Coração de Jesus Basilica
Encyclopedia
Sagrado Coração de Jesus Basilica or Sacred Heart of Jesus Basilica is a basilica
located in the city of Póvoa de Varzim
in Portugal
, by Gomes de Amorim street, by the national highway to Viana do Castelo.
Despite being located in the northern area of the city, the temple is part of Matriz Parish. The construction began in 1890 and by 1900 the original plan by chaplain Priest Ferreira, drawing professor in the Espirito Santo College in Braga, was revealed. However, the details of the basilica's facade, in Neoclassical style, differs from the original plan.
The temple is known by its dome, where the icon of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is found, a sculpture of Jesus Christ. The base of this dome is lit by twelve windows in arc that allow entrance of light, giving lightness to the structure and offering the illusion of a celestial aureole.
The basilica has an estimated mean capacity of about 2,000 people. The temple is 30.10 meters in height, topped by a 4.5 meter high statue.
, which summed up with over 2000 brothers, in certain periods, including people from Póvoa and neighboring lands. The brotherhood was extinct by King Joseph, during the expulsion of the society from Portugal in 1761.
.
The church was built in the old town of Póvoa de Varzim on August 31, 1890. While the new temple was being built, a temporary wood building blessed on July 10, 1892 named Capela-Escola do Sagrado Coração de Jesus (Chapel-School of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) was raised to harbor the statue and to function as a Sunday school and home for the Jesuits. By 1894, the walls of the chancel were raised and the chancel was complete in 1899.
, António dos Santos Graça
and others freemasons
and republicans encourage demonstrations against the Jesuits, specifically the 1901 demonstration, by believing the Jesuits were responsible for the ignorance and beliefs of the uninformed people. Laborers and craftsmen, with republican ideas, will be responsible for most riots. For them the influence of the Jesuits and the Dorotean sisters, who governed the feminine Sagrado Coração de Jesus College, harmed socialist and republican ideology. The mayor, Domingos José Moreira in a telegram from March, 11th 1901 says that "Yesterday night a numerous group of people went throw the streets with an uncivil attitude, justifying it as an anti-Jesuit protest. I requested support from the fiscal guard that could restore order and public tranquility.
The anti-Jesuit campaign will be fierce after the implementation of the Republic
. The construction stopped in 1910 with the expulsion of the Jesuits, in the year of the proclamation of the Portuguese Republic. Most of the population, including the wealthy conservative families, and the traditionalist and also conservative fishermen supported the clergy, even after the April 20th 1911 Law that separated the State and the Church and caused the nationalization of the Church's wealth.
The temple was left in ruins and was delivered to the Nossa Senhora de Lourdes Brotherhood, and then to S. José Brotherhood. For 17 years, the basilica was planned to be a primary school. After the May 28th 1926 Revolution, the construction of the basilica was resumed in 1927 with the return of the Jesuits, and concluded on October 31, 1948 during the Estado Novo regime. However, the works continued in two altars and the positioning of the 24 bells of the towers. The subscribers who had offered over a thousand escudo
s had their names recorded in marble in the walls.
Nowadays, the Basilica shelters a small Jesuit community, one of the five in the Archdiocese of Braga.
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
located in the city of Póvoa de Varzim
Póvoa de Varzim
Póvoa de Varzim is a Portuguese city in the Norte Region and sub-region of Greater Porto, with a 2011 estimated population of 63,364. According to the 2001 census, there were 63,470 inhabitants with 42,396 living in the city proper. The urban area expanded, southwards, to Vila do Conde, and there...
in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, by Gomes de Amorim street, by the national highway to Viana do Castelo.
Despite being located in the northern area of the city, the temple is part of Matriz Parish. The construction began in 1890 and by 1900 the original plan by chaplain Priest Ferreira, drawing professor in the Espirito Santo College in Braga, was revealed. However, the details of the basilica's facade, in Neoclassical style, differs from the original plan.
The temple is known by its dome, where the icon of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is found, a sculpture of Jesus Christ. The base of this dome is lit by twelve windows in arc that allow entrance of light, giving lightness to the structure and offering the illusion of a celestial aureole.
The basilica has an estimated mean capacity of about 2,000 people. The temple is 30.10 meters in height, topped by a 4.5 meter high statue.
16th-18th century: The Jesuit stronghold
Since the second half of the 16th century, the Jesuits were present in Póvoa de Varzim. In early 18th century, the company established the Irmandade do S.S. Coração de Jesus (brotherhood of Sacred Heart of Jesus) in Póvoa fortressNossa Senhora da Conceição Fortress
thumb|220px|Nossa Senhora da Conceição Fortress.thumb|220px|The gate of the fortress.Castelo da Póvoa , offically Fortaleza da Nossa Senhora da Conceição, is a Portuguese fortress in Póvoa de Varzim rebuilt during the reigns of Peter II and John V to defend the town from privateers, in the site...
, which summed up with over 2000 brothers, in certain periods, including people from Póvoa and neighboring lands. The brotherhood was extinct by King Joseph, during the expulsion of the society from Portugal in 1761.
19th century: The new Jesuit mission and construction
In the 19th century, the Jesuits returned and throw their missions, the "Apostolado de Oração" (Praying Apostolate) mission in 1883 and the increase of devotions, the society acquired once again a considerable influence in the Povoan society of the time. João Francisco Trocado, secretary of Apostolado de Oração League, acquired an icon of the Heart of Jesus blessed by cardinal D. Américo in 1888 in Porto and by that the idea to build a worthy temple, a basilica, for the sculpture, appeared. The imposing new church aimed to be for Northern Portugal, the same as Basílica da Estrela was for LisbonLisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
.
The church was built in the old town of Póvoa de Varzim on August 31, 1890. While the new temple was being built, a temporary wood building blessed on July 10, 1892 named Capela-Escola do Sagrado Coração de Jesus (Chapel-School of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) was raised to harbor the statue and to function as a Sunday school and home for the Jesuits. By 1894, the walls of the chancel were raised and the chancel was complete in 1899.
Early 20th century: Anti-Jesuit campaign and the completion
Povoan elite, by the personification of Rocha PeixotoAntónio Augusto de Rocha Peixoto
António Augusto de Rocha Peixoto was a notable naturalist, etnologist and archaeologist known throughout the country....
, António dos Santos Graça
António dos Santos Graça
António dos Santos Graça was a Portuguese ethnologist, journalist and politician notable for the study and preservation of Poveiro culture, history, and folklore...
and others freemasons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and republicans encourage demonstrations against the Jesuits, specifically the 1901 demonstration, by believing the Jesuits were responsible for the ignorance and beliefs of the uninformed people. Laborers and craftsmen, with republican ideas, will be responsible for most riots. For them the influence of the Jesuits and the Dorotean sisters, who governed the feminine Sagrado Coração de Jesus College, harmed socialist and republican ideology. The mayor, Domingos José Moreira in a telegram from March, 11th 1901 says that "Yesterday night a numerous group of people went throw the streets with an uncivil attitude, justifying it as an anti-Jesuit protest. I requested support from the fiscal guard that could restore order and public tranquility.
The anti-Jesuit campaign will be fierce after the implementation of the Republic
5 October 1910 revolution
The revolution of 1910 was a republican coup d'état that occurred in Portugal on 5 October 1910, which deposed King Manuel II and established the Portuguese First Republic....
. The construction stopped in 1910 with the expulsion of the Jesuits, in the year of the proclamation of the Portuguese Republic. Most of the population, including the wealthy conservative families, and the traditionalist and also conservative fishermen supported the clergy, even after the April 20th 1911 Law that separated the State and the Church and caused the nationalization of the Church's wealth.
The temple was left in ruins and was delivered to the Nossa Senhora de Lourdes Brotherhood, and then to S. José Brotherhood. For 17 years, the basilica was planned to be a primary school. After the May 28th 1926 Revolution, the construction of the basilica was resumed in 1927 with the return of the Jesuits, and concluded on October 31, 1948 during the Estado Novo regime. However, the works continued in two altars and the positioning of the 24 bells of the towers. The subscribers who had offered over a thousand escudo
Portuguese escudo
The escudo was the currency of Portugal prior to the introduction of the Euro on 1 January 1999 and its removal from circulation on 28 February 2002. The escudo was subdivided into 100 centavos....
s had their names recorded in marble in the walls.
Nowadays, the Basilica shelters a small Jesuit community, one of the five in the Archdiocese of Braga.