The photo here portrays the entrance to the Bom Jesus Da Lapa Caverns. These man-made caverns are located in Bahia, Brazil, and have become a pilgrimage site. They began as a small indentation in the rocks of a hill and might have remained that way except for Francisco de Mendonça Mar.
In the mid 1650s, Francisco was born into a goldsmith’s family (they would have been billionaires ten times over today) and eventually set up his own shop in Salvador. Francisco quickly achieved local fame for his amazing work with gold and precious jewels. The Governor of Brazil heard of him and invited him to decorate the walls of the newly built Governor’s Palace in the area. Promised a hefty payment for the job, Francisco accepted. (I think I would have too.) He quickly went to work, using much of his own money to finance the project. (That I would not have done.) When the project was completed, Francisco officially presented it to the Governor. Instead of the promised payment, the Governor had Francisco flogged and thrown into prison. Apparently, the untrustworthiness of the government is not a modern invention.
Francisco languished in prison for awhile. Eventually, he managed to get a letter sent to the king of Portugal outlining his misfortunes. In time, he was granted his freedom. I remind everyone that getting a letter from Salvador, Brazil to Portugal required a lengthy ocean voyage from an available ship and then another lengthy voyage back with orders from the king. Francisco waited a long time to gain his freedom.
One might think Francisco would have then used his fortune for revenge on the Governor. He did not. (I might have). First, he stripped himself of all his belongings and riches. Second, he set off into the Brazilian wilderness on a long solitary journey carrying an image of Senhor Bom Jesus (Lord Good Jesus) and another of Nossa Senhora da Soledade (Our Lady of Solitude). Finally, after much wandering, Francisco came upon the Lapa hill and discovered rock outcroppings where he chose to settle and become a hermit. Over time, he carved out a large grotto and then small chambers. He placed the two images he brought with him in the grotto, where he began to worship. Yes, Francisco was Catholic. But he was a true believer.
In time, word spread of the crazy hermit living in a cave. People began to come out to Lapa Hill to see for themselves. Some were so impressed by Francisco’s faith and devotion, they chose to stay with him. Francisco ministered to the local tribes. He was charitable to local villages. He took in the sick and homeless, many of whom stayed with him in the grotto. His fame spread across the country and eventually the Catholic Church trained him and made him a priest. His solitary life ended up with an impact on Brazil that no one could have expected from an ex-prisoner. I guess it’s a riches to rags to riches story.
Francisco’s impact is still felt today, some 450 years later. Tens of thousands of people pilgrimage to the grotto in search of spiritual wisdom. The caves have become a church where the faithful worship. A small rocky indentation has become a church. A betrayed goldsmith changed his life and sought to live out the message of the gospel. These things should encourage us to always look at our lives as an opportunity to change things and to serve God wherever and however he calls us.