Fé e cultura barroca sob o manto mercedário : hierarquias, devoções e sociabilidade a partir da Irmandade de Nossa Senhora das Mercês de Mariana

Abstract

This work proposes an analysis of the Irmandade de Nossa Senhora das Mercês, as a social and devotional institution, between the social context of Mariana and the cultural baroque at 18th century on Minas Gerais. By first, we seek the understanding of the social context where the brotherhood inserts itself, with the discussion of wide questions, such as development of identities, ranking and sociabilities on brotherhoods environment, where diferent groups seek their own spaces and, for that, developed multiple possibilities of social relationships. Furthermore, the charity and concerns about the release of captives were our focus of analysis as well. On a second moment, we promoted an analysis about the religiosity and the formation of an baroque culture on the colonial society of Minas Gerais, since the brotherhoods consecrated themselves by the care function on diseases and death, highlighting the ―economy of souls‖ and the exteriorization of faith. Developing works for ―living well‖ and ―dying well‖, they had as main duty to help the zealous brothers who needed back up at any moment. As socialization spaces, they allowed the cultural interaction and redefinition by performing rites of the the religious experience. Therefore, we seek as well the comprehend religious perceptions of the faithful members, and how their fears and beliefs guided their actions on the daily life.