THE AZORES 



527 



the convent connected with this church. 

 No one can remain long in St. Michaels 

 without becoming acquainted with the 

 truly important part this image plays 

 in the religious life of the people — a 

 ' worship peculiar to the island of St. 

 Michaels. 



In the sixteenth century twenty-seven 

 nuns founded a convent in Caloura, a 

 small town in the southern part of the 

 island. Eighteen of these, fearing the 

 ravages of Moorish invaders, entered the 

 more securely protected convent in Villa 

 Franca, the old capital, while the less 

 timid decided to remain at Caloura. 



Two noblemen of that town, feeling 

 compassion for the faithful nine who re- 

 fused to leave, undertook to raise suffi- 

 cient money to build a convent in Ponta 

 Delgada. 



Two of the nuns were sent to Rome 

 to make the necessary arrangements with 

 the Pope. They brought back not only 

 the desired permission to found a new 

 convent, but also the image of Ecce 

 Homo, or Santo Christo, which was 

 placed in the new convent upon its com- 

 pletion, in i 541. 



Years ago the Portuguese Government 

 abolished all convents and prohibited 

 women from taking the vow. But the 

 Convent of Esperanga was placed in the 

 hands of a religious society and allowed 

 to remain open under the auspices of an 

 abbess. Today about forty women live 

 there, performing their religious duties, 

 but free from the usual vow and strict 

 rule. 



Many of the inmates of Esperanga 

 earn their living by making confection- 

 eries that have become famous in the 

 island. 



two famous Festivals 



The procession of Santo Christo takes 

 place on the fifth Sunday after Easter. 

 In the afternoon of the day before, the 

 image is taken out of the convent, where 

 it remains all year. It is carried into the 

 adjoining church, which is kept open all 

 night for the 15,000 people who come 

 from far and near, many of them from 

 other islands, to worship and witness the 

 great procession of the year. The pil- 

 grims walk long distances, and make 

 their beds in the park in front of the 



church or sleep in the vestibule itself. 

 Nor do the faithful worshipers in the 

 United States forget their beloved im- 

 age. Generous contributions arrive from 

 America, and, in remembrance of absent 

 friends, the American flag is produced 

 in the form of pyrotechnical displays in 

 the Park of San Francisco. 



Santo Christo is often spoken of by 

 the islanders as being "rico," * or rich, 

 which is certainly true ; it is impossible 

 to estimate his wealth ; but the costly 

 jewelry and precious stones that have 

 been offered at his shrine and with which 

 he is adorned represent a value of thou- 

 sands of dollars. 



The second of the great religious fes- 

 tivals is the Imperio do Espirito Santo, or 

 Holy Ghost, which extends over a period 

 of ten or more weeks, from Easter Sun- 

 day until Saint Peter's Day. The season 

 is marked by a series of processions, but 

 the principal and most interesting feature 

 is the poor people. On the last Sunday 

 mordomos, or chiefs, whose duty it is to 

 collect money and other gifts, are selected 

 for the ensuing year. 



A SEASON OF CHARITY 



Generous quantities of flour, wheat, 

 beans, and cattle are frequently received 

 from those whose fortunes enable them 

 to bestow freely. The money is used to 

 purchase wine and food. 



During the Espirito Santo holidays the 

 wheat and flour are converted into bread, 

 the cattle are killed, and everything is 

 distributed among the poor. The resi- 

 dents of certain streets form so-called 

 imperios, or unions, each one electing its 

 mordomo and distributing the collected 

 gifts among its members. The food is 

 placed in carts drawn by oxen, and both 

 carts and animals are decorated with gar- 

 lands and rosettes of bright flowers. 



The festivities of Santo Christo and 

 Espirito Santo are eventful days for the 

 inhabitants of the rural districts, who 

 think little of pleasure during the year. 

 The husband or father leaves his home 

 at daybreak to till the soil, while the fe- 

 male members of the family attend to 

 their domestic duties, carry their corn to 



* This term is used in a most respectful man- 

 ner by the Azoreans. 



