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Cumprir Promessa

English translation: To fulfil a vow (made to a saint)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Portuguese term or phrase:Cumprir Promessa
English translation:To fulfil a vow (made to a saint)
Entered by: Carla Selyer

14:26 Oct 3, 2008
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Anthropology / Festas Populares no Brasil
Portuguese term or phrase: Cumprir Promessa
I'm translating this Anthropologic article about the popular catholic feasts in Brazil, and there are a lot of moments when the author mentions the term "cumprir promessa" (como em "cumprir promessa a um santo"). I need some help with this term 'cause it appears a lot of times.
Thanks.

Ex:

"(...) muitos peregrinos cumprem promessas dolorosas, como acompanhar as procissões de joelhos."
Paulline Maximiniano
To fulfil a vow (made to a saint)
Explanation:
What happens is that in those times people would go to the church and pray and then promise the saint something in return for an answer to that prayer. For instance, going on an entire pilgrimage journey whilst on their knees, etc.

We may then confirm by a vow the promise made to a saint, and likewise we .... or because we may be unable to fulfil them (for failure to fulfil a vow is ...
www.newadvent.org/cathen/15511a.htm


Mar 2007 ... We may then confirm by a vow the promise made to a saint, .... we may be unable to fulfil them (for failure to fulfil a vow is sure to be ...
en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia
Selected response from:

Carla Selyer
Local time: 16:04
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +2To fulfil a vow (made to a saint)
Carla Selyer
4 +1To fulfil a promise
Maria José Tavares (X)
4 +1Keep a promise
mmasur
3 +2perform devotions that can be quite painful
Robert Forstag
4to take a pledge
Marlene Curtis
4"doing penance"
Tami Bogea (X)


  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
To fulfil a promise


Explanation:
cumprir as suas promessas: to fulfil one's promises
Dicionário Porto Editora

Maria José Tavares (X)
Portugal
Local time: 15:04
Native speaker of: Portuguese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  R. Alex Jenkins
1 min
  -> Thanks Richard
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16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Keep a promise


Explanation:
Thats how it´s said in the USA

mmasur
Brazil
Local time: 11:04
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alyson Steele Weickert, Ph.D.
3 mins
  -> Thanks
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22 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
To fulfil a vow (made to a saint)


Explanation:
What happens is that in those times people would go to the church and pray and then promise the saint something in return for an answer to that prayer. For instance, going on an entire pilgrimage journey whilst on their knees, etc.

We may then confirm by a vow the promise made to a saint, and likewise we .... or because we may be unable to fulfil them (for failure to fulfil a vow is ...
www.newadvent.org/cathen/15511a.htm


Mar 2007 ... We may then confirm by a vow the promise made to a saint, .... we may be unable to fulfil them (for failure to fulfil a vow is sure to be ...
en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia



    Reference: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15511a.htm
    His parents again had recourse to Francis of Assisi and made a vow that their ... of the Franciscan Order in order to fulfil the vow
Carla Selyer
Local time: 16:04
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  exacto.nz
2 mins
  -> Thanks!!
agree  skport
3 hrs
  -> Thanks!
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15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
cumprem promessas dolorosas
perform devotions that can be quite painful


Explanation:
The extra words are needed in English to make the phrase sound natural. In other contexts where it appears in your texts, "perform devotions" or "pay homage" might also work.

I don't think "fulfill a promise" works at all in the context of paying homage to a saint or participating in a religious procession.

Boa sorte.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 39 mins (2008-10-03 15:05:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Carla's suggestion of "fulfill a vow" will work in some contexts, but not in others (e.g., the example of "cumprir promessas dolorosas" that you give).

As I indicated in my original answer, I think you will have to use different translations for this phrase, depending on the specific context within which it appears.

Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 10:04
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Amy Duncan (X)
2 mins
  -> Obrigado, Amy.
agree  Alexandra Gouveia
2 hrs
  -> Obrigado, Alexandra.
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
to take a pledge


Explanation:
Patron Saints Stories | Saint Matt Talbot | Catholic Saints Photo ... At the age of 28, Matt was finally able to make it through a day without alcohol . He then told his mother he was going "take the pledge" and stop drinking ...
www.saintsforsinners.com/saint-matt-talbot-medal-story.html - 5k -

Marlene Curtis
United States
Local time: 10:04
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 12
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
"doing penance"


Explanation:
In a religious text, "cumprir promessa" would be in the sense of "pagar penitência", that is, to perform an act of contrition to reach absolution for one's sins. Thus, "doing penance" would be closer in meaning.

Example sentence(s):
  • In the feudal era "doing penance" often involved severe and/or public discipline, which could be both harsh and humiliating but was considered edifying.
Tami Bogea (X)
Canada
Local time: 07:04
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
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