Anthony of St. Ann Galvão, O.F.M. ( pt, Antônio de Sant'Anna Galvão, ), commonly known in Brazil as Frei (Friar) Galvão (; May 13, 1739 – December 23, 1822), was a Brazilian

friar A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders founded in the twelfth or thirteenth century; the term distinguishes the mendicants' itinerant apostolic character, exercised broadly under the jurisdiction of a superior general, from the ...

of the

Franciscan , image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg , image_size = 200px , caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans , abbreviation = OFM , predecessor = , ...

Order. One of the best-known religious figures in

colonial Brazil Colonial Brazil ( pt, Brasil Colonial) comprises the period from 1500, with the arrival of the Portuguese, until 1815, when Brazil was elevated to a kingdom in union with Portugal as the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves. Dur ...

, renowned for his healing powers,"Profile: Saint Antonio Galvao"
BBC News. May 11, 2007. Galvão was canonized by

Pope Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI ( la, Benedictus XVI; it, Benedetto XVI; german: link=no, Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, , on 16 April 1927) is a retired prelate of the Catholic church who served as the head of the Church and the sovereig ...

on May 11, 2007, becoming the first Brazilian-born saint."Pope names Brazil's first saint"

BBC News BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broadc ...

. May 11, 2007. He was the second Brazilian to be proclaimed a saint by the Catholic Church, after

Austro-Hungarian Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1 ...

-born

Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus, C.I.I.C. (December 16, 1865 – July 9, 1942), was an immigrant from Austria-Hungary to Brazil, who became the foundress of the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, religious sis ...

' was canonized in 2002.Frayssinet, Fabiana and Osava, Mario
"A New Saint to Help Stem the Loss of Adherents"
. IPS. May 11, 2007.

Life

Early life

Galvão was born in the freguesia of Santo Antonio of Guaratinguetá, in the State of São Paulo. He was the fourth of ten children in a deeply religious family of high social and political status."Fr. Anthony of Saint Anne Galvão (1739 - 1822) - Biography"
Vatican.va.
at Patron Saints Index. His father, Antônio Galvão de França, was the

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

of the village. Although he was active in the world of politics and commerce, Antônio the father also belonged to the Third Order of Saint Francis and was known for his generosity. His mother, Isabel Leite de Barros, was from a farming family, and was a great-granddaughter of the famous bandeirante explorer Fernão Dias Pais, known as the "Emerald Hunter". She gave birth to eleven children before her premature death in 1755, at age 38. Equally known for her generosity, Isabel was found to have given away all of her clothes to the poor at the time of her death. At age 13, Galvão was sent to the

Jesuit , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

-run seminary Colégio de Belém in Cachoeira,

Bahia Bahia ( , , ; meaning "bay") is one of the 26 states of Brazil, located in the Northeast Region of the country. It is the fourth-largest Brazilian state by population (after São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro) and the 5th-larges ...

by his father, which wished to provide

Humanities Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture. In the Renaissance, the term contrasted with divinity and referred to what is now called classics, the main area of secular study in universities at t ...

and cultural training to his son. He followed his brother José, who was already studying there. At Colégio de Belém, which he attended from 1752 to 1756, Galvão made great progress in social studies and Christian practice. He aspired to become a Jesuit

priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in partic ...

, but the anti-Jesuit persecution led by Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, the Marquis of Pombal, led him to enter the

Order instead. in Taubaté, following the advice of his father. Freigalvao11052007

Franciscan friar

At age 16, Galvão gave up a promising future and his family's social influence, becoming a

novice A novice is a person who has entered a religious order and is under probation, before taking vows. A ''novice'' can also refer to a person (or animal e.g. racehorse) who is entering a profession with no prior experience. Religion Buddhism ...

at the St. Bonaventure Friary in Vila de Macacu,

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the state of the same name, Brazil's third-most populous state, and the second-most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo. Listed by the GaWC as a b ...

. There, he adopted the religious name of Anthony of Saint Ann, in honor of his family's devotion to

Saint Ann According to Christian apocryphal and Islamic tradition, Saint Anne was the mother of Mary and the maternal grandmother of Jesus. Mary's mother is not named in the canonical gospels. In writing, Anne's name and that of her husband Joachim come o ...

. During his

novitiate The novitiate, also called the noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a Christian ''novice'' (or ''prospective'') monastic, apostolic, or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether ...

year, he was known for his piety, zeal and exemplary virtues. Galvão made his profession of solemn vows on 16 April 1761, taking the additional vow to defend the

Blessed Virgin Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother ...

's title of the " Immaculate Conception", which was still a controversial teaching at that time. On 11 July 1762, Galvão was

ordained Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform ...

a priest and transferred to St. Francis Friary in the city of

São Paulo São Paulo (, ; Portuguese for ' Saint Paul') is the most populous city in Brazil, and is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest Brazilian state, located in the country's Southeast Region. Listed by the GaW ...

, where he continued his studies in

theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing th ...

and

philosophy Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. ...

. In early 1766, around the completion of his studies, Galvão made a spiritual submission of himself as a "servant and slave" of the

Blessed Mother Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of ...

, signing a document to this effect, dated 9 March, which he signed in his own blood. In 1768 he was appointed preacher,

confessor Confessor is a title used within Christianity in several ways. Confessor of the Faith Its oldest use is to indicate a saint who has suffered persecution and torture for the faith but not to the point of death.porter of the friary, an important post. From 1769 to 1770 Galvão served as confessor to the Recollection of St. Teresa ( pt, Recolhimento de Santa Teresa) in the city of São Paulo, which was a hermitage of women Recollects (

recluse A recluse is a person who lives in voluntary seclusion from the public and society. The word is from the Latin ''recludere'', which means "shut up" or "sequester". Historically, the word referred to a Christian hermit's total isolation from th ...

s living in common but not under

religious vows Religious vows are the public vows made by the members of religious communities pertaining to their conduct, practices, and views. In the Buddhism tradition, in particular within the Mahayana and Vajrayana tradition, many different kinds of re ...

), dedicated to Teresa of Ávila. There, he met the nun Helena Maria of the Holy Spirit, a recluse who claimed to have had visions in which Jesus was asking her to found a new Recollect house. Galvão, her confessor, studied these messages and consulted with others who recognized them as valid and

supernatural Supernatural refers to phenomena or entities that are beyond the laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin (above, beyond, or outside of) + (nature) Though the corollary term "nature", has had multiple meanings si ...

. Galvão collaborated in the foundation of the new Recollect house, named Our Lady of the Conception of Divine Providence, which was established on 2 February 1774 in the same city. It was modeled after the Conceptionist nuns, and became the home for girls who wished to live a religious life but without taking vows. With Helena's sudden death on 23 February 1775, Galvão became the new superior of the community, serving as the Recollects' new spiritual leader. Guaratinguetá FreiGalvão

Around that time, a change in São Paulo's provincial government brought an inflexible leader who ordered the closing of the hermitage. Galvão accepted the decision, but the recluses refused to leave the premises, and due to popular pressure and the efforts of the Bishop of São Paulo, the hermitage was soon re-opened. Subsequently, with the increasing number of new recluses, more living space was required. It took Galvão 28 years to build the hermitage and church, with the latter being inaugurated on 15 August 1802. In addition to the construction work and duties within and outside his Order, Galvão committed himself to the Recollect's formation. The Statutes he wrote for them was a guide for the interior life and religious discipline. When things seemed more quiet, another government intervention brought Galvão a further trial. The

Captain General Captain general (and its literal equivalent in several languages) is a high military rank of general officer grade, and a gubernatorial title. History The term "Captain General" started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of Comma ...

sentenced a soldier to death for having slightly offended his son, and the friar was sent into exile for coming to the soldier's defence. Again, popular demand succeeded in having the order revoked. In 1781, Galvão was appointed novice master in

Cachoeiras de Macacu Cachoeiras de Macacu (; means "Macacu Waterfalls" in Portuguese) is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. Its population was 59,303 (2020) and its area is 956 km². Next to neighboring Rio Bonito municipality, it ...

. However, the Recollects and the Bishop of São Paulo appealed to the Minister Provincial, writing that "none of the inhabitants of this city will be able to bear the absence of this Religious for a single moment". As a result, he returned. He was later named

Guardian Guardian usually refers to: * Legal guardian, a person with the authority and duty to care for the interests of another * ''The Guardian'', a British daily newspaper (The) Guardian(s) may also refer to: Places * Guardian, West Virginia, Unit ...

of St. Francis Friary in São Paulo in 1798, being re-appointed in 1801. In 1811 Galvão founded St. Clare Friary in

Sorocaba Sorocaba () is a municipality in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Sorocaba is the eighth-largest city in the state of São Paulo. Outside the Greater São Paulo region, it ranks behind only Campinas, São José dos Campos and Ribeirão Preto. ...

. Eleven months later, he returned to São Paulo. In his old age, he obtained permission from the bishop and the Guardian to stay at the Recollect house. He died there on 23 December 1822. Galvão was laid to rest in the Recollection Church, and his tomb continues to be a destination for pilgrimages of the faithful, who obtain graces through his intercession. In 1929, the Convent of Our Lady of the Conception of Divine Providence became a

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer whic ...

, incorporated into the

Order of the Immaculate Conception , image = OrdoIC.jpg , size = 150px , abbreviation = OIC , nickname = Conceptionists , motto = , formation = , founder = Saint Beatrice of Silva) , founding_location ...

. The building, now called the "Monastery of Light", has been declared a world cultural heritage site by

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international coope ...

.Pomi, Ana Maria (

Deutsche Presse-Agentur Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH (dpa) is a German news agency founded in 1949. Based in Hamburg, it has grown to be a major worldwide operation serving print media, radio, television, online, mobile phones, and national news agencies. News is ava ...

)
"Profile: Brazil's soon-to-be saint performed paper-pill miracles"
Monstersandcritics.com. May 9, 2007. The complex now serves as the Museum of the Sacred Arts of São Paulo.

Mysticism

Galvão was a man of great and intense prayer, and mystic phenomena attributed to him include

telepathy Telepathy () is the purported vicarious transmission of information from one person's mind to another's without using any known human sensory channels or physical interaction. The term was first coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Frederic ...

, premonition and

levitation Levitation (from Latin ''levitas'' "lightness") is the process by which an object is held aloft in a stable position, without mechanical support via any physical contact. Levitation is accomplished by providing an upward force that counteract ...

. He was reportedly in two different places at the same time in order to take care of sick or dying people who had asked for his help. BentoXVI-51-11052007 (frag)

Many sought Galvão for his reputed healing powers, particularly when medical resources were expensive or unavailable. Galvão became known for his "paper pills": he wrote a

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...

phrase from the

Little Office of Our Lady The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as Hours of the Virgin, is a liturgical devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, in imitation of, and usually in addition to, the Divine Office in the Catholic Church. It is a cycle of psalms, ...

("After childbirth thou didst remain a Virgin: O Mother of God, intercede for us") on a piece of paper, rolled it like a pill, and gave it to suffering patients.Alves, Lise
"Brazilians in need, physical or spiritual, seek St. Galvao's pills"
Catholic News Service. May 13, 2007.de Vries, Lloyd
"Pope Canonizes First Brazilian Saint"

CBS News CBS News is the news division of the American television and radio service CBS. CBS News television programs include the '' CBS Evening News'', '' CBS Mornings'', news magazine programs '' CBS News Sunday Morning'', '' 60 Minutes'', and '' 4 ...

. May 11, 2007 Once he gave the paper pill to a young woman in excruciating pain from kidney stones: the pain ceased immediately after she consumed it, and she expelled a large amount of renal calculus. On other occasions, he gave it to women suffering during difficult childbirths. After Galvão gave a paper pill to a man with such a suffering wife, the child was quickly born without further complications. The story of the miracle pill spread, and Galvão had to teach the Recollect Sisters to make them, which they still do nowadays. They are handed out for free to some 300 faithful who request them daily. BentoXVI-49-11052007

On October 25, 1998, Galvão became the first Brazilian-born person to be

beatified Beatification (from Latin ''beatus'', "blessed" and ''facere'', "to make”) is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a deceased person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their n ...

by the Vatican, having been declared ''

Venerable The Venerable (''venerabilis'' in Latin) is a style, a title, or an epithet which is used in some Western Christian churches, or it is a translation of similar terms for clerics in Eastern Orthodoxy and monastics in Buddhism. Christianity Cat ...

'' a year earlier, on March 8, 1997. On May 11, 2007, he became the first Brazilian-born person canonized by the Roman Catholic Church, during

's five-day visit to Brazil. The open-air ceremony, which lasted over two hours in the Campo de Marte Military Airport, near downtown

, drew 800,000 people, according to official estimates.Rother, Larry
"Amid Burst of Fervor, Pope Canonizes a Brazilian"
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

''. May 12, 2007. Galvão was the first saint canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in a ceremony held outside the

Vatican City Vatican City (), officially the Vatican City State ( it, Stato della Città del Vaticano; la, Status Civitatis Vaticanae),—' * german: Vatikanstadt, cf. '—' (in Austria: ') * pl, Miasto Watykańskie, cf. '—' * pt, Cidade do Vati ...

. His proclamation as a saint came after the Catholic Church accepted that two

miracle A miracle is an event that is inexplicable by natural or scientific lawsOne dictionary define"Miracle"as: "A surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divi ...

s had taken place. According to the Catholic Church, the cases of Sandra Grossi de Almeida and Daniella Cristina da Silva are miracles effected through the prayers of Galvão. After taking one of the paper pills, Almeida, who had a uterine malformation that should have made it impossible for her to carry a child for more than four months, gave birth to baby boy Enzo. Galvão's pills are also certified by the church with the healing, in 1990, of Daniella Cristina da Silva, a four-year-old girl suffering from what doctors considered incurable

hepatitis Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver tissue. Some people or animals with hepatitis have no symptoms, whereas others develop yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes ( jaundice), poor appetite, vomiting, tiredness, abdominal ...

. AFP
"The miracle pills of Friar Galvao, Brazil's soon to be saint"
. Sawfnews.com. May 6, 2007. Doctors, and some Catholic clergy, have dismissed the pills as placebos. The church recommends that only terminally ill patients take the pills.

References

External links

Official website

Official Frei Galvão House website

at Catholic Forum {{DEFAULTSORT:Galvao, Frei 1739 births 1822 deaths People from Guaratinguetá People of Colonial Brazil Brazilian Friars Minor Portuguese Roman Catholic saints 19th-century Brazilian Roman Catholic priests 18th-century Brazilian Roman Catholic priests Miracle workers Burials in São Paulo (state) Beatifications by Pope John Paul II Canonizations by Pope Benedict XVI Brazilian Roman Catholic saints 18th-century Christian saints 19th-century Christian saints Franciscan saints Venerated Catholics by Pope John Paul II