Royal Brotherhoods
Real Irmandade de Santa Beatriz da Silva
The Royal Brotherhood of Saint Beatriz da Silva was founded with the primary aim of publicising, encouraging and disseminating the cult of Saint Beatriz da Silva, as well as Her work, the cult of Our Lady of the Conception, Queen of Portugal. Its mission is also to promote a number of actions to assist the most needy (needy families, support for disabled people, etc.) as well as to stimulate and publicise everything to do with Portuguese culture and traditions.
It was founded and based in the Monastery of St Saviour in Barcelos by its Provider, H.R.H. Prince Alfredo Côrte-Real (of Hawai'i), as there was a devotion to St Beatriz due to the fact that the Provider's family was descended from the parents of St Beatriz da Silva.
Saint Beatriz, who is probably the only genuinely Portuguese Saint, is responsible for a Work (promoting the cult of the Immaculate Conception) that we all know about, but no one knows who its promoter is. She shows total dedication to a cause, a remarkable spirit of service and dedication with a feeling of high nobility. We all know the work, but hardly anyone knows its "author". Nothing could be fairer than publicising the example of this great woman of humanity, paying tribute and devotion to her so that we can follow the example she set with such greatness and humility.
At the same time, and as a healthy mind in a healthy body, we also felt it necessary to endow the Brotherhood with a spirit of service and commitment to the common good. Thus, an assistance branch of the Brotherhood was born, dedicated to providing help and various forms of assistance to those most in need. This aid is given both through simple visits, as there is still a lot of loneliness, and through the delivery of basic necessities to the most needy, as well as by picking fruit, which is then delivered to various social solidarity institutions. The Ombudsman also organises some hippotherapy sessions for disabled people, as well as various actions and support in the area of disability.
Real Irmandade do Senhor Bom Jesus da Cruz
Its origin is linked to the so-called "Miracle of the Cross", a religious prodigy that took place on 20 December 1504, linked to the appearance of a black cross in the oak grove of "Campo da Feira". In order to protect the cross, a small square temple was built, covered by a vault and opened by four arches. At an uncertain date, the arches were closed and a roofed arcade was erected around them.
In 1698, the archbishop of Braga, João (IX) de Sousa, organised a small competition for the design of a new church to replace the 16th century building. In 1701, the Lisbon architect João Antunes (two plans) and the northern architect Manuel Fernandes da Silva (three plans) presented their work. All the projects envisaged a church with a centralised floor plan, which corresponds to a pre-medieval tradition still in force of marking special or sacred places with hermitages of this type. One of João Antunes' proposals was chosen and construction began in 1705 and it was opened for worship in 1710.
Real Irmandade da Santa Cruz e Passos da Graça
The Royal Brotherhood of the Holy Cross and Steps of Graça was founded in 1586 with the main mission of organising the Procession of the Lord of the Steps.
It has been held uninterruptedly since 1587 and is the oldest continuing tradition in Lisbon.