A man, supported by his wife and daughter, walks on his knees around Campo de São Francisco. On his face, he carries suffering, borne by faith in Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres. A tear rolls down his face when a stabbing pain makes him grab his left leg. A cramp, perhaps. But that doesn't stop him from continuing and keeping his promise to Ecce Homo, who awaits him inside the church of Convent of Esperança.

This picture was repeated a thousand times, from 4:30 in the morning to 3:00 in the afternoon: pilgrims, young and old, men and women, sick and healthy, all made sure to keep their promise.

"Twenty-two years ago I was diagnosed with AIDS, the prognosis of which was one year to live. I am here to thank the Lord Holy Christ and God for the life I didn't think I would have," shares Emanuel Calisto, who left São Miguel for Canada 50 years ago. This retired teacher from Winnipeg shares how he went around Campo de São Francisco and how, in a moment of weakness towards the end, he had the help of a lady who also came from Canada.

Faith was what motivated him to keep his promise, in a celebration that "moved my late parents and grandmother. As I went around the Campo, I felt they were with me".

Some people keep promises for themselves, some for others. Luciana Peixoto, from Nordeste, but living in Quebec since she was 19, walked around the Campo de São Francisco for her daughter.

"I come to fulfill a promise for my daughter, because of a tumor she has on her nose. She is 19 years old and still healing. I promised to go around Campo de São Francisco three times, if I can. It's complicated, but faith rules," she explains, in what is her sixth consecutive year in the feasts in honor of Ecce Homo.

Faith, always faith, that unshakable and invisible force that overcomes everything, no matter how young you are. Afonso Machado is 10 years old and this was the second year he accompanied his mother, Vanda Machado, from Ribeira Seca, around the square. "I always have this promise. And my son started on his own initiative; I told him he was too young but he said he could do it."

There are those who wait a lifetime to devoutly pay back the comfort that the Holy Lord has brought them, like Anália Correia, who came from Brampton to fulfill a promise at the age of 23.

"I have been under very difficult health conditions. I've been in a wheelchair and God saved me. I just ask God to give me strength and faith, everything is achieved with strength and faith in God," she says.

Hélder Gonçalves, a pilgrim from Arrifes, confesses that he has always been very devoted to Senhor Santo Cristo, since he was a child. It was his youngest son’s health condition that led him to walk through Campo de São Francisco in prayer. "My son is now 19 and it has been 17 years since I started this promise, which for me is already a pleasure. I have no problem getting my knees on the ground. I hope that Santo Cristo helps everyone who needs him, even those who don't believe in him."

From Rabo de Peixe, Gabriela Vieira has sores on her knees. "It’s difficult, but with faith everything is possbile," she says. A tumor diagnosis made her ask Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres for help. "Fortunately it didn't require surgery and I promised the Lord Holy Christ to go on my knees if it didn't get bigger, for as long as I could. I do it every year to thank for another year of life."

The emotion with which everyone lives this moment of faith and devotion is palpable. Barefoot or on their knees, standing or with a large candle in their hands, everyone expresses their love for the Lord Holy Christ of Miracles.

"When I get here, I feel like I'm in Paradise," confesses Mário Silva, resident in East Providence, United States of America. Faithful to his promise "for more than 20 years", he keeps it without thinking about the pain. "Faith rules and makes it so that you don't even feel the pain!”



"Besides the physical pain, a rather deep spiritual pain"
At the end of each promise fulfilled, pilgrims found comfort in the infirmary supporting the festivities in honor of the Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres. Inside, nurses and assistants soothed the pain of walking the Campo de São Francisco on one's knees. But, beyond a bandage, pilgrims are also looking for a friendly word.

"One notices a great need for emotional support, financial support, active listening. Besides physical pain, one notices a very deep spiritual pain," shares Tânia Sousa, nursing supervisor at Casa de Saúde de Nossa Senhora da Conceição.

For the nurse, the role of the recovery station is not only to take care of a bleeding knee: "Effectively, we notice a great need for follow-up. People still seem to feel very lonely in this post-pandemic period. Physical pain is often subjective and even trivialized in the context of pain as a whole.”

Year after year, the pilgrims' station has undergone improvements, "which allows us to have a more structured dynamic," which, in turn, improves the quality of care, says Tânia Sousa.

The affluence surprised her and the overflow is confirmed by Raquel Coelho, director of the Sisters Hospitallers of Ponta Delgada, who witnessed people going to Campo de São Francisco before 5am.

"We have seen very young couples, children. We are very moved by providing this care," she mentions, noting that "from year to year we see more and more young people."
Since 2019, the institution carries out "The Faith that Moves Us" project, which, together with the Shrine, is oriented to rehabilitation and social insertion.