Mães de joelhos, filhos de pé: o terço de Santa Mônica da comunidade de Nossa Senhora Aparecida, a religião, o "Momento Nosso” e a “Ajuda”

Abstract

The present study analyzed the ecclesial "movement" of the Rosary of Santa Monica attended only by women. It is located in the district Nossa Senhora Aparecida in the city of Santos Dumont, Minas Gerais. Through this research it was possible to understand that the Santa Monica Rosary acts motivated by two objectives associated with religion: "ajuda" and sociability. Devotion is the main motive that causes women to participate in the "movement," there is a permanent commitment to the saint. The "ajuda" was understood as a mobilization of women to the needs of others, generally for reasons of illness or financial problems. Sociability ("momentonosso") has two characteristics: it is marked by the gender ("homossociability") and is implied by the movement. "ajuda" and sociability have a dual relationship. Sociability is linked to the profane and the "ajuda" to the sacred. In short, the "movement" created a place for the woman outside the home environment, however, there was no disappearance of the worries with the family and the others. Moreover, outside the home they find a regulatory morality in their social interactions.