun with the first 24 hours of September and continued until the Solemnity of St. Francis on 4th . “The wounds of Christ present in St. Francis and in the life of the people” was a central theme of the celebration. The faithful had an opportunity of having early the program, contemplating the way of the cross and later a series of movements such as masses, processions missionary animation. At the sunset, the nights of the novena were crowned by the whole day of prayer and devotion by the pilgrims. This moment of faith is known as “Praça dos Romeiro” which comprised a big show of 110 persons, coming every together with the faithful.
This year’s celebration had the presence of the Minister General of the OFM, Br. Massimo Fusarelli, who did not hide his emotions and joy during the celebrations. We were graced also to have the presence of Br. Cesar Külkamp, the General Definitor for the second time, the relic of St. Francis, (the piece) of his habit stained by his blood which was brought by the friars from Mount La Verna. At Canindé, the spiritual force of St. Francis attracts millions of persons each year to renew their faith in Jesus.
The feast was concluded by the mass which was presided by the Minister Provincial Br. Rogério Lopes and, the metropolitan Archbishop of Fortaleza Rev Gregório Paixão and Br. Gilmar Nascimento, the Rector of the sanctuary. At the end of the day there was a procession with an old image of St. Francis known as “São Francisquinho” with its small dimension but from which the devotion in city originated before even the existence of the sanctuary. The image went around the city in procession accompanied by a big group of the faithful. Infront of the Basilica of St. Francis, a blessing was given by using one of the relics of the Seraphic father which is kept in the sanctuary. With great emotion the pilgrims and the habitants of the city were grateful for the experience lived.
