De noviças a freiras: as religiosas do convento franciscano de Vale de Pereiras (1730-1830)

Abstract

O nosso trabalho estuda o movimento de entradas no convento franciscano de Vale de Pereiras (Ponte de Lima) ao longo de um século, destacando o perfil social, o recrutamento geográfico das candidatas e os motivos que as levaram à vida religiosa. Daremos ainda particular atenção ao quotidiano feminino em clausura.

Na vila do Norte de Portugal existia apenas a Ordem franciscana com duas casas: uma na vila, embora extra-muros, para homens, e Vale de Pereiras, para mulheres, situada nos arrabaldes. O culto a São Francisco e a regra franciscana eram ainda praticados na Ordem Terceira, existente no centro urbano desde o século XVII, junto ao convento masculino.

A presença franciscana em Ponte de Lima é, por conseguinte, forte, não apenas por ser a única Ordem religiosa existente na vila, mas também pela sua abrangência.

O convento de Vale de Pereiras tinha as portas abertas desde finais da Idade Média e recebia as filhas da nobreza da vila e dos municípios próximos, tendo como base de recrutamento uma nobreza fundiária que encaminhava estrategicamente as filhas muito Jovens para a vida conventual, onde aprendiam a ser freiras.

Our work studies the pattern of entries Into the Franciscan convent of Vale de Perelras (Ponte de Lima) over a century, focusing on the social profile, the geographical recruitment of the applicants and the reasons that led them to a religious life. We will also pay particular attention to the women's day-to-day life in the convent.

In the Northern Portuguese town, it was only the Franciscan Order that had two houses: the first was for men and was located in the town, but outside the walls: the second- Vale Perelras- was for women and was situated in the outskirts. The St. Francis cult and the Franciscan rule were also practiced in the Third Order, located in the town centre from the 17th century, next to the male convent.

The Franciscan presence in Ponte de Lima was therefore strong, not only because it was the only religious Order in the town, but also because it was so extensive. The Vale de Perelras convent opened in the late Middle Ages and took In nobles' daughters from the town and neighborhood municipalities. Its main recruits came from the landowning nobility, who had a strategy of sending their very young daughters to the convent, where they learned to be nuns.