Saint Slave Anastacia

Escrava Anastácia (12 May 1740 – unknown) is a popular folk saint venerated in Brazil. An enslaved woman of African descent, Anastácia is depicted as possessing incredible beauty, having piercing blue eyes and wearing a punitive iron facemask. Although not officially recognized by the Catholic Church, Anastácia is an important figure in popular Catholic devotion throughout Brazil, where her feast day is celebrated on May 12. She is also venerated by members of the Umbanda and Kardecist traditions. She has been portrayed in Brazil in books, radio programs, and a highly successful television miniseries bearing her name. Without an official history, accounts of Anastácia's life vary, though all agree that she was enslaved. Some place her birth in Brazil, where it is stipulated that Anastácia was born to an enslaved West African woman whom the plantation owner raped, resulting in the first black child with blue eyes. The enslaver had the baby sent away, to hide the evidence of his 'infidelity' from his wife. Other traditions describe Anastácia as herself African-born, a royal princess who was enslaved and shipped to Brazil. According to Carlos de Lima, a Brazilian historian, the enslaved princess became a housekeeper on a sugar cane plantation. In all versions, the enslavers treat Anastácia cruelly. She stoically bears these horrors and treats all people with love. Often she is blessed with tremendous healing powers and performs other miracles. Eventually, she is punished by her owners by being forced to wear a muzzle-like mask, which prevents her from speaking, and a heavy iron collar. The reasons given for this punishment vary: some stories report her aiding in the escape of other enslaved people; in others, she resisted rape by the plantation master; and yet another places the blame on a plantation mistress jealous of Anastácia's beauty.