A giant statue built to honour a saintly 13-year-old girl macheted to death by a rapist is to be rebuilt after furious followers said it looked like a hatchet faced middle-aged woman.
Benigna Cardoso da Silva was hacked to pieces by her attacker in 1941, and her angelic face has become a symbol of violated innocence ever since.
Worshipped as a saint by locals, she was beatified by the Catholic church three years ago, and her remains are treated as relics by followers.
Traditional images of the youngster show her as a fresh-faced, sweetly smiling girl in a red polka-dot dress, sometimes carrying a water urn or a bouquet of lilies.
But horrified locals in Santana do Cariri, Ceara state, Brazil, where she died, have declared the GBP 2 million statue (BRL 15 milliom) statue that is 80-ft high a travesty.
Instead of the sweet-faced innocent, hailed as the Heroine of Chastity by the Vatican, angry worshippers have declared it a pop-eyed, hatchet-faced hag.
Now, after a protest letter to Governor Elmano de Freitas, the statue’s head is to be rebuilt.
He told local media after a special meeting with other civic leaders on 2nd April: “We were discussing the solution to the issue of the image of the Benigna girl.
The decision we made, and I believe it was correct, was to consult with the Catholic Church, which has the mission of preserving the faith of our people.
Through this dialogue, we determined that a new image of the Benigna girl should be created, as she was a devout young woman who has been sanctified.
“Therefore, we have to make this image that will remain for eternity.”
Although no contemporary photographs or paintings of Benigna exist, she was described as being of medium height, slender, with a round face and a pointed chin.
Images of her ever since her death show her with a saintly smile, shining eyes, and a modest red dress.
But her statue, say critics, portrays her with staring eyes, a lantern jaw, and a downcast, glum mouth.
A childhood friend, Raymond Alves Feitosa, now 98, said: “She was loved by everyone.
“She was kind, very polite, didn’t curse, and took responsibility for her studies.
“Simplicity and prudence were her hallmarks. Her reputation for holiness and martyrdom was well earned.”
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below. Story By: Clive Goodman, Sub-Editor: Simona Kitanovska, Agency: Newsflash
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