Meaning of “madrinha a invocação de Nossa Senhora”

[Jay Martin]

Cheri tells me that, by invocation, Our Lady can be the godmother. When would that be needed or customary? I mean, most families can find someone to be godmother, I imagine. 

And what does it mean when the invocation of Our Lady is followed by a person’s name, which is the case for four children in my great-grandmother’s family? (See my transcriptions below.) 

Felisberta. “Foi padrinho o padre José Maria Martins vigario proprio d’esta freguesia, abaixo assignado, e madrinha a invocação de Nossa Senhora de Lourdes tocando com a respectiva insígnia Thomé Ribeiro Bettencourt casado, thesoureiro d’esta egreja parochial, os quaes todos sei serem os proprios.” http://culturacores.azores.gov.pt/biblioteca_digital/FAL-HT-CEDROS-B-1892-1901/FAL-HT-CEDROS-B-1892-1901_item1/P222.html 

Manuel. “Foi padrinho Thomas Dutra de Medeiros Junior solteiro, trabalhador, e madrinha a invocação de Nossa Senhora tocando com a respectiva insígnia Maria Rita solteira, moradora n’esta freguesia, empregada no serviço domestico, os quaes todos sei serem os proprios.” http://culturacores.azores.gov.pt/biblioteca_digital/FAL-HT-CEDROS-B-1902-1911/FAL-HT-CEDROS-B-1902-1911_item1/P99.html 

João. “Foi padrinho Thomas Dutra de Medeiros Junior solteiro, trabalhador, e madrinha a invocação de Nossa Senhora tocando com a respectiva insígnia Maria Rita solteira, empregada no serviço domestico, os quaes todos sei serem os proprios.” http://culturacores.azores.gov.pt/biblioteca_digital/FAL-HT-CEDROS-B-1902-1911/FAL-HT-CEDROS-B-1902-1911_item1/P100.html 

Alberto. “Foi padrinho o vigario d’esta freguesia abaixo assignado, e madrinha a invocação de Nossa Senhora de Lourdes tocando com a respectiva insígnia Thomas Dutra de Medeiros Junior solteiro, carpenterio, moradora n’esta freguesia, os quaes todos sei serem os proprios.” http://culturacores.azores.gov.pt/biblioteca_digital/FAL-HT-CEDROS-B-1902-1911/FAL-HT-CEDROS-B-1902-1911_item1/P246.html 

Thanks, 

Jay Martin 

[Cheri Mello]

Jay,

The only notes I can find are from a lecture that Joao Ventura, the archivist, gave. Starting in the 2nd time period which was roughly 1696/early 1700s to about 1860, the godmother could be a saint or the Virgin Mary. I wrote no other explanation. Maybe that was the thing back then. I know in America, in the 1960s (Vatican II), at least one of the godparents had to be Catholic, not both anymore. That's how my Baptist mother became a godmother to a couple of her best friend's kids - my dad was the Catholic. So things just change over time.

From my understanding, when someone invoked a saint or the Virgin Mary, someone (in flesh and blood) has to touch the crown or whatever insignia it may be to represent that saint or Mary. So who touched it? A family member? The gardener who was outside working? Terri Santos said her grandmother (or was that an aunt) used to hang around the church because she could write her name. Someone needed a witness to something, and there she was, ready to sign, for a fee, of course.

Cheri Mello
Listowner, Azores-Gen
Researching: São Miguel island: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada

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[Jay Martin]

Cheri, I think you explained it. The name after the invocation is the person who touched the religious insignia to the child. 

João Ventura translated the record of Alberto’s baptism for me like this: “Godparents were the priest José Maria Martins and the invocation of Our Lady of Lourdes, touching the child with the Lady’s insignia Tomás Dutra de Medeiros Jr., single, carpenter, living in the same village.” 

Thanks to João and you, now I can guess at an explanation. Tomás came to the baptism to be the godfather, as he was for the older children. But no one was there to touch the insignia to the child. So Tomás filled that role, and the priest filled in as the godfather. 

Thanks, 

Jay Martin 

[Cheri Mello]

Yes, that is the proper translation.

Cheri Mello
Listowner, Azores-Gen
Researching: São Miguel island: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada

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