Spirituality Forged in Transmitted Memories

Abstract

Spirituality transcends individual experience, being forged in the memories transmitted across generations. These intergenerational narratives, when shared, constitute an immaterial legacy that shapes collective identities and provides a sense of belonging. Through orality, symbols, and practices, spiritual knowledge is perpetuated, creating a bridge between past and present. This study aims to describe how my parents, a resilient farming couple from the Brazilian semi-arid region, experienced a profound spirituality, expressed and transmitted through practices of solidarity in their relationships with others, as well as hope in Divine Providence. Through the (auto)ethnographic method, the researcher explores her own experience to understand broader social phenomena. The approach demands analytical rigor, avoiding mere autobiographical descriptions and fostering critical connections between the self and the sociocultural context. The considerations presented in this article demonstrate that memories of spirituality constitute a continuous process of transmission that not only preserves traditions but also adapts them. In this way, spirituality remains relevant and transformative, dynamically re-signifying itself in sociocultural and family contexts, evidencing its evolutionary and integrative nature.