May
31
/ 2018
Maria Adelaide was a Portuguese woman who lived and died during the 19th century. Although not officially recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church, she is popularly considered to be one by the people of Portugal. Hence, she may be regarded as a ‘folk saint’ or an ‘honorary saint of the people’. Whilst Maria Adelaide led a virtuous life on earth, it was only when her body was exhumed that a cult began to grow around her, as her corpse was found to have not been touched by bodily decay. Maria Adelaide’s Sickly Youth Maria Adelaide was born in Porto in 1835. She is said to have been born out of wedlock, and therefore grew up in a local
