Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Introduction
- 1 A Land in Turmoil
- 2 The Rival Kings
- 3 Priests and Witches in Catholic Kongo
- 4 The Crisis in Faith and Force
- 5 Saint Anthony Arrives
- 6 The Saint and the Kings
- 7 Saint Anthony in Sin and Glory
- 8 Facing the Fire
- 9 The War for Peace
- Appendix: A Recovery of the “Salve Antoniana”
- Index
5 - Saint Anthony Arrives
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 August 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Introduction
- 1 A Land in Turmoil
- 2 The Rival Kings
- 3 Priests and Witches in Catholic Kongo
- 4 The Crisis in Faith and Force
- 5 Saint Anthony Arrives
- 6 The Saint and the Kings
- 7 Saint Anthony in Sin and Glory
- 8 Facing the Fire
- 9 The War for Peace
- Appendix: A Recovery of the “Salve Antoniana”
- Index
Summary
Early in 1703 dona beatriz, like her neighbors in the Mbidizi valley – both residents and the new colonists destined for restoring São Salvador – was in a state of expectation and concern. She was naturally most interested in the spiritual fervor which was developing in the valley. But big news was brewing. Soon the report circulated that a peasant woman from among the colonists in Pedro Kibenga's column had seen a vision of the Virgin Mary. In this vision, the Virgin told her that Jesus was angry with the Kongolese and that they must ask his mercy. To do this, it was necessary to say the Hail Mary three times, following it with three calls for mercy. Soon the movement caught on and thousands were following her ritual.
The idea of restoring Kongo and winning peace in the face of renewed large-scale war and continued smaller operations with their demands on the common people was now taking on religious dimensions. King Pedro had encouraged this before, with his vows about restoration connected with Saint James' Day and the involvement of the Capuchins in the peace process as mediators. Since the Concert of 1700 had been more directly under the influence of the Capuchin prefect and was aiming for the restoration of Kongo under Pedro IV, expectations were raised among the people about the king and religious elements.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Kongolese Saint AnthonyDona Beatriz Kimpa Vita and the Antonian Movement, 1684–1706, pp. 105 - 128Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1998