Juazeiro sem Padre Cícero: uma cidade que não se esqueceu (1934-1969)

Abstract

The central objective of this study is to investigate, from the vestiges of memory, the experiences and expectations about the fate of the city of Juazeiro do Norte after the disappearance of its founder, Father Cícero, in 1934. Juazeiro, after the priest's death, established itself as a place of remembrance, through changes and permanences in the play of memories. Newspapers and magazines of national circulation, as well as writings focused on the city and the biography of Padre Cícero, were the main sources used in the work at screen. The notebook of memories from the sculptor Agostinho Balmes Odísio, specifically, became a fundamental document, for discoursing on the acts, gestures and customs of devotees, pilgrims and workers. Finally, the importance of the monuments built in honor of Padrinho was examined. Although they were conceived and installed with the purpose of serving very specific interests, each of them contributed to indicate important places of Juazeiro and the trajectory of the priest, being seen from different perspectives by devotees and pilgrims who visited Padre Cícero no more in flesh and blood, but in spirit, bronze, and concrete. For the development of this work, the reflections provided by Reinhart Koselleck, a theorist who recommends special attention to the historical construction of time, were very relevant.