Novena da Bênção de São José: da tipologia às nova perspectivas do catolicismo

Abstract

This study investigates the Novena as a Christian devotional praxis, having as its empirical object the Novena of the Blessing of Saint Joseph, a pastoral-evangelizing initiative started in 1999 at the São José Sanctuary, in Manaus (AM). Over the years, this practice has become a significant religious phenomenon, attracting a large number of believers monthly. The research seeks to deepen the typology of Catholicism present in the Novena, based on anthropological and sociological perspectives on Catholicism, in order to discern new ecclesiological and pastoral implications for the Brazilian context. The “Blessing Novena” takes place monthly on the 19th, at different times throughout the day, in line with the memory of Saint Joseph. Through inspiration from the method of comprehensive sociology, proposed by Weber (1999), the study analyzes the historicity and multiple characteristics of this phenomenon, considering its relationship with the contemporary challenges and paradigms of religious manifestations in Brazilian Catholicism, especially in the context of popular piety.