Maria Antonia  and Father Cícero Romão Batista

It was the month of March 1855, and my great-grandmother known as Maria Antônia was getting water from her neighbors at the well. There, it was the Trizidela neighborhood and the residence of my great-grandmother's parents, it was on the slopes of the top of the Sanharó hill, a place previously known for housing several indigenous tribes between the banks of the Itapecuru River.
 
Caxias is a municipality in the state of Maranhão, in the Mid-North region of Brazil. It is the fifth most populous city in the state, with a population of 166,159 inhabitants, according to IBGE data for 2021. Its area is 5,201,927 square kilometers (2021/IBGE), which makes it the eleventh largest municipality in Maranhão. It is crossed by the Itapecuru River and its tributaries.

It is one of the highest economic centers in the state thanks to its great industrial performance, and an important political, cultural and population center in the state of Maranhão.

Maria Antônia, as she passes a barbershop kiosk, carrying water. She was watched by a man who was getting his hair cut. Asking the barber, he replied that it was Zé Mourão's daughter, pointing his finger, indicating the house on the hill.

After the service was over, the man went to the address of the girl's parents' residence. Upon arriving home. He clapped his hands and asked.

-Is this Zé Mourão's house?

-It is yes. What do you want?

-Can I come in so we can talk?

 -But it's logical. Come in and sit on this leather stool. Tell me what you found interesting in this end of the world?

-I liked your daughter and I want to marry her.

Zé Mourão complements;

-Right. Well, my daughter Maria Antônia is his wife. And what is her grace?

- My name is Ferreira from the city of Uruburetama in the State of Ceará. I buy and sell gold. I travel a lot, and I rest at home for about ten days.

Faced with such present aberrations, Maria Antônia  never saw the man, with red hair, white complexion and blue eyes, as she never had any contact.

That same day, Ferreira rented a house near the residence of Maria Antônia's parents and began to live with it. After 01 (one) year of living together, Ferreira tried to make a trip to the State of Paraíba with return in 40 (forty) days.

It was the month of September, and many women from that neighborhood spoke at the Pilgrimage to the city of Juazeiro do Norte in the State of Ceará. Maria Antônia also manifested with the other women and they formed a group of pilgrims of 30 (thirty) women.

That day, the women of the Trizidela neighborhood, packed their bundles with clothes, cakes and perfumes, and crossed the river by canoe. Several animals crossed the Itapecuru River without causing any inconvenience with the luggage.

My great-grandmother owned two animals (donkeys), which she wanted to take on a trip, one with clothes and the other with groceries. On the appointed day, they crossed the Itapecuru River and headed for Juazeiro do Norte, in the state of Ceará.

With side roads, they arrived in the state of Piauí, close to a caatinga, they took a nap under several trees in groups of 10 (ten) women. Maria Antonia  tirelessly prayed the rosary with the passages of Jesus Christ in pain in the narrow street of Jerusalem. Other women sang songs from pilgrimages to São Francisco das Chagas.
 
Upon arriving in the State of Ceará, the joy was common, many pilgrims prayed and others sang. My great-grandmother, Maria Antônia, seeing the city of Juazeiro do Norte, a municipality in the state of Ceará. Located in the Metropolitan Region of Cariri, in the south of the state, 491 km from the capital, Fortaleza. Maria Antonia  shouted to the pilgrims.

-Hey, guys! Where are you going? Here is the land of our priest Cícero Romão Batista, Padim Ciço, ahead is the Church of São Francisco das Chagas, our protector, where we will praise.

She said to another pilgrim:

- Comadre Digé, let's go! Lower the donkey load. Let's choose a place to be well ventilated and ventilated. So we can get some sleep.

The following day, upon opening the Church of São Francisco das Chagas, all the pilgrims headed for the mass celebrated by Father Cícero. It didn't take long for Father Cícero to enter the Church. And when looking at the pomegranates coming from the city of Caxias, in the state of Maranhão, Father Cícero said he advised the following:

-Prayer is the best way, it is God's holiest road. Come here lady in the pink blouse.

When approaching Padre Cícero, Maria Antônia  said:

-My name is Maria Antônia Ferreira. Blessing my Father Cícero and protect me along with São Francisco das Chagas. Why God is our salvation.

-God bless you and God praise you in all your wanderings. San Francisco will keep the flames of salvation burning. My daughter, the more you pray, it's still not enough for you. For this I praise and consecrate you in the waters of San Francisco. Amen!

The other women, hearing the priest speak to Maria Antônia, said:

-How come? Maria Antônia  came from Caxias do Maranhão to the city of Juazeiro praying non-stop. And Father Cícero still says it's not enough.

The other pilgrims, accepting Father Cícero's lessons and advice, said nothing. And so, after the end of the celebration of São Francisco das Chagas, they went to the Princess of Sertão Maranhense.

Upon arriving in Caxias, State of Maranhão, Maria Antônia, upon entering her home, received a message from her husband Ferreira, despite warnings from the neighbors.

-Maria Antonia, do not enter your house. Her husband said he's going to kill you, later today.

Antonia Gonçala replied:

-I'll go in. The house is my only abode. It's where I live.

Time passes, and it was approximately twelve o'clock when the bully Ferreira arrived at her residence. He went to the kitchen and prepared dinner and watched his wife Maria Antônia  sleeping in the hammock. Ferreira, had put a dozen eggs to fry and eat. After dinner, Ferreira called his wife's name.

-Maria Antonia, wake up bitch! Wake up to die. Wake up, because I only like to shoot living beings. Wake up useless!

Maria Antonia woke up and said, pleading:

-For the love of God, have mercy on Jesus Christ. Have mercy at this time! Do not kill me! Father Cícero is his revolver and San Francisco is my protector!.

Very angry, the first shot fired missed. Acting cowardly, he gave the second, third, fourth and fifth. And no shot hit Maria Antonia  at close range.

Not knowing what to do, he said excitedly;

-You deflected all the shots of my revolver, but you will not escape my bloody dagger. I'm going to cut your throat with it down your throat.

When approaching with the dagger in his hands. She said:

- Praise me Father Cicero! San Francisco! Give me your cover! Amen!

And the dagger almost stabbing Maria Antonia's throat turned into a rose. And Ferreira said nervously:

-I will stop killing you, disgrace, Because your prayers are strong. I'm leaving, never to set foot here again. I'll dig up the money and gold cans. And I'm going far away.

Ferreira went to the backyard, collected all the gold and buried money, and packed the clothes and food in the horse's saddle and left, with nothing to say. It is known that Ferreira was a gold seller from Uruburetama in the State of Ceará.

My great-grandmother Maria Antônia  said to my grandmother Gonçala who is over 100 (one hundred) years old. That once, Mr. Ferreira's horse didn't want to cross a part of the side road, because of a shadow on the ground.

It was very windy that day, and the banana leaves cast shadows on the dirt road. With the night wind blowing, the banana leaves twisted and created mysterious images on the ground. He had made Ferreira's horse refuse to pass that spot. The horse snorting in fear of the images on the ground made Ferreira draw his dagger and killed the animal. Going home, the two of them on foot along the road with a huge weight of backpacks.