In 1918, the pneumonic plague was ravaging the entire population, and in the city of Viana do Castelo, a procession was held on November 10, where it was promised to ascend to the hill of Santa Luzia and make a consecration to the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus present there, if the plague stopped. This event did occur, and so the promise had to be fulfilled. Prevented from doing so in 1919 and 1920, it was only in 1921 that the promise was fulfilled and has been repeated every year since.
Currently, the pilgrimage, with a Eucharist service, takes place on the weekend following the week of the Corpus Christi celebration. All the parishes of the archpriesthood of Viana attend it.