The article intends to discuss the construction of models of womanly holiness in Novo Orbe serafico brasilico, the bestknown work of the Franciscan friar Antônio de Santa Maria Jaboatão (1695-1779). In the book under discussion, are reviewed three reports of life: widow Antonia de Padua de Goes († 1643), beata Catharina Paes Landim († 1748) and nun Maria da Soledade (1668-1719). The hypothesis is that the different narratives serve as models of virtue for colonial women belonging to the states of married, widowed, beata and nun. On the other hand, reports transcribed and adapted by Jaboatão probably suffered influences of hagiographic narrative models, particularly those inspired by the lives of Santa Isabel (1271-1336), Queen of Portugal, and St. Clara of Assisi (1194-1253).
womanly holiness; devotional practices; colonial Catholicism; Bahia; XVIIIth century.