The day of glorification of Blessed Nuno — November 6 — is celebrated very widely, since this name has been highly revered in Portugal for many centuries.
He once had the worldly name — Alvarez Pereira (1360—1431) — and was a brilliant Portuguese general who played a decisive role in resolving the turmoil at the end of the 14th century and establishing Portuguese independence from Castile. During his lifetime he received the nickname «Saint Constable».
Alvarez Pereira was born on June 24, 1360 in the village of Sernashi in central Portugal, near Lisbon, the illegitimate son of Alvaro Gonsalves Pereira, rector of the Hospitaller Order. At the age of 13, he entered the cavalry armada, guarded Don Juan, master of the Aviz Order and became friends with him, and when the master began to claim the throne, he was one of the first to support him and more than once prove his devotion.
One of the most famous stories about the courage and military savvy of Alvarez Pereira is this. During the famous blockade of Lisbon by the Castilians, the commander of the Portuguese troops, Pereira, once discovered 250 enemy soldiers heading ashore in boats. He gathered 60 warriors and headed towards them. He himself, along with several knights, attacked the enemy, but others, seized with fear, remained behind.
The daredevil's horse was wounded and fell on his leg, pinning the trapped rider. Seeing the Portuguese commander in such a position, the Castilians were encouraged and launched a strong counterattack. But when the discouraged Portuguese soldiers saw that their leader, even in this difficult situation, continued to attack the Castilians from the ground, they were filled with courage and began to fight fiercely. Although the number of enemies was four times greater, the Portuguese put them to flight and destroyed almost all of them.
For his courage and loyalty, he received many titles and regalia from Don Juan, who became king of Portugal. However, after the death of his wife, Pereira leaves secular life and goes into monasticism, founding the monastery of the Mother of God of Carmes in Lisbon and taking the name Nuno de Santa Maria. There he lived until his death.
The former constable became famous for his meekness, diligence in prayers and penances and amazing devotion to the Mother of God. Nuno became as great a monk as he was a great warrior. His monastery had a priest who served as a soldier under Nuno before joining the order. When this priest passed by, Nuno always kissed the edge of his clothes as a sign of respect.
In the last year of Nuno's life, King Joao I came to visit him and hug him for the last time. The king wept as he considered Nuno his closest friend, who enthroned him and established the royal house of Avish.
Alvarez Pereira died peacefully at the monastery of Carmo in Lisbon on 1 April 1431. When he felt that the last hour had come, he asked to read «The Passion of the Lord» from the Gospel of John. He died in the words «Ecce Mater Tua» (Behold, your mother!) spoken by the Lord on the cross.
Nuno became famous for his worship of Our Lady, whose cult he put a lot of effort into spreading in Portugal. Nuno has been revered by the Portuguese both as a saint since the 15th century and as one of the most successful Portuguese generals in history. True, Nuno was canonized by Rome only in 1918.