Nas vezes da Misericórdia: as irmandades de São Miguel e Almas no desenvolvimento das práticas caritativas na Capitania de Minas Gerais no Brasil Colonial (1712-1816)

Abstract

In the captaincy of Minas Gerais during the Colonial period, it was common for the brotherhoods of Saint Michel and Souls to carry out some of the usual functions of assistance to the Holy Houses of Mercy in Portugal, the portuguese overseas empire and other parts of the colony. In this way, we intend to analyze the relations between these two institutions and their role in mining society, where the interaction of economic, religious and racial factors contributed to a social structure of great complexity and flexibility. In order to do this, we will examine the administrative structure and internal dynamics of these confraternities, such as the admission criteria, the social profile of the members, the administration of charitable works, the functions performed by officers of the bureau, the nature of the conflicts that have been unfolding over of time, as well as seek to understand the way in which the faithful brothers lived their religiosity within these congregations.