Jesus Died for You

The Apparitions of Our Lord and Our Lady at Campinas

1929-1930, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

Sister Amalia Aguirre

(1901- 1977)

The future nun was born in Rios, Spain on 22nd July 1901 and received her baptism eight days later. She made her First Communion and was Confirmed in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Rios and was noted at the time to be a girl with the character of obedience; the first indication of her virtue. Amalia exhibited a propensity at this time for both goodness and charity towards others and also a care for the things of God.

A closeness with Him was evident in her young life. Jesus became a great ‘book’ from which her eyes were never averted. Her spiritual growth and her practice of charity were learned from her parents, Andres and Emerita. Her home had been a fertile ground in which the seed of her vocation was able to grow to maturity. Amalia’s parents emigrated from Spain to Brazil in search of a better life and, after a period in which she remained behind caring for the sick of the Great Flu Pandemic, Amalia came to join them on 16th July 1919.

The Establishment of The Institute

In the late 1920s Amalia became involved with an Association of Missionaries of the Crucified Jesus. She was inspired by and strongly identified with the devotion of this group to the Passion of Jesus and to charitable work. In 1928, Msgr. Count Francisco de Campos Barreto convened some eight members of this Association, including Amalia, and between them founded a Congregation. Though the Order was to be both contemplative and active, the members retained secular dress in order to be accessible to ordinary folk.

Called to the Contemplative Life and living the ‘Paschal Mystery’¹ the new Order was also dedicated to announcing the Gospel in the most difficult places where people lived. At this time Sister Amalia is described as having that same generous nature and sacrificial character she exhibited as a child. She made her Temporary Vows on 8th December 1927 – the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and then on 8th December 1931, exactly four years to the day, took Perpetual Vows.

Thus Amalia became a nun consecrated to Christ and His Church, taking the name in religion ‘Sister Amalia of the Scourged Jesus.’ She continued to live in community in Campinas until 1953 when she was transferred to Cassa de Nossa Senhora Aparecida (House of Our Lady of the Apparition) in Taubate, San Paulo. Her life was dedicated to the poor and needy and she developed a special concern for both children and widows.

At some point Amalia received a vision in which she saw a home that should be constructed where poor children might find refuge, and promptly vowed to carry out this project. She began by seeking to assist twenty poor children who she fed. So the work began which continues to this day. The vision of a ‘house of safety’ eventually came to fruition in 1969 when a home for Children was opened in the Village of Saint Gerald.

The seed had been planted and watered by sacrifice; it was now seen to blossom. Here children would be able to receive instruction, be provided with food, clothes and shawls. Sewing, hygiene and religious education were taught and the house expanded due to the generosity shown by many well-wishers. Though Amalia was not to see the completed work as she died in 1977, new land was acquired and a large, spacious Home of Sr Amalia was opened on 18th June 1981.

The practical love of this nun continuing to bear fruit when, in 2001, on the occasion of the anniversary of her birth, a center for alcoholics was opened. But in another way, her gift to the whole Church is only beginning to be discovered, for the events which occurred shortly after she joined the Order have led to a beautiful devotion which continues to spread through the Church.

I. The Vision of Our Lord on 8 November 1929

On 8 November 1929 Sister Amalia received a visit from a distressed relative whose wife was seriously ill and had been pronounced incurable by several doctors. With tears in his eyes the poor husband asked; ‘What will become of the children?’ His distressed state and desperation regarding the loss he and his children would shortly sustain, grieved Sister Amalia in her heart. At once she turned to God in prayer as she listened to the sad tale.

She recounts an inner compunction calling her to make an immediate visit to the Lord, and went straight to the chapel where she laid these concerns before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Kneeling on the steps before the Altar and Tabernacle, she extended her arms and offered herself as a substitute for her relative. ‘If there is no longer any possibility of recovery for the wife of T… then I am prepared to offer my own life for the mother of the family. What do You want me to do?’

It was then that Amalia reported Jesus Himself spoke: ‘If you wish to receive this grace, ask Me for the sake of My Mother’s tears.’

Amalia inquired: ‘How must I pray?’

Thereupon Jesus told her the following invocations: ‘O Jesus, hear our prayer for the sake of the tears of Your Most Holy Mother!’ ‘O Jesus, behold the tears of the one who loved You most on earth and who loves You most ardently in heaven!’

Sister Amalia reports that after giving these words to her, Jesus said: ‘My daughter, whatever people will ask of Me for the sake of the tears of My Mother, I shall lovingly grant them. Later, My Mother will hand over this treasure to Our beloved Institute as a Magnet of Mercy.’

II. The Vision of Our Lady on 8 March 1930

Four months to the day, on 8th March 1930, Sister Amalia was again on her knees before the tabernacle when the promise of the Redeemer was granted to her. In her own words we hear: “I was in the chapel kneeling on the steps on the left side of the altar, when suddenly I felt myself raised up. Then I saw a woman of indescribable beauty approach. She was dressed in a garment of purple, a blue cloak and a white veil that draped to Her breast and was drawn across Her shoulders. She glided towards me smiling, and holding in Her hand a rosary, which She called ‘corona’ (that is ‘crown’ or rosary). Its pearls shone like the sun and were as white as snow.

‘Do you know why I wear a blue mantle? To remind you of heaven, when you are feeling weary from your labors, and carrying the cross of your tribulations. My mantle reminds you of heaven, to give you indescribable joy and eternal happiness, and this will give courage to your soul and peace to your heart, to continue the struggle until the end!’

‘Do you understand the significance of My purple-violet tunic? I will tell you that you should remember, as you stand before the image of Tears, of the colors I wear, purple signifies pain. The pain that Jesus felt when they beat Him, barbarically, on His body. My mother's heart and My soul were also lacerated by pain, on seeing Jesus.’

‘My child, I will explain to you why I wear this white veil, around My breast and covering My head. White signifies purity, and being the white flower of the Holy Trinity, I could not appear without this whiteness. The sweet smile you see traced on My lips is for the immense happiness to be able to give mankind such a precious treasure!’

‘My child, I will tell you about the rosary in My hands. I have named it the Crown (chaplet) of Tears. When you are near Me, seeing this chaplet in My hands, remember that it signifies mercy, love, and pain... this chaplet of My blessed tears signifies that your Mother loves you. Use all its privileges, resort to it with confidence and love.’

Handing me the rosary, She said: ‘This is the rosary of My tears, which is being entrusted by My Son to His beloved Institute as a portion of His inheritance. The invocations have already given you by My Son. My Son wants to honor Me especially with these invocations; and therefore, He will gladly grant all graces that are asked for the sake of My tears. This rosary will provide for the conversion of many sinners, especially those possessed by the devil. To the Institute of the Crucified Jesus is reserved a special honor; that is the conversion of many members of a wicked sect to the ‘flowering tree’ of the Church. Through this rosary the devil will be conquered and the power of hell will be destroyed. Get ready for this great battle.’

‘I will explain to you the reason I appear with My eyes inclined downward. Inspired painters have recorded My eyes looking upward to sing the glory of My Immaculate Conception. Then why are My eyes inclined downward in this apparition, into which you entrust yourself to My blessed tears? It signifies My compassion towards humanity, because I have come from heaven to alleviate your suffering. My eyes will always be directed to your sorrows and afflictions, whenever you ask My Son through the tears I shed. And as you are near My image, see that I gaze at you with eyes of compassion and tenderness.’”

When the Blessed Virgin had finished speaking, She was seen no more.

III. The Vision of Our Lady on 8 April 1930

On April 30, 1930 Our Lady revealed to Sister Amalia the Medal of Our Lady of Tears.

Medal of Our Lady of Tears given to Sr. Amalia of the Scourged Jesus at Campinas, Brazil.

(In front) Our Lady of Tears as in the apparition with the inscription:

“O Virgin Most Sorrowful, Your Tears Have Destroyed the Infernal Empire.”

(At the back) The image of Jesus bound and scourged (Ecce Homo) with the inscription:

“By Your Divine Meekness, O Jesus Bound, Save the World from the Error which Threatens It.”

Bishop Francisco was travelling in Europe at the time of these visions. He attended the Passion Play at Oberammergau and also visited the German mystic and stigmatic Therese Neumann. Whilst on this journey he spread the knowledge of the revelations and the devotion of the Chaplet. He also spoke of a third vision on 8 April 1930, in which the Blessed Mother revealed a Medal of the Tears to be worn. Reports began to emerge of innumerable conversions as a result of wearing this Medal. Furthermore news came of requests granted and healing occurring as a result of the Chaplet of Tears. The practice of reciting the Chaplet for nine days, receiving the Sacraments and performing works of charity has indeed led to many blessings.

In 1934 Bishop Francisco wrote: “Innumerable graces have been received through the praying of the rosary to honor the tears of our dear Lady. The reason lies in the promise of the holy Savior, 'no favor will be refused, when asked of Him for the sake of the tears of His Most Holy Mother.'

It is well known, that the Holy Savior rewards in a special way the sincere reverence for the sorrows of His Most Holy Mother, which alone are the cause of Her tears. Also from Germany, Holland, and Belgium many report of extraordinary favors and graces. They prayed the rosary of our Lady of the Tears daily for nine days, received the Holy Sacraments and performed works of mercy.

From religious, we understand, that the praying of this rosary is a very dear habit to which they attribute extraordinary graces. For that reason, they pray it daily often to ask graces for themselves and others, the conversion of sinners, heretics, and atheists, to obtain graces for priests and missionaries, to help the dying, and to free the poor souls from Purgatory.

A believing, pious soul, for whom the good of the holy Church, and the honor of God is close at heart, knows without special guidance, what it can and will obtain from our gracious Redeemer through the tears of His Most Holy Mother.

When sorrow and suffering fill our heart, we direct our thoughts to God. Through the tears of Mary, His Most Holy Mother, we soften the heart of God, even though it is ever ready to grant us kindness, graces and blessings.

At the present, so it seems to us, the blessed tears of the Mother of Jesus are especially powerful to win the heart of God.”

There exist other examples of visions of Our Lady shedding tears including; La Salette, 1846, and the incidents at Syracuse, 1953. At La Salette the Virgin was seen weeping for humanity while at Syracuse a terra-cotta image of Our Lady exhibited tears. Enormous crowds bore witness to the miracle leading Pope Pius XII to declare in wonder, ‘O the Tears of Mary!’

¹ The Paschal Mystery (Latin mystérium paschále ‘Easter mystery’, from ancient Greek πάσχα pás-cha ‘Easter’ and μυστήριον mystérion ‘mystery’) is central to Catholic faith and theology relating to the history of salvation. According to the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "The Paschal Mystery of Jesus, which comprises His passion, death, resurrection, and glorification, stands at the center of the Christian faith because God's saving plan was accomplished once for all by the redemptive death of Himself as Jesus Christ." The Catechism states that in the liturgy of the Church "it is principally His own Paschal Mystery that Christ signifies and makes present."

Rosary of Our Lady's Tears (of Blood)

Next to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus there is nothing more touching and effective than the tears of our heavenly Mother! How many tears she shed on the Way of the Cross and when she stood beneath the Cross! She shed bitter tears in reparation for the many insults her Divine Son then and which He would receive in the future. She wept bitter tears for the many souls who would not submit to the Commandments of God, and so would be lost forever.

In recent centuries, too, she wept tears of sorrow: The account of the apparitions of Our Lady of La Salette on September 19, 1846, is very moving as is also the account of Mary's tears at Syracuse.

There the image of Our Lady wept again and again from a simple terra cotta plaque in the house of a poor worker, from August 29 to September 2, 1953. After a thorough investigation the bishops of Sicily, Italy, confirmed this miracle of tears. Hundreds of thousands came to see it, and Pope Pius XII exclaimed on the radio, "Oh the tears of Mary!"

The rosary or chaplet was revealed in 1929 and 1930, by Our Lord and His most holy Mother to Sister Amalia in Campina, Brazil, and was confirmed as supernatural by Bishop Campos Baretto.

Our Lords words to Sister Amalia on November 8, 1929 were:

"My daughter, whatever I am asked through the tears of My Mother, I shall give lovingly."

On March 8, 1930 the most Pure Mother stated:

"Through this rosary the devil will be subdued and the power of Hell will be destroyed. Prepare yourself for this great combat."

Today the devil has much power because we have forgotten sin and no longer believe that Satan exists.

How to pray the Rosary of Tears

The Crown (or Rosary) that the Mother of God gave to Sister Amalia had 49 white beads, divided into groups of 7 by seven equally white beads. It is therefore similar to the Crown of Sorrows of Mary, although of a different color. She also had three final beads and a medal with the image of Our Lady of Tears - on one side - and the image of Jesus in Chains - on the other side. The medal is an essential part of this Crown and must be exactly like the one the Blessed Mother showed Sister Amalia in Campinas on April 8, 1930.

The Chaplet can also be prayed with regular rosary beads if you do not have the special rosary beads, except you pray seven decades.

Our Lady repeatedly asked to pray through her Blood Tears. Therefore, there are two versions of this rosary. One version is called the Rosary of Tears, the other the Rosary of Blood Tears. Both versions are identical, except that “blood tears” is used instead of “tears”. The additional word is therefore put in square brackets.

Order of Prayers

(1) At the Beginning

Here we are at Your feet, O most sweet Crucified Jesus, to offer You the tears of the One who, with so much love, accompanied You on the sorrowful way to Calvary. Grant, O good Master, that we may know how to profit from the lesson they teach us, so that on Earth, by carrying out Your Most Holy Will, we may one day, in Heaven, praise You for all Eternity.

(2) On the Large Beads (*)

V. O Jesus, remember the [Blood] Tears of the One who loved You most while on earth,
R. And now loves You most ardently in Heaven.

(3) On the Small Beads (*)

V. O Jesus grant our supplications and requests
R. through the [Blood] Tears and Sorrows of Your Most Holy Mother and through the Most Precious Blood.

(2) At the End, repeat three times (*)

V. O Jesus, remember the [Blood] Tears of the One who loved You most while on earth,
R. And now loves You most ardently in Heaven.

(4) Concluding Prayer

Heiligste Jungfrau und Mutter der Schmerzen, wir bitten Dich, Deine Gebete mit unseren zu verbinden, damit Jesus, Dein göttlicher Sohn, an den wir uns im Namen Deiner mütterlichen Tränen wenden, unsere Gebete erhöre und uns mit den Gnaden, die wir ersehnen, die Krone des ewigen Lebens gewähren möge. Amen.

(5) Final Jaculatory

(to be prayed while contemplating and kissing the medal)

By Your divine meekness, O Jesus in Chains, save the world from the error that threatens it! O Virgin Most Sorrowful, Your [Blood] Tears have overthrown the infernal empire!

(*) Expanded Prayers

In a message to Mario D'Ignazio in Brindisi, Our Lady asked that the prayers be said in an expanded form of the original prayers.

Message of Our Lady of Tears to Mario D'Ignazio of July 24, 2024

Some messages from Our Lady at the Apparitions of Jacarei about Her Tears of Blood....

Message of Our Lady

September 2, 2014

Continue to pray the Rosary of My Tears of Blood every day, because with it, we will achieve the conversion of a great number of souls.

Message of Mary Most Holy

July 25, 2011

Pray, My children, pray a lot the Rosary of Blood Tears. When you pray this Rosary, I release many souls who are trapped in the clutches of Satan for sin. With this Rosary, I lead back many souls of My children who have gone astray on their way back to the safe enclosure of My Immaculate Heart, back to the arms of the Eternal Father. Pray, therefore, many times My Rosary of Tears of Blood. By the virtue of My Blessed Tears I will save many souls and obtain My greatest triumph over hell.

Message of Our Lady

July 4, 2010

Through the image of My apparition in Montichiari, I shed tears of blood even in so many countries to manifest My pain for the sins of the world. My Tears of Blood have great power before God, to attain His Divine Mercy, to placate His Justice, to undo the evil plans of Satan and to free the poor souls of sinners, who are in his clutches and dominated by him in sin, in the life of sin.

I invite you, therefore, to renew your love for the Rosary of Blood Tears, to pray ever more, with greater faith, fervor and devotion. This Rosary can easily stop wars, it can stop pestilences, punishments, calamities of nature, because it possesses the virtues of those tears of blood that I shed on Calvary, at the foot of the cross of My Son Jesus, uniting My Blood with His Blood and that I shed throughout My life, suffering with Him and with Joseph for your salvation.

I desire, My dear children, to accomplish My Triumph in the world by virtue, by the victory of My Tears of Blood, which were the price of your salvation with the Blood of Jesus.

For this reason My children, I invite you to join with Me in this intense prayer: of atonement, supplication and love. So that together We may reach from the Lord a new rain of Mercy on earth, new times of grace, peace and holiness with the Triumph of My Immaculate Heart in all Nations!