Stories of Paraná - The Christmas Monk Lapa

Stories of Paraná - The Christmas Monk Lapa

The Christmas Monk Lapa
Valêncio Xavier

What is known of the first monk - there were others - is the book of records of the Foreign Chamber of Sorocaba, S. Paul in 1844, giving his name as John Maria Agostini, 43, a native of Piedmont, Italy.
Said to have come to Brazil to exercise their profession lonely hermit and live in a cave near the iron works of Ipanema. The rest is legend, and good.
Wanderer, goes on pilgrimage in the hinterlands of southern Brazil.
Preaches, prays and gives advice to mestizos.
Does cures prescribing of a tea plant that even today people call "broom of Saint John Mary". Nothing snake accepts only food. Does not go into villages, or in the houses, houses in the woods, sleeping under trees, almost always next to a fountain.
The mestizos considered sacred place of rest and a holy water font remedy for all ills.
Crosses stands in his way, where people will pray and light candles.

Paraná to Rio Grande do Sul, some of these sacred places exist today as a point of devotion.
In the central square of Mafra, Santa Catarina, has a cross erected by Monk joão Maria.
Legend has it that a certain mayor transferred it to the cemetery, there began to burn the cross and the Black River flooded the city. The flood only lowered when the people brought the cross back to the square where it is today.
After his preachings clutch P-nha into the woods and walk goes his way alone. Does not allow followers
unlike the two monks who come after impersonating him: one in the troubled times of the Federalist Revolution, another during fights Contested War.
The Matrix Book of St. Anthony, in the city of Lapa, Paraná, no registration authorization parajoão Maria preach.
Installs in the cave that bears his name, place of great pilgrimage today.
Dali goes on pilgrimage through the backlands, and where back from time to time.
One day, not coming back. There is the record of his death in the grotto of Ipanema, where he was devoured by a jaguar. The people did not believe it and says that John and Mary are delighted in the hills of Taio, in Santa Catarina.
According to the words of John Mary: Who wants to go there, to visit me and see me, find beasts along the way and many temptations in fruits, and other things. And I need to do no harm to animals and fruits and not succumb to the temptations of the way. Only then can there
arrive.
These words are in the Mongejoão Mary "LIFE OF JOHN MARIA DE JESUS ​​(The Prophe-TA) - sermons, MIRACLES AND PROPHECIAS. Edited in 1929, is one of the few examples of brochures string of Paraná. One of the few examples of popular literature in our state.
It took the story WHAT IS THE DEVIL CAN NOT BELONGING TO A HOLY, what could have happened on Christmas day.
João Maria came close to a farm. The lady of the house wanted him to take a roast chicken gift.
Ran through the yard behind the fattest "carijó", but could not catch her.
Tired shouted angrily: "damn chicken, the Devil carry you." Wet with perspiration returned to the kitchen.
Soon after the chicken comes meek, she catches, kills, roasts and braised and will lead to the monk.
He thanks her and refuses: "Good woman, I can not accept your gift, because this chicken belongs to the devil, to whom you gave earlier."

Valêncio Xavier, writer and historian


Source: Stories of Paraná, Brasil.