There was a time when nuns fornicated as much as they prayed. For the rascals who dreamed of wallowing in stupor, convents were the Eldorado of eroticism. It was in these closed and dark places that men sought out forbidden pleasures. Why did they do this ? Quite simply because the great Portuguese families married with God any rebellious girl, deflowered before marriage, nymphomaniac,…
In 1777, the Baron de Cormatin wrote : « The clergy, which is very numerous and powerful, is absolutely ignorant and debauched; even the monks and nuns live in the most scandalous libertinism. […] The Portuguese love the statues of their saints and violate the holy laws of morality, […] they wander ceaselessly from crime to penance and from penance to crime. They tremble at the mere name of the devil and hell and indulge in all the excesses of the most base depravity ». The mass is said.
“Amor que queimava os corpos através dos espiritos” Grégorio de Matos, poet and freirático
Oh sure, it was not easy to enjoy this forbidden fruit. The freiráticos used every means to achieve their ends: they bribed the key holders, corrupted the superior mothers and those who resisted were threatened with knives. The priests were « smugglers » and at night the doors were opened for lovers. And if that wasn’t enough, the most adventurous climbed the walls, disguised themselves as nuns so as not to attract attention.
During these wild nights, between vespers and matinees, if one could stifle the moans with kisses, it was difficult to avoid the creaking of the wood. He had to bear the weight of the carnal sins of these adulterous men, whether they were noblemen, judges, princes or students.
It was in the convent of Saint Denis, in Odivelas, that the nuns became the talk of the town. There were 300 beautiful and seductive nuns, favourite lovers of the Lisbon nobles. They lived in cells with silk-covered walls and satin curtains. Living in total opulence, the sisters led an idle life of reading and flirting. They liked to make sweets, including the famous white marmalade, to give to their distinguished guests.
A few months before the earthquake of 1755, the naval cadet Charles-Christian recounted his experiences : « The nuns’ parlours are always full. They have an air of indecency and a backstage tone like that of the actresses in France. They all wear red and powder like the women of the world. They also wear advantageous corsets. We French were very well received there. They would usually open the door and we would have lively conversations with them. Provided that there were only a few Frenchmen and no curious Portuguese, they willingly let themselves be kissed by them« .
« Quando eu estive em vossa cela / Deitado na vossa cama / Chupando nas vossas tetas » During this century, the Freiráticos poets took great pleasure in profaning the sacred, but also, with great irony, they did not hesitate to highlight the hypocrisy of the Inquisitorial institution and the vulnerability of the monarch Joao V, who was a great lover of nuns. The Magnanimous One often left Lisbon to stay in the Odivelas Palace, a stone’s throw from the monastery. From his residence, he had access to the convent through a secret passage so that he could go to confession in complete discretion. It is said that Joao loved to have the nuns sit on his lap and whisper erotic poems in his ear.
Around 1720, while chasing the freirático count of Vimioso, Joao V fell in love with sister Paula, who later became the mother superior of the convent with ease. Their relationship is known to everybody and until the end Joao V will be her lover for ever.
As a result of his extra-marital relations, Joao V will recognize three bastards, known as « meninos de Palhavã », out of pure scruples of conscience. Antonio, Gaspard and José were raised in the palace of the Marquis of Louriçal, now the Spanish Embassy. Their destiny was to serve the Church. José, son of Joao V and sister Paula, will become …the main Inquisitor !
