This week, the Sanctuary, also known as the Church of Father Eustáquio, received a visit from the icon of Our Lady of Piety, a small image of the Patron Saint of Minas Gerais that travels through the faith communities of Belo Horizonte and the metropolitan region. The initiative is part of the celebrations of the Centenary of the Archdiocese of BH.

The icon arrived at the Sanctuary on Monday and was placed on display right at the entrance of the church. Everyone who passed by could see, pray, and take photos next to the image. On Wednesday, September 15th, the day of the Patron Saint of the state, there was a special moment of prayer in honor of Our Lady of Mercy. During the weekend celebrations, the pilgrim icon had a prominent place in the presbytery, being part of all the masses on Saturday and Sunday.

The image has been traveling through all the parishes of the archdiocese, organized by episcopal regions. In our region, Our Lady of Hope (RENSE), the icon will continue visiting the parishes until all have been contemplated. In the case of the Sanctuary, the image came from the São Luiz Gonzaga Parish and is now going to the São Francisco das Chagas Parish, in the Carlos Prates neighborhood.

The original image of the Patron Saint of Minas Gerais

Located in the Sanctuary's chapel, the magnificent and inspiring image of Our Lady of Piety blesses Minas Gerais and its pilgrims. Carved in wood (cedar) in the 18th century, the image is attributed to Antônio Francisco Lisboa, known as Aleijadinho.

The representation of Our Lady of Sorrows is depicted with a halo of seven stars, symbolizing her seven sorrows, emphasized by the expression of anguish and sadness that usually accompanies her.