History of the Group

The devotion to Sister Benigna, grew through prayers, prayers that herself, while still alive, were a big encourager to her friends. She prayed a lot for the Holy Pope, for the clergy, and mainly for her congregation. Always recommending the reading of the Holy Bible. After her passing, people continued to ask for her intercession trough the prayers she taught.

Mrs. Maria do Carmo Mariano started, beside her grave, at Bonfim Cemetery, in Belo Horizonte, the Novena of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii and the Rosary, as taught by Sister Benigna. The prayer started at first with only three people and soon it started to be followed by more people, everytime the prayer was done. Afterwards, the holy mass celebration started to be done, before the Novena. There, in an open space, under the sun or rain, cold or warmth, it was prayed until January 23rd of 2012. From January 30th of 2012 on, the Mass and the Novena started to be done at the Sanctuary Our Lady of Conception of the Poor, due to the occasion of Opening of the Process of Beatification and the transfer of The Relics, the prayers were transferred to this new location, attending the decree of Dom Walmor Oliveira de Azevedo, Metropolitan Archbishop of BH, maintaining the same day and time. For 38 years, it has been happening every Mondays, it never ceased to be prayed.

Throughout the 80’s decade, at Mrs Maria do Carmo’s home, the devotees started to gather also on Saturdays, to pray the Rosary. At her place, it was great the participation of the devotees, and after some time, the celebration of the Holy Mass also started to happen. The group adopted the name of Our Lady of the Mystic Rose, because her image always accompanied the group, at all times. After some time, it was initiated the Prayer of Twenty Rosaries, prayed every first Saturday of each month. Firstly, at the Bom Pastor nursery home, and then, in the Cristo Rei Chapel, both in Belo Horizonte. Because of the transfer of the Relics, all prayers that happened on Saturday were transferred to the Novitiate of Our Lady of Pity (BH). Then, after the transfer of the Relics to the São Luiz Chapel, in Caeté, the prayers were transferred to this new location, near her Memorial, as well.

The Our Lady of Mystic Rose Group has done many trips of prayers, mainly to Aparecida do Norte (SP), in order to fortify the faith, the devotion to Our Lady and to Sister Benigna, as well as other walks of prayers, and Sieges of Jericó.

It grew, each time, the devotion to Sister Benigna. In 2016, the Holy Masses of thanksgiving for the life and sanctity started to happen, remembering the date she was born (16/08), as well as her passing (16/10). Due to the transformations provided to the people who attended the Masses and their families, they continued to be celebrated on the 16th of every month, in Parishes of Belo Horizonte, and in our cities, including the ones she lived in. In 2018, due to the invitation of the Parish Priests, new moments of devotion started to happen: at the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, at São Cristovão Church and in the Cristo Rei Tent, where is being built the Cristo Rei Metropolitan Cathedral. Sister Benigna had in her heart the joy of living to serve God. She liked music very much and, besides singing, she played several instruments. In May of 2016, the Sister Benigna Choir was formed, with the purpose of bringing people to faith and prayer, through the music, following the example of Sister Benigna. Under the regency of the Maestro Edson Doliveira, the rehearsals happen every Mondays, at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of The Conception of The Poor, in Belo Horizonte.