Mary Magdalene Chapel - Bom Jesus - Braga

The construction of these two chapels was decided during the meeting of July 14, 1841 and approved on July 30 of the same year.

The first chapel represents the cave where Mary Magdalene floated in ecstasy in a prison , hidden from the world. The image of the sinner stands on the hill, in a garden, in a cave, and looks at a choir of angels.

The inscription on this chapel does not correspond to the scene or to the Mary depicted there. It refers to a passage of Mary, the sister of Lazarus, while the scene depicted is Mary Magdalene.

On the hat of Saint Mary Magdalene, on the portico, the inscription is engraved: “MARIA OPTIMÉ PARTEM ELEGIT QUAE NON AUFERETUR AB EA”, translated: “Mary has indeed chosen the best part, which will not be taken away”.

On the wall next to the chapel is the first inscription: «ESTA : EGREIA: E CAPELA MA(n) / DOV FAZER: O PRETONOTAIRO / OF(m) JOÃ: DA GVARDA : DEAN(0) / OF: BRAGA: AND LAMEGVO: / OF: CO(n)SELHO: OF: ELREI : / COUNT PALATINE BY SVA D / EVACA(0) / ABD(ias): OF THE MONTH: OF: SEPTEMBER OF THE YEAR: OF: 1522».

Directly below this stone is another inscription: <<INDICATES THE EDITING OF THE 2. CHAPEL IN / 1522 WHICH WAS ABOLISHED IN / THE TIME OF D. RODRIGO DE / MOURA E TELLES IN 1725. / YEAR 1839».

Willem Vandenameele