Some blessers in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul are using cell phones to perform prayer rituals for horses and cattle, modernizing an ancient tradition. Instead of visiting rural properties, requests for help can be made through text messages or audio sent via phone, integrating technology into the routine of these practitioners.
Ronaldo, one of the blessers, handles these requests remotely. Owners contact him by phone and send photos of the animals needing assistance. He mentioned that he started blessing about ten years ago, and since then, requests have increased, also arriving through digital channels. For him, the effectiveness of the practice depends as much on the belief of the requester as on the one performing the ritual.
Ronaldo shared a previous experience where blessing a 'cursed' cow on a hill resulted in success. Currently, he receives many requests, including through digital means. Among the clients is Lauri, a cattle supplier for rodeos, who requested help for a cow via an audio message. According to Lauri, the animal showed improvement after the prayers, stating that the blesser possesses a 'gift from God.'
Another rural producer, José Ricardo Lima, sought out Ronaldo after a friend's recommendation. He sent a photo of a filly with problems. Weeks later, José Ricardo confirmed that the animal had recovered. He reported that after sending the photo, he received guidance that he would no longer need to monitor the animal, and in the third week, upon going to the field, he saw that the filly was well, reinforcing his faith.
Symbolic Elements
In Santo Antônio da Patrulha, the blesser Arinda Rocha de Souza incorporates symbolic elements into her consultations. She uses a leaf and a knife, gestures that, according to her, symbolize the removal of the problem affecting the animal. Arinda explains that the little leaf is her method of blessing, uttering the names of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Religious faith is a central pillar in Arinda's activity. She prays asking for protection from saints, citing Saint Expedite and Saint Sebastian. Arinda considers Saint Expedite her protector and believes in the strength of Saint Sebastian, stating that if one asks him, he protects what is being requested.
Elma Sant'ana, a writer specializing in the topic, explains that the persistence of this tradition in the rural environment aims to restore harmony between humans and animals, which historically lived in a relationship of dependence in the countryside. She details that when praying, the blesser did not see a hierarchy between the animal and human, but rather a disharmony that needed to be balanced.
Prayers for Recovery
In the city of Soledade, the blesser Jurema, 77 years old, continues to offer assistance during traditional events, talking with participants seeking help for horses and other animals. Her rituals are brief, focusing on requests to ward off evils and wish for the animal's recovery.
Jurema learned the practice on her own, attributing her knowledge to the 'powers of God.' She prays, for example: 'Spirit, I, in the name of Jesus, take away all jealousy, envy, 'evil eye', big eye that was put on you, and God sends it far away, and may you improve well, and may you heal.'
A memorable case Jurema recalls is that of a mare suffering from colic. Shortly after the blessing, the owner returned to report that the animal had stood up and resumed grazing, saying this happened in less than thirty minutes.