Blessed Nunu Day in Portugal
Description:
He once had a secular name, Alvarez Pereira, and was a brilliant Portuguese general who played a decisive role in resolving the turmoil of the late fourteenth century and asserting Portugal's independence from Castile. During his lifetime, he received the nickname “Saint Constable”.
Álvares Pereira was born on June 24, 1360 in the village of Cernasi in central Portugal, near Lisbon, and was the illegitimate son of Álvaro Gonçalves Pereira, rector of the Hospitaller Order. At the age of 13 he entered the cavalry armada, guarded Don Juan, Master of the Avis Order and befriended him, and when the master began to claim the throne, he was one of the first to support him and repeatedly proved his loyalty.
One of the most famous stories about Alvarez Pereira’s courage and military savvy is this:
During the famous blockade of Lisbon by the Castilians, the commander of the Portuguese forces of Pereira once discovered 250 enemy soldiers heading for shore in boats. He gathered 60 soldiers and went to meet them. He, along with several knights, attacked the enemy, but the others, seized by fear, remained behind.
The daredevil's horse was injured and fell on his leg, pinning down the rider trapped. Seeing the Portuguese commander in such a position, the Castilians were encouraged and made a strong counterattack. But when the discouraged Portuguese soldiers saw that their leader, even in this predicament, continued to attack the Castilians from the ground, they were filled with courage and began to fight fiercely. Although the number of enemies was four times greater, the Portuguese put them to flight and destroyed almost all of them.
For his courage and loyalty he received many titles and regalia from Don Juan, who became King of Portugal. However, after the death of his wife, Pereira leaves the secular life and goes into monasticism, founding the monastery of the Mother of God of Karma in Lisbon and taking the name Nuna St. Mary. (Nuno de Santa Maria) He lived there until his death in 1431.
The former constable became famous for his meekness, diligence in prayers and penances and amazing devotion to the Mother of God. Nunu became as great a monk as he was a great warrior. In his monastery was a priest who before joining the order served as a soldier under the command of Nunu. When this priest passed by, Nunu always kissed the edges of his clothes as a sign of reverence.
In the last year of his life, King John I came to visit him and hug him for the last time. The king cried as he considered Nuna his closest friend, who had enthroned him and founded the royal house of Avish.
Alvares Pereira died peacefully at the Monastery of Karma in Lisbon on 1 November 1431. When he felt that the last hour had come, he asked to read the Passion of the Lord from the Gospel of John. He died in the words “Ecce Mater Tua” (Behold, your mother!) spoken by the Lord on the cross.
Nunu became famous for his worship of the Mother of God, to spread the cult of which in Portugal he put so much effort. Nunu is revered by the Portuguese as a saint from the fifteenth century and as one of the most successful Portuguese generals in history. Nounu was canonized by Rome in 1918.