Who was Sister Dulce?

Sister Dulce was a nun who dedicated her entire life to the sick and needy. It was thanks to her love and effort that she initiated social works that to this day benefit thousands of people throughout the state of Bahia. In addition, after her death in March 1992, there were several reports of miracles involving the Blessed.

However, only two miracles were recognized and proven by the Catholic Church. Nevertheless, it was enough for Sister Dulce to be beatified and later canonized by Pope Benedict XVI and titled as Saint Dulce of the Poor.

This article will delve into some of the various extra-official and official miracles. In addition to showing his trajectory marked by faith, charity and unconditional love for others. To know a little more of his story, continue reading.

History of Sister Dulce

Maria Rita, who would later become Sister Dulce, had her life dedicated to the poorest and sickest. Even with countless difficulties, the nun never gave up caring for those most in need. And this made her known throughout the state of Bahia, where she was born and lived until her death.

Still in life, she gained notoriety throughout Brazil and the world. Know below, the origin and the entire trajectory of Sister Dulce, affectionately called "The good Angel of Bahia" by the people of Bahia. See below.

Origin of Sister Dulce

On May 26, 1914, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, Maria Rita de Souza Lopes Pontes, who later became known as Sister Dulce, was born. From a middle-class family, she and her siblings were raised by her parents, Augusto Lopes Pontes and Dulce Maria de Souza Brito Lopes Pontes.

Maria Rita, had a happy and cheerful childhood, she loved to play, mainly playing ball and she was a faithful supporter of the Esporte Clube Ypiranga soccer club, team formed by workers. In 1921, when she was 7 years old, her mother died and she and her brothers started to be raised only by her father.

The vocation of Sister Dulce

From a very young age, Maria Rita always showed herself generous and willing to help the poorest. During her adolescence, she began to care for the sick and those who lived on the streets. Her house, in Nazareth, in the centre of the capital, became known as The Gatehouse of St Francis.

In that same year, Maria Rita entered the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God, in the state of Sergipe. The following year, she made her vows to become a nun and in honor of her mother, she was called Sister Dulce.

Mission of Sister Dulce

Sister Dulce had as her life mission to help the poorest and sickest people. Although she had taught at the Congregation's school in Bahia, she decided in 1935 to start her social work in the poor community of Alagados, a very precarious place made of stilts in the neighbourhood of Itapagipe, on the shores of All Saints Bay.

The following year, Sister Dulce founded the União Operária de São Francisco, the first Catholic workers' organization in the state, which gave rise to the Bahia Workers' Circle. In order to maintain the space, the nun received donations in addition to what she collected from the cinemas São Caetano, Roma and Plataforma.

Help for the sick

To shelter the sick on the streets, Sister Dulce invaded houses, from where she was expelled several times. It was only in 1949, that the nun had the consent to install about 70 patients in the chicken coop that belonged to the Santo Antonio Convent, of which she was part. Since then, the structure only grew and became the largest hospital in Bahia.

Expansion and Recognition

To expand her works, Sister Dulce asked for donations from businessmen and politicians of the state. Thus, in 1959, on the site of the chicken coop, she inaugurated the Sister Dulce Association of Works and later built the Santo Antonio Hostel, which years later gave way to the hospital that receives the same name.

In 1980, on his first visit to Brazil, Pope John Paul II met the nun and encouraged her not to give up her work. In 1988, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by the then president of Brazil, José Sarney.

Sister Dulce's second meeting with the Pope

During his second visit to Brazil, in October 1991, Pope John Paul II surprised Sister Dulce in the convent of Santo Antonio. Already very ill and weakened, she received him for what would be their last meeting.

Devotion to Sister Dulce

On March 13, 1992, Sister Dulce died at the age of 77. Due to her devotion and dedication to the poor and sick that she cared for for more than 5 decades, the Bahian nun was already considered a saint by her people and called "The good angel of Bahia".

To honor her, a crowd attended her wake at the church of Our Lady of Conception of Praia in Bahia. On March 22, 2011, she was beatified by the priest sent from Rome, Dom Geraldo Majella Agnelo. Only on October 13, 2019, was she canonized by Pope Benedict XVI.

Official Miracles of Sister Dulce

For the Vatican, only two miracles are proven and attributed to Sister Dulce. For, to be considered a recognized grace, the Catholic Church takes into consideration if the appeal was reached quickly and completely, besides its duration and if it is preternatural, that is, something that cannot be explained by science.

In addition, the reports go through a detailed expertise through the following steps: medical expertise, theological scholars and consensus among the cardinals who give their final approval that proves the authenticity of the miracle. Meet below, the miracles recognized by Sister Dulce.

José Mauricio Moreira

When he was 23, José Mauricio Moreira discovered glaucoma, a disease that gradually deteriorates the optic nerves. With this, he began to take courses and training, to live with impending blindness, which happened years later. Fourteen years later, without being able to see, Mauricio suffered pain due to a viral conjunctivitis.

It was this moment that made him ask Sister Dulce, to whom he and his entire family had always been devoted, to relieve his pain. Convinced that he would never see again, Mauricio placed the image of the nun over his eyes and the next morning, in addition to being cured of pinkeye, he could see again.

What most called the attention of doctors, was that there had been recent tests that found the inability to see again. Mauricio's optic nerves are still deteriorated, however, his vision is perfect.

Cláudia Cristina dos Santos

In 2001, Cláudia Cristina dos Santos, pregnant with her second child, gave birth at the São José Maternity in the countryside of Sergipe. After the birth of the baby, complications occurred that made her undergo three surgeries to contain the heavy bleeding, besides removing the uterus. Even with these procedures, there was no success.

After the doctors gave up hope, the family was advised to call a priest for extreme unction. However, when Father José Almí arrived, he prayed to Sister Dulce to cure Cláudia. Then a miracle happened quickly the bleeding stopped and she recovered her health.

Extra-official miracles of Sister Dulce

According to OSID (Obras Sociais Irmã Dulce), in the archives of the Memorial of Sister Dulce, there are more than 13 thousand accounts of graces received by the nun. The first testimony arrived soon after her death in 1992. However, even without the official recognition of the Vatican, these miracles are also attributed to the saint.

In this topic, we separate some miracles that are considered as "unofficial" in which there was the intercession of Sister Dulce. Check below.

Milena and Eulalia

Milena Vasconcelos, pregnant with her only son, had a quiet pregnancy and the birth occurred uneventfully. However, still recovering from cesarean section, in the hospital, hours later, Milena had complications and due to heavy bleeding needed to go to the ICU. Doctors did everything possible to contain the bleeding, but were unsuccessful.

Her mother, Eulália Garrido, was told that there was nothing more that could be done and that her daughter would not live much longer. Eulália took a Sister Dulce figurine that Milena had in her purse and put it under her pillow and said that the saint would intercede for her. A short time later, the hemorrhaging was stopped and Milena and her son are well.

Mauro Feitosa Filho

At the age of 13, Mauro Feitosa Filho, was diagnosed with a brain tumor, but it was not known if it was malignant. However, because of its size and because it had spread, surgery could cause a lot of damage to the brain, and it could not be completely removed. His parents took him to São Paulo, where the procedure would take place.

However, with scarlet fever, a rare infectious disease, Mauro had to recover for surgery. During this period, an acquaintance of the family, who also lives in Fortaleza, introduced Sister Dulce to the family, who, until then, did not know her. The boy's parents began to pray for the saint and about ten days later the surgery was scheduled.

The estimated time for the operation was about 19 hours, but the doctors were surprised when they realized that the tumor was small and loose inside Mauro's head. The surgery lasted three hours and today, at 32 years of age, he is well and to honor the saint, his daughter was named Dulce.

Danilo Guimarães

Due to diabetes, Danilo Guimarães, who was 56 years old at the time, had to be hospitalized for a foot infection that quickly spread to his body, causing him to fall into a coma. Doctors told family members that Danilo would not have long to live.

The arrangements for the funeral were made. However, his daughter Danielle remembered a story about Sister Dulce. Skeptical, she and her family prayed to the saint. To her surprise, the next day, her father came out of the coma and was already talking. Danilo survived for another 4 years, but he died of a heart attack.

Day and Prayer of Sister Dulce

Sister Dulce, was loved and adored by all of Bahia, and later, by the entire country. To consecrate her life of devotion and abnegation to those who needed it most, a date was created that celebrates her work and trajectory, as well as a prayer for those who wish her to intercede in a moment of difficulty. See below.

Sister Dulce's Day

On August 13, 1933, Sister Dulce began her religious life in the convent of São Cristóvão, Sergipe, and it is for this reason that the date August 13 was chosen to celebrate her life and work, because it was thanks to her altruism and empathy for the thousands of poor and sick people that she became Saint Dulce of the Poor.

Prayer to Sister Dulce

Known as Saint Dulce of the Poor, Sister Dulce has countless unofficial miracles and only two are recognized through her intercession. However, she is prayed for by those who feel excluded and who are in vulnerable conditions. Below is her complete prayer:

Lord our God, remembering your Servant Dulce Lopes Pontes, burning with love for you and her brothers and sisters, we thank you for her service on behalf of the poor and the excluded. Renew us in faith and charity, and grant that, following her example, we may live communion in simplicity and humility, guided by the sweetness of the Spirit of Christ, blessed for ever and ever. Amen".

What is the legacy left by Sister Dulce?

Sister Dulce left a beautiful legacy, because all her work was and always will be to help those most in need. With courage and determination, she went in search of support to build structures that could give shelter to the needy and care for sick people who could not afford to pay for their treatment.

Her love and devotion for the most vulnerable and excluded has made her someone who is admired throughout the country. Over time, her project has expanded and thanks to her efforts, today the Santo Antonio Hospital complex, which began in a chicken coop, has become the largest in the state of Bahia, serving around 3.5 million people a year for free.

Moreover, Sister Dulce, 27 years after her death, was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI, after it was proven his intercession for those who clamored for healing of his illness. Therefore, it is undeniable the importance of Saint Dulce of the Poor, not only for the people of Bahia, but for all Brazil.