{"id":8501,"date":"2025-09-04T08:02:34","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T08:02:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/?page_id=8501"},"modified":"2025-09-04T08:02:36","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T08:02:36","slug":"benedita-fernandes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/en\/benedita-fernandes\/","title":{"rendered":"Benedita Fernandes"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Benedita Fernandes<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Benedita Fernandes was born on 27 June 1883 in Campos Novos de Cunha (S\u00e3o Paulo) and died on 9 October 1947 in Ara\u00e7atuba. Benedita Fernandes' introduction to spiritist activities was very unusual. Plagued by a terrible obsession, a veritable subjugation, Benedita lost contact with her family and wandered aimlessly. On one occasion, she caused so much trouble for the local population that she was taken to the public prison in the city of Pen\u00e1polis. At that time, there were no hospitals or facilities for such purposes. The prison guard Padial and later Mr Marcheze took care of the sick woman, mainly by laying hands on her. She regained consciousness and decided to go to Ara\u00e7atuba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Out of gratitude for the help she received, this simple, black and semi-illiterate woman, together with other laundresses, began building small wooden houses in the then district of Dona Ida (now Santana) in 1927. Benedita became a pioneer of Spiritist social welfare throughout the north-western region of the state of S\u00e3o Paulo when she founded the Associa\u00e7\u00e3o das Senhoras Crist\u00e3s (Association of Christian Women) in Ara\u00e7atuba on 6 March 1932. As this work laid the foundation for the sanatorium, she is probably also one of the pioneers of Spiritist psychiatric hospitals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's founding meeting took place at the premises of the Spiritist Centre \u2018Paz, Amor e Caridade\u2019 (Peace, Love and Charity) in the same neighbourhood. Among those present was the pioneer of the spiritualist movement in Ara\u00e7atuba, Mr Gede\u00e3o Fernandes de Miranda. The relief effort continued with the inauguration of its own building in 1933. At the request of the government authorities, the work was divided into two specific activities, namely the care of the mentally ill and the care of orphans and needy children. This led to the creation of the \u2018Children's Home\u2019 and the \u2018Dr. Jaime de Oliveira\u2019 retirement home. These facilities were closed in the 1950s after the founder's death and converted into a sanatorium named in Benedita's honour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benedita Fernandes also offered a course in collaboration with the city administration and maintained a night shelter. In addition to her charitable work, she was also active as a medium, especially as a passista, and left behind many noble examples. Benedita Fernandes also became one of the pioneers of the current Spiritist union movement when she founded the Uni\u00e3o Esp\u00edrita Regional da Noroeste (Regional Spiritist Union of the Northwest) on 30 August 1940 and was elected its president. However, this movement only really flourished with the founding of the Uni\u00e3o das Sociedades Esp\u00edritas do Estado de S\u00e3o Paulo (Union of Spiritist Societies of the State of S\u00e3o Paulo) in 1947.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benedita was active in the city's Spiritist movement, making visits and campaigning in the region. She corresponded with Cairbar Schutel, who always published news about her work in the historic newspaper O Clarim. She received visits from important figures such as Jo\u00e3o Le\u00e3o Pitta and Leopoldo Machado. She even accompanied the latter to a historic Spiritist meeting in the city of Cruzeiro, S\u00e3o Paulo. The pioneer Dr. Tomaz Novelino (from Franca, S\u00e3o Paulo) also mentions the meeting, which he attended together with Benedita and which dealt with the mentally ill. Em\u00edlia Santos, about whom a biography was also written, and many other leading figures of the time were collaborators of Benedita. She was supported by municipal and state authorities, Spiritists, Freemasons and the population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many touching stories about her commitment to doing good, which she achieved in collaboration with the community. Currently, her earlier works are limited to the Benedita Fernandes sanatorium. The street where the sanatorium is located in the Santana district was also named after her in her honour. There are numerous spiritist institutions in S\u00e3o Paulo and other states that bear her name or have departments named after her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One factor that contributed to the dissemination of Benedita Fernandes' work was a message psychographed by Francisco Xavier entitled \u2018Num Domingo de Calor\u2019 (On a Hot Sunday), signed by Hil\u00e1rio Silva and published in the \u2018Anu\u00e1rio Esp\u00edrita 1964\u2019 (Spiritist Yearbook 1964). \"Benedita Fernandes, the selfless founder of the Associa\u00e7\u00e3o das Senhoras Esp\u00edritas Crist\u00e3s (Association of Christian Spiritist Women) in Ara\u00e7atuba, in the state of S\u00e3o Paulo, was invited to a meeting of women dedicated to charity work to discuss various issues related to aid projects. As she was particularly committed to helping the possessed and mentally ill, she could not decline the invitation. However, the presence of the well-known missionary caused quite a stir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a very hot Sunday, and Benedita was wearing a thick woollen coat that would only have been appropriate in cold weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u2013 \u2018Crazy!\u2019 whispered someone nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 \u2018Because she deals with crazy people so much, the poor spiritualist has gone mad herself...\u2019 said an elegant lady confidentially to her neighbour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 \u2018It's pure vanity,\u2019 said another, \u2018she wants to be different.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 \u2018A case of obsession!\u2019 said a friend quietly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

However, Benedita spoke about the proposed topics with understanding and love. While working, however, the chairwoman noticed unease in the assembly and claimed that Benedita was sweating profusely, so she asked her to take off her coat. Benedita Fernandes humbly obeyed, even though she was embarrassed, and only then could the ladies present see that the admirable woman who cared for dozens of sick people in Ara\u00e7atuba with the sweat of her own brow was wearing a simple dress made of coarse fabric with huge patches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 8 October 1947, at 11 p.m., she felt unwell while talking to the children and giving them advice. On 9 October 1947, she passed away peacefully at the age of 64. Her funeral was the most attended of its time, and to this day, her grave is one of the most visited in the city of Ara\u00e7atuba.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Benedita Fernandes Benedita Fernandes naci\u00f3 el 27 de junio de 1883 en Campos Novos de Cunha (S\u00e3o Paulo) y falleci\u00f3 el 9 de octubre de 1947 en Ara\u00e7atuba. La iniciaci\u00f3n de Benedita Fernandes en las actividades espiritas fue muy inusual. Atormentada por una terrible posesi\u00f3n, una aut\u00e9ntica sumisi\u00f3n, Benedita perdi\u00f3 el contacto con su familia […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8501","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nBenedita Fernandes - Uni\u00f3n Esp\u00edrita<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/en\/benedita-fernandes\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Benedita Fernandes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Benedita Fernandes Benedita Fernandes naci\u00f3 el 27 de junio de 1883 en Campos Novos de Cunha (S\u00e3o Paulo) y falleci\u00f3 el 9 de octubre de 1947 en Ara\u00e7atuba. La iniciaci\u00f3n de Benedita Fernandes en las actividades espiritas fue muy inusual. Atormentada por una terrible posesi\u00f3n, una aut\u00e9ntica sumisi\u00f3n, Benedita perdi\u00f3 el contacto con su familia […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/en\/benedita-fernandes\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Uni\u00f3n Esp\u00edrita\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/3431398063740829\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-04T08:02:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/benedita.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"805\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"779\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/benedita-fernandes\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/benedita-fernandes\/\",\"name\":\"Benedita Fernandes - Uni\u00f3n Esp\u00edrita\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/benedita-fernandes\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/benedita-fernandes\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/benedita.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-04T08:02:34+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-04T08:02:36+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/benedita-fernandes\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/benedita-fernandes\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/benedita-fernandes\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/benedita.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/benedita.jpeg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/benedita-fernandes\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Startseite\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Benedita Fernandes\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/\",\"name\":\"Uni\u00f3n Esp\u00edrita\",\"description\":\"Nuevo Renacer\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"UFEC\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/cropped-LOGO-TERMINADO1-3-3.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/cropped-LOGO-TERMINADO1-3-3.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"UFEC\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/3431398063740829\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Benedita Fernandes - Uni\u00f3n Esp\u00edrita","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/en\/benedita-fernandes\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Benedita Fernandes","og_description":"Benedita Fernandes Benedita Fernandes naci\u00f3 el 27 de junio de 1883 en Campos Novos de Cunha (S\u00e3o Paulo) y falleci\u00f3 el 9 de octubre de 1947 en Ara\u00e7atuba. La iniciaci\u00f3n de Benedita Fernandes en las actividades espiritas fue muy inusual. Atormentada por una terrible posesi\u00f3n, una aut\u00e9ntica sumisi\u00f3n, Benedita perdi\u00f3 el contacto con su familia […]","og_url":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/en\/benedita-fernandes\/","og_site_name":"Uni\u00f3n Esp\u00edrita","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/3431398063740829","article_modified_time":"2025-09-04T08:02:36+00:00","og_image":[{"width":805,"height":779,"url":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/benedita.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Estimated reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/benedita-fernandes\/","url":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/benedita-fernandes\/","name":"Benedita Fernandes - Uni\u00f3n Esp\u00edrita","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/benedita-fernandes\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/benedita-fernandes\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/benedita.jpeg","datePublished":"2025-09-04T08:02:34+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-04T08:02:36+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/benedita-fernandes\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/benedita-fernandes\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/benedita-fernandes\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/benedita.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/benedita.jpeg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/benedita-fernandes\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Startseite","item":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Benedita Fernandes"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/","name":"Uni\u00f3n Esp\u00edrita","description":"Nuevo Renacer","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/#organization","name":"UFEC","url":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/cropped-LOGO-TERMINADO1-3-3.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/cropped-LOGO-TERMINADO1-3-3.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"UFEC"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/3431398063740829"]}]}},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false,"trp-custom-language-flag":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"adbv0","author_link":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/en\/author\/adbv0\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Benedita Fernandes Benedita Fernandes naci\u00f3 el 27 de junio de 1883 en Campos Novos de Cunha (S\u00e3o Paulo) y falleci\u00f3 el 9 de octubre de 1947 en Ara\u00e7atuba. La iniciaci\u00f3n de Benedita Fernandes en las actividades espiritas fue muy inusual. Atormentada por una terrible posesi\u00f3n, una aut\u00e9ntica sumisi\u00f3n, Benedita perdi\u00f3 el contacto con su familia…","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8501","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8501"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8501\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8503,"href":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8501\/revisions\/8503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nuevo-renacer.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}