On June 10, 1984, he was awarded posthumously Commander of the Order of Infante D. Henrique by former President of the Portuguese Republic, General Ramalho Eanes.
Senhora do Monte
Alfredo Marceneiro Lyrics
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Mora a Senhora do Monte,
E a providência divina
Mora ali, quase defronte
Por fazer bem à desgraça,
Deu-lhe a desgraça também,
E aquela divina graça,
E aquela divina graça,
Senhora tão benfazeja
Que a própria Virgem Maria,
Não sei se está na igreja
Se naquela moradia
Com a mágoa que desconsola
A pobreza se conforta
Na certeza duma esmola
Na certeza duma esmola
Quando bate aquela porta
O luar da lua cheia
Ao bater-lhe na janela,
Reforça a luz da candeia
No alpendre da capela.
Vai lá muita pecadora,
Que de arrependida, chora
Mas não é Nossa Senhora
Mas não é Nossa Senhora
Que naquela casa mora
Senhora tão benfazeja
Que a própria Virgem Maria,
Não sei se está na igreja
Se naquela moradia.
The song Senhora do Monte by Alfredo Marceneiro tells the story of a lady who lives in a corner house on the hill. The first stanza portrays her as a pious lady who has divine providence living almost opposite to her. However, the second stanza reveals that the Lady of the Hill is not always immune to hardships as she also suffers from poverty. Despite this, she is always willing to help the less fortunate and gives alms to the poor who knock on her door. The third and fourth stanzas further reflect the Lady of the Hill's charity as many sinners come to her house seeking redemption and crying due to their repentance, resulting in the illumination of her abode on full moon nights.
The song is an ode to a legendary benefactress of Lisbon who lived in the area known as Senhora do Monte. She is believed to have been a wealthy lady of a benevolent heart, who helped the poor and the needy of her neighborhood during the 18th century. The song has become an anthem in Lisbon, and even today, devotees flock to her chapel on the hill to pay homage to the Senhora.
Line by Line Meaning
Naquela casa de esquina
In that corner house
Mora a Senhora do Monte,
Lives Senhora do Monte,
E a providência divina
And the divine providence
Mora ali, quase defronte
Is there, almost facing it
Por fazer bem à desgraça,
To do good to misfortune
Deu-lhe a desgraça também,
Gave her misfortune too,
E aquela divina graça,
And that divine grace,
E aquela divina graça,
And that divine grace,
que Nossa Senhora tem
That Our Lady has
Senhora tão benfazeja
So benevolent lady
Que a própria Virgem Maria,
That even the Virgin Mary,
Não sei se está na igreja
I do not know if she is in the church
Se naquela moradia
Or in that house
Com a mágoa que desconsola
With the grief that causes despair
A pobreza se conforta
The poverty finds comfort
Na certeza duma esmola
In the certainty of a charity
Na certeza duma esmola
In the certainty of a charity
Quando bate aquela porta
When that door is knocked
O luar da lua cheia
The light of the full moon
Ao bater-lhe na janela,
When hitting the window,
Reforça a luz da candeia
Strengthens the lamp light
No alpendre da capela.
In the chapel porch.
Vai lá muita pecadora,
Many sinners go there,
Que de arrependida, chora
Crying, repenting
Mas não é Nossa Senhora
But it is not Our Lady
Mas não é Nossa Senhora
But it is not Our Lady
Que naquela casa mora
That lives in that house
Senhora tão benfazeja
So benevolent lady
Que a própria Virgem Maria,
That even the Virgin Mary,
Não sei se está na igreja
I do not know if she is in the church
Se naquela moradia.
Or in that house.
Writer(s): Gabriel Oliveira, Alfredo Duarte
Contributed by Vivian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.