World History
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Our Lady of Bethlehem &
the Portuguese Crusader Spirit
On the outskirts of Jerusalem lies the small city of Bethlehem. From the obscurity in which it seemed destined to lie forever, Bethlehem emerged to the glory of the peoplea and of History, for it was the stage for the greatest event ever to have happened and ever to happen. It was there, in a small grotto, that Our Lady gave birth to the Divine Infant, the King of Kings. How many Christmas carols today evoke the lofty events of the cave of Bethlehem! How many cities around the world have been inspired by this name and proudly display it!
The setting for such great events, the Cave of Bethlehem, has always been venerated by the faithful. In the year 330, when the Roman persecution of Christians came to an end, there was already a Basilica dedicated to Our Lady over the grotto. And millions of devotees over the centuries made pilgrimages there and spread devotion to Our Lady of Bethlehem throughout the world.
The first devotee of Our Lady of Bethlehem was certainly Saint Micah, the prophet of the Old Testament who, eight centuries before the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, announced it thus: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephrata, art a little one among the thousands of Judah: But out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be the ruler in Israel. And His going forth is from the beginning, from the days of eternity, out of you will come for Me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Therefore He will leave them until the time when she who is in labor gives birth” (Micah 5:1-3).
A fervent devotee of Our Lady of Bethlehem was Prince Henry the Navigator, the great driving force behind Portuguese navigations, through which he consecrated his life to a new Crusade in defense and propagation of the Faith. For this reason, he took a small chapel on the beaches of Restelo – the site from which ships departed for the discoveries – and transformed it into a larger church, under the invocation of Our Lady of Bethlehem.
He said: “Just as the star of Bethlehem guided the Magi to the Manger where the Child God lay, so also will Our Lady of Bethlehem help us to find new lands and the way to India.” The new sacred edifice was placed under the care of the military monks of the Order of Christ, who began to provide spiritual assistance to the travelers and sailors who landed there.
Before facing the dangers of the unknown seas, on the night before departure they received the banner of the Cross of Christ from the hands of the King. The Portuguese captains and sailors then partook in a pious ceremony before the statue of Our Lady of Bethlehem, to whom they devoutly consecrated their voyages.
Vasco da Gama, and afterwards Pedro Álvares Cabral, were no exception. As the ships were gently beaten by the waves and swayed in the starlight, the great navigators and their companions spent the night in vigil before the altar of the Virgin. When the rays of the morning sun illuminated the sky and the stars faded, the sonorous notes of the solemn Mass could be heard.
After the Mass, the prayers of supplication began, followed by a slow procession of the sailors to the boats that awaited them. At the head of this procession, singing the litany, were the priests; behind them the multitude chanted the responsories. Finally, the solemn echoes faded away. Everyone fell to their knees to make the general confession, after which the priest gave absolution.
The silence was broken only by the sobbing of those watching their husbands or children depart. From Lisbon to Belém a great multitude pressed inside and outside the church, stretching along the beach, contemplating with tear-filled eyes the river resplendent with ships with unfurled sails, ready to weigh anchor.
As Vasco da Gama's expedition was very dangerous, with both military and religious aims, women were not allowed on board. But a beautiful golden statue of the Blessed Virgin was placed on the bow of the flagship. It was a symbolic act, signifying that Our Lady would guide them in the evangelization of India. For Vasco da Gama, it would become evident that the Virgin had protected him throughout the voyage.
Dom Manuel I, known as the Fortunate, was extremely grateful to Our Lady of Bethlehem for the ship’s successful arrival in India. Therefore, in 1497 he expanded the church, transforming it into a magnificent monastery placed under the care of the monks of the Order of Saint Jerome. Over the years, the building – representing the apex of Manueline architecture – was greatly enlarged. Today the magnificent edifice is called the Monastery of Santa Maria de Belém, better known as the Jerónimos Monastery, one of the “seven wonders of Portugal.”
The devotion to Our Lady of Bethlehem thus spread to numerous peoples, including Brazil and the conquered lands of New Spain, which owe to her its adherence to the Holy Catholic Church.
Original here
Monastery of Santa Maria de Belém (Jerónimos Monastery)
The first devotee of Our Lady of Bethlehem was certainly Saint Micah, the prophet of the Old Testament who, eight centuries before the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, announced it thus: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephrata, art a little one among the thousands of Judah: But out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be the ruler in Israel. And His going forth is from the beginning, from the days of eternity, out of you will come for Me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Therefore He will leave them until the time when she who is in labor gives birth” (Micah 5:1-3).
Prince Henry the Navigator: His crusading spirit opened the New World to the Faith
He said: “Just as the star of Bethlehem guided the Magi to the Manger where the Child God lay, so also will Our Lady of Bethlehem help us to find new lands and the way to India.” The new sacred edifice was placed under the care of the military monks of the Order of Christ, who began to provide spiritual assistance to the travelers and sailors who landed there.
Before facing the dangers of the unknown seas, on the night before departure they received the banner of the Cross of Christ from the hands of the King. The Portuguese captains and sailors then partook in a pious ceremony before the statue of Our Lady of Bethlehem, to whom they devoutly consecrated their voyages.
Vasco da Gama, and afterwards Pedro Álvares Cabral, were no exception. As the ships were gently beaten by the waves and swayed in the starlight, the great navigators and their companions spent the night in vigil before the altar of the Virgin. When the rays of the morning sun illuminated the sky and the stars faded, the sonorous notes of the solemn Mass could be heard.
After the Mass, the prayers of supplication began, followed by a slow procession of the sailors to the boats that awaited them. At the head of this procession, singing the litany, were the priests; behind them the multitude chanted the responsories. Finally, the solemn echoes faded away. Everyone fell to their knees to make the general confession, after which the priest gave absolution.
Our Lady of Bethlehem in the Tower of Belem patio: the last thing sailors would see when leaving
As Vasco da Gama's expedition was very dangerous, with both military and religious aims, women were not allowed on board. But a beautiful golden statue of the Blessed Virgin was placed on the bow of the flagship. It was a symbolic act, signifying that Our Lady would guide them in the evangelization of India. For Vasco da Gama, it would become evident that the Virgin had protected him throughout the voyage.
Dom Manuel I, known as the Fortunate, was extremely grateful to Our Lady of Bethlehem for the ship’s successful arrival in India. Therefore, in 1497 he expanded the church, transforming it into a magnificent monastery placed under the care of the monks of the Order of Saint Jerome. Over the years, the building – representing the apex of Manueline architecture – was greatly enlarged. Today the magnificent edifice is called the Monastery of Santa Maria de Belém, better known as the Jerónimos Monastery, one of the “seven wonders of Portugal.”
The devotion to Our Lady of Bethlehem thus spread to numerous peoples, including Brazil and the conquered lands of New Spain, which owe to her its adherence to the Holy Catholic Church.
Original here
Our Lady over the portal of Jeronoimos Monastery
Posted June --, 2026
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