A silenced, not recognized, ignored, hidden, and invisible history: the female religious life in the Brazilian and Hispano-american history

Abstract

In this article we intend to outline the major milestones of Spanish American and Brazilian female religious life from colonial times to the twentieth century. It is an ambitious and synthesis effort to show the long-term historical significance of female religious life in their triple relationship to the church, society and the state. The articulation’s axe of this triple relationship is the social action or social function of thesewomen. Our focus are the religious orders and congregations of active apostolic life. Those women that have guided his apostolic work for a particular charism, which is usually expressed in conducting social work to meet the needs of a particular social group. We went back to the colonial convent life to look at the continuities and the roots of the predicament that requiered, to Catholic consecrated women, a life attached to the monastic's rule and to live in cloisters. Requirement that have been imposed until the Second Vatican council. However, we do not focus on the spiritual dimension and separation from the world, in pursuit of holiness, but rather in its presence in the world to show the significance and meaning of life in this group of women, few recognized by Church historians including femminist and even Catholic women.