Its history has its beginning in mid-1717, when the news reached Guaratinguetá that the count of Assumar, D. Pedro de Almeida, Portugal, then the governor of the capitania of the São Paulo and Minas de Ouro, would pass through the village on the way to Vila Rica (present city of Ouro Preto), in Minas Gerais.
Desiring to obsequies you with the best fish to gain the fishermen Dominic Garcia, Filipe Pedroso and João Alves launched their nets in the river Paraíba do Sul After many unsuccessful attempts, down to the River reached Porto Itaguaçu, 12 October. Already without hope, João Alves launched its network in the waters and took the body of an image of Nossa senhora aparecida without a head. In retry got the head of the image. Involved the finding in a tissue. Thereafter, the fish arrived in abundance for the three humble fishermen.
During fifteen years the picture remained in the residence of Filipe Pedroso, where people from the neighborhood gathered to pray. The devotion was growing among the people of the region and many thanks were achieved by those who prayed before the image. The fame of the extraordinary powers of Nossa senhora de aparecida was spreading to regions of Brazil.
First Miracles
Miracle of Sail
In the serene night, suddenly the two candles that illuminated the Holy gone. There was surprise among the devotees, and Silvana da Rocha, wanting switch them back, or tried, for they kindled by themselves. This was the first known miracle of Nossa Senhora.
drop the current
In mid-1850, a slave named Zechariah, trapped by thick chains, go to the church where the image, the maker asked permission to pray. Receiving permission, the slave kneels before Nossa Senhora Aparecida and prayed. During prayer, the currents, miraculously, become detached from their wrists leaving Zacarias free.
Knight and the Mark of the Horseshoe
A knight of Cuiabá, to go to Minas Gerais, saw the faith of pilgrims and began to scoff, saying that it was a silly faith. He wanted to prove what he said, entering the horse in the church. Once in the staircase, the hoof of his horse is locked in the stone staircase of the church (Old Church), coming down to the rider from his horse, after the fact, the mark of the horseshoe was thrust of rock. The knight sorry, asked forgiveness and became a devotee.
The Blind Girl
Mother and daughter walking on the river Paraíba, where the daughter says to the mother: "Mom how beautiful this church" (Old Church). From that moment on, the girl begins to see.
The Boy in River
Father and son were fishing, the current was very strong and the boy fell into the river and did not swim, the current dragged the increasingly rapid and desperate father asks Nossa Senhora Aparecida to save the boy. The body of the boy stops and father saved the boy.
The Man and the Ounce
A man was returning to his home, where he met with a huge ounce. He was trapped and ounce was about to attack, then the desperate man asks to Nossa Senhora Aparecida. The ounces then turns and leaves