Marrazes: Where everything happens

Marrazes is a very peculiar parish, being the largest in the city of Leiria, located on the
Martingil hill and bordered by the river Lis, about two kilometres away from the city’s
headquarters. Due to its proximity to the city of Leiria, Marrazes is characterized by an
urban and a rural area. Its patron saint is Santiago, celebrated annually at the end of
July.

In this peddy-paper we challenge you to get to know a little about our origins and
folklores, to understand why everything happens here.

Follow the clues and discover a little more about our parish and country.

1. 1st Story of the origin of Marrazes

The first origin story of Marrazes is more of a legend than an explanation of its
foundation. Some inhabitants believe that the name "Marrazes"
derives from the "marras" of the boats. Yes, boats! The
ancients believe that when Marrazes was founded,
located about 12 km from the coast, it was submerged
by the sea and that in the village of Marinheiros, which
today belongs to the parish of Marrazes, lived the
sailors who caught fish in Marrazes and their women
prayed to Nossa Senhora do Livramento, patroness saint of the
village, to save their husbands from storms on the high seas.
This legend falls apart when doing a slight historical analysis.
The figure of Our Lady only appeared with the Virgin Mary 2000
years ago a nd the cult associated with her appeared even later, approximately
in the 9th century, because before that the Catholic Church did not practice the
cult of the mother of Christ. 2000 years ago, it was impossible to have a sea
where today it is 12km away, although there were found fossils and traces that
one day, in this place, there was a sea.
Head to the next post and discover a second story of the origin of Marrazes,
but first make a paper boat.
2. 2nd story of the origin of Marrazes
The second story related to the foundation of this parish, is the one that makes
the most sense, going back to the Middle Ages, to the date when D. Afonso
Henriques conquered Leiria from the Arabs and built the famous castle, today
a landmark of the city. For a long time Leiria fell into the hands of the Moors
and was reconquered, but when the city was definitely in Portuguese hands,
the Muslims who lived here had only three alternatives: flee, stay and be killed
or stay and convert to Christianity. Those who opted for the third one settled
in the surroundings of the city, in Cortes, in Pousos, in Barosa and in Marrazes.
However, and according to what is said, some of the inhabitants of Marrazes
continued to practice Islam in secret, while pretending to be devout Christians
in their day-to-day lives. for this reason, the inhabitants of this place began to
be called "marroazes" and "marranos", which in old Portuguese means
"stubborn" and "pigs", and the contraction of these two words is at
the origin of the name.
What do you think is the most believable story?

3. The tale of the snake

There is a legend, told from generation to generation, which says that there was
a snake on Mount Martingil that flew from the
castle of Leiria to the mountain, making this trip
several times a day. That's why the coat of arms of
the village has a snake and the castle of Leiria.
Like the snake, we invite you to fly from the castle of
Leiria to Mount Martingil…
4. Portuguese food
Portugal has a lot of traditional foods that are delicious. From savory to sultry,
there are a lot of foods in our traditional cuisine. Our traditional meats include
young goat, lamb, porc, piglet. As we are near the sea, we also use fish and
seafood. We have many dishes with cod and we love a
good sardine. For desserts, we have many conventual
sweets. These sweets were created in our convents by the
nuns who had a lot of egg yolks left since they used the
egg whites to iron their clothes. So, these sweets are
mainly made of egg yolks and sugar making them hard
to resist.
Usually in most Portuguese’s homes there is one food
that cannot be missing: bread! We have many types of
bread (Northern bread is very different from the bread
we eat in the south) and love to eat it for breakfast, in
between meals or as a side on a main course. As
you can imagine, bread has a very important place
in our diet. As you know, bread has been consumed for
many years. So many that it was even used in the Old Testament, We
invite you to reflect a little bit about one of these passages in the next
point.
But first, please share with us one traditional dish from your country and tell
us its main ingredients.
5. “Man shall not live on bread alone, but by
every word that proceeds out of the mouth of
God.” - Matthew 4:4
The verse means that the Word of God is the fundamental sustenance that man
needs. The sustaining power of all life is not a piece of bread; but it is the word
that proceeds from the mouth of God. Feeding on the Word is more essential to
life than eating our daily bread.
The statement “man shall not live by bread alone” is mentioned first in the Bible
in the Old Testament. It forms part of the exhortation to the Israelites in the
desert; they had to keep in remembrance the Lord's blessings during the
pilgrimage (Deuteronomy 8:3).
Later, in the New Testament, the Lord Jesus also quotes this exhortation when
answering Satan during the temptation in the desert (Matthew 4:4).
Share the reflection on this verse:
• Is the word of God, creator and sustainer of all things, the genuine
source of life's sustenance?
• Man may have an abundance of bread, but is that what really
guarantees his existence?
6. Saint Elizabeth of Portugal
Portugal has many legends. This next one is about Saint Elizabeth:

Lady Elizabeth was known for helping people in need, without her husband, the
King D. Dinis, knowing. She often gave coins, food and clothes to the poor.

However, on a cold morning of January, someone told the King that Lady
Elizabeth was getting ready to leave to help those in need. D. Dinis went after
the Queen in order to “catch her in the act”. When he saw her, he noticed
that she had bread hidden in her lap. So, he asked:

- What do you hide? New handouts?

To what the Queen replied:

- Just roses to decorate the monastery, my Lord.

However, D. Dinis persisted:

- Roses? In January? Do you dare lie to your King?

But D. Isabel did not change her story, the persisted:

- You are wrong, my Lord. They are roses.

Then, she opened her arms, letting go of her dress, and several roses
fell to her feet.

All the people witnessed this moment, believing that God interceded for the
Queen Saint Isabel, in order to perform a miracle: turning bread into roses.

This story was told from mouth to mouth for many years, been put into writing
only 200 years after the facts.
This story is well known among Portuguese people as it shows God intervening
to help those in need. Queen Elizabeth was a kind soul, helping out as much as
she could those who needed it. She is worshiped as a Saint and was canonized
in 1665 by Pope Urbano VIII. Saint Elizabeth of Portugal was declared
patroness of Portugal, being invoked by Portuguese people as the “saint
queen of concord and peace”.

We invite you to ponder on the following questions:

We live in a world that is never at peace. God gave us a beautiful

world with everything we need and instead of enjoying it, we fight with
each other.
What have I learnt from history? What do I do to change the world?
How can I change the world?

“Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return” - We

are all humans, we are all the same.
Do I help those in need, as much as I can? What can I do
to change?

We often think helping others is about giving. But sometimes a smile and a
kind word can make a big difference in someone’s day. With this in mind, take
a card and draw a rose on one side. On the other side, write a kind message
and sign your name. Throughout the day, exchange this card with someone
you don’t know.
7. Tale of the Crows
Let’s go back to Portugal legends! Now we want to tell you one about Leiria:

Legend has it that back when King Afonso I ruled over Portugal, Leiria Castle was
highly coveted by invaders thanks to its strategic location.

One day, the King was caught off-guard by a regiment of Spanish soldiers and
ordered his men to surround the castle.

Outnumbered by enemy troops, the Portuguese soldiers

became discouraged.

Just then, a crow landed on a pine branch right above the

frightened army, flapping its wings and croaking, getting
louder and louder as the battle broke out.

This was so unusual that the soldiers saw

it as a good omen, building up the
courage they needed to emerge
victorious.

It is in memory of this glorious feat that the two black crows

were inscribed onto the coat of arms of the city of Leiria.

In honour of the crow, make one using origami. This crow is special because it
has the colours of WYD2023.

You can use YouTube (https://youtu.be/dWCQVsQ2nHg).

Now that your group has a crow to accompany and give you courage, go to the
next point.
8. The Good Samaritan
Jesus also liked to tell stories, the Parable of the Good Samaritan is one of them.

“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked,
“what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How
do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your
neighbour as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and
you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my
neighbour?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho,
when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went
away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and
when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came
to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he travelled,
came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He
went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put
the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The
next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after
him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense
you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the
man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The
one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Lk 10:25-37

To reflect:

• With whom do I identify myself? With those who pass by or with the
Samaritan?
• Do I live without concern for others, especially the weakest, or do I try
to be attentive to their needs?
• Have you experienced being cared for by someone?
• How can I become a Good Samaritan? What situations have I
encountered that need my intervention
9. Portuguese culture: a great Poet
We have already told you some legends of our Earth, now we want to tell you about
the story of one of the best-known Portuguese poets: Luis de Camões. Camões, as he
became known, wrote the greatest poetic monument of the Portuguese language: Os
Lusíadas. In this work, the poet tells the story of Portugal, from the great navigations
to the heroism of the Portuguese people. The poet was born in Lisbon but lived for
some years in Macao. Legend has it that when he was returning to Portugal, the boat
he was sailing in sank. The women boarded a barge and the men swam to safety.
Camões, with his arm in the air, holding Os Lusíadas, swam to shore, managing to save
his precious manuscript.

Read one of the best-known sonnets from this great work:

Love is a fire that burns unseen . . .

Love is a fire that burns unseen,
a wound that aches yet isn’t felt,
an always discontent contentment,
a pain that rages without hurting,

a longing for nothing but to long,

a loneliness in the midst of people,
a never feeling pleased when pleased,
a passion that gains when lost in thought.

It’s being enslaved of your own free will;

it’s counting your defeat a victory;
it’s staying loyal to your killer.

But if it’s so self-contradictory,

how can Love, when Love chooses,
bring human hearts into sympathy?

Luís Vaz de Camões

And you? Do you have this “love that burns unseen” for Jesus?
10. Portuguese culture: Fado and saudade
We want to give you a taste of Portugal's musical culture. In Portugal we have
several typical Portuguese songs such as the "canto alentejano" or the "rancho".
We have music for dancing: the "musica pimba", music traditionally sung at
village festivals. But Portugal is known for
its Fado, which was considered Cultural
and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by
UNESCO in 2011. Fado is usually sung by
just one person, accompanied by a
classical guitar (viola) and a Portuguese
guitar. The songs translate the emotions
of the Portuguese people. They are
melancholic songs that address
“saudade”. “Saudade” is a
unique Portuguese expression,
difficult to translate into other
languages. “Saudade” describes
the mixture of the feelings of loss,
lack, distance and love. “Saudade”
is a typical Portuguese feeling, it is a feeling
of nostalgia caused by the absence of something or someone, a place or the
desire to repeat experiences. We hope you feel “saudade” of the parish of
Marrazes and the days you spent in Portugal.

We invite to search the playlist “JMJ - Marrazes Parish” on Spotify to listen to

some Portuguese music (traditional and contemporary).
11. We are the living stones of the temple of
the Lord
“As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by humans but chosen by God and
precious to him - you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be
a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 2, 4-5

Stones can be used for evil and for good. On one hand, we can pick up a stone and
throw it to someone to hurt or even kill. We can use the stone to build walls that keep
us apart, preventing us from helping others and being helped. Tones can make us
stumble and can even be obstacles in our path, keeping us from moving forward. On
the other hand, we can use the same stones for good: instead of building walls that
separate us, we can build strong walls of a family home, of a school or of a house for
the whole community; instead of hurting each other, we can help other reach higher;
instead of being obstacles in our way, the stones can be used to build a new path of
love.

Saint Peter says Jesus is the living Stone that was rejected and become a
precious cornerstone. The Church was built on Jesus. Through his
redemptive work, Jesus gives us life and makes us living stones: strong and
sturdy stones, able to withstand difficulties, to protect and support others,
to create paths of love towards our brothers and sisters.

• Am I a living stone who hurts others or who helps and strengthens them?
• Am I a living stone that hinders the way or am I a living stone that builds a
path?
• Am I a living stone that builds a wall that distances the other or am I a living
stone that builds community?

As a living stone, we invite you to leave a "mark of your stone". Choose a colour and
leave your fingerprint on one of the stones of the temple of the Lord.
12. Make a prayer
You have reached the final point of this peddy-paper. We hope you have learnt
a little bit about Marrazes and Leiria and that our little reflections have helped
you to think and have inspired you to go out and make a change.

On this last point, we have a challenge for you: Join as a group and build your
prayer using Pope Francis’ Five Finger Prayer. Follow these steps and make your
prayer;

1.) The thumb is closest finger to you. So, start praying for
those who are closest to you. They are the persons easiest
to remember. To pray for our dear ones is a "Sweet
Obligation."

2.) The next finger is the index. Pray for those who teach you,
instruct you and heal you. They need the support
and wisdom to show direction to others. Always
keep them in your prayers.

3.) The following finger is the tallest. It reminds

us of our leaders, the governors and those who
have authority. They need God's guidance.

4.) The fourth finger is the ring finger. Even though it may surprise you, it is our
weakest finger. It should remind us to pray for the weakest, the sick or those
plagued by problems. They need your prayers.

5.) And finally, we have our smallest finger, the smallest of all. Your pinkie should
remind you to pray for yourself. When you are done praying for the other four
groups, you will be able to see your own needs but in the proper perspective,
and also you will be able to pray for your own needs in a better way.