The Church is Immaculate and Indefectible
After each campaign of attacks against her, the Church always emerges stronger and more splendorous than before
Msgr. João Scognamiglio Clá Dias, EP
The barrage of reports which, in recent weeks, has attempted to stain the Catholic Church, using the abuses of children committed by a portion of Catholic priests as a pretext, has reached an inconceivable climax.
Bent on fanning the flames, various agencies of social communication have delved into the past, in search of new allegations involving the Vicar of Christ on Earth, Pope Benedict XVI, in which, however, they have roundly failed.
That there are disordered and unworthy priests, no one can deny; that horrible abuses have been committed, and certainly even in a number greater than recorded, must be acknowledged.
But to use the very grave, yet isolated offences of a minority of clerics to tarnish priests at large, is an injustice. And to employ this as a guise to attempt to overthrow the Church is diabolical.
However, the more the Church is infiltrated by the libertarian, relativistic and neo-pagan
spirit of our age, the more it may be feared that crimes of paedophilia will occur. From this stems the need to implant a rigorous selection system in seminaries, so that only those who do not have a propensity to conspire with the world, but who want to teach the practice of Catholic doctrine in all its purity and to serve as an example may be admitted as candidates to the priesthood.
The present publicity campaign against the Church undermines a truth of which history provides an unequivocal testimony: it was the Catholic Church that freed the world from immorality, and it is because the world is rejecting the Church that it has once again sunk into the mire from which it was rescued.
Download the full PDF document
For other languages : click here
Phrase of the Day February 12, 2010
“Caprice leads to bitterness and the spirit of criticism”
Msgr. John S. Clá Dias 02.12.2010
A father teaches his children
“O capricho leva à amargura e ao espírito de crítica!”
Msgr. João S. Clá Dias (12/02/2010).
Reception of habits – Jan. 24, 2010
Some pictures of a ceremony of reception of habit in Our Lady of the Rosary church.
And the phrase of the day…
Our founder, Msgr. João S. Clá Dias, has the custom of, after signing the registry of the masses, to write in a phrase that synthesizes the homily and leave a lasting impression above all in the younger heralds. So we hope to transmit them often!
“Quem vive em virtude, transborda em alegria!”
“Who lives in virtue, overflows in joy!
16-01-10
Waiting for the phrase after the Mass
“O amor move o universo enquanto a Fé, as montanhas”
“Love moves the universe while Faith, the mountains.
Mons. João S. Clá Dias, 12-01-2010
Thabor – The Heralds of the Gospel’s International Seminary
Tabor at an angle
The classrooms and the courtyard during Christmas
Tabor (Thabor in Portuguese) is the name of the international seminary of the Heralds of the Gospel (The Society of Apostolic life of Pontifical Right Virgo Flos Carmeli). It comprises the Major Seminary, Minor Seminary, Church and TV studios of the Heralds of the Gospel.
It is the main place where our future priests and consecrated receive their formation. In here they will not only study theology, philosophy and other ecclesiastical disciplines, but will formed into holy men. In a life full of prayer and study, guided by discipline and love of perfection they learn to “be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)”
At the Major Seminary, St. Thomas Aquinas, the young Heralds study the Church disciplines, always with a particular love for the via pulchritudinis. At the minor seminary, young aspirants begin their steps in the religious life with joy, starting from middle school to high school.
The Heralds of the Gospel always strive for the elevation of man to God through beauty and splendour. That is a keynote to Tabor. Everywhere and at all times is the young seminarian/novice surrounded by a an ambiance that elevates him towards contemplation. In a life full of ceremonials, the young Herald already begins to participate in the joys of the angels and saints in Heaven, feeling the peace God gives when we are in search of Him.
From dinner to Complines
We wanted show you this wonder to let you participate in our joy. If you ever find yourself in São Paulo, Brazil, come visit us!
This is a first post on Tabor and we hope to post more. We’ ll be putting things on the daily life and activities of the Heralds of the Gospel in Thabor and Our Lady of the Rosary Church.
The pictures are all thanks to our seminarians there who run a blog on the seminary. Please visit them! thabor.blog.arautos.org
Rome Reports
It is not recent news for the readers of our magazine… but you might like to watch this video published yesterday on www.romereports.com:
Heralds of the Gospel founder receives the Holy Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice
November 25, 2009. The Nobel prizes are awarded to those who have made notable discoveries or investigations for peace. But it’s not the only important recognition out there. Those who give service to the Church and the pope also receive an award of their own. It’s called the Holy Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice.
Cardinal Franc Rode travelled to Brazil to award the prize to Monsignor Joao Scognamiglio Cla, founder of the Heralds of the Gospel.
Card. Franc Rode
Prefect, Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life
“The pope is grateful for your noble work, holy audacity, your love for the Church and the exceptional example of your life. You are the race of heroes and saints.”
The Holy Cross Pro Ecclesia is made of gold and has an image of Saint Peter and Saint Paul and a yellow and white band for the colors of the Vatican.
Mons. Joao Scognamiglio Cla
Founder, Heralds of the Gospel
“This award honors all of us—myself, the Heralds and the societies of apostolic life. We have the grace of God to be able to continue our work and your guidance, Eminence, as well as the Holy Father’s.”
The Heralds were also celebrating the approval of the female section and the priestly section of the Heralds of the Gospel.
Father José Fco. Hernández Medina.
President, Heralds of the Gospel (Italy)
“That was another reason why Cardinal Rode wanted to go to Sao Paulo, Brazil this summer to award the Holy Cross and celebrate our pontifical approvals in the proper place.”
This approval comes together with one granted by John Paul II in 2001. Founded in the 1970’s in Brazil, they are present in 50 countries around the world.
It’s spirituality is based on the adoration of the Eucharist, devotion to the Virgin and fidelity to the pope. It’s a spirituality that means to take the Gospel to all corners of the world.
BR/RS
–WP
Founder of the Heralds of the Gospel is decorated by Pope Benedict XVI
São Paulo, Brazil (Gaudium Press) The “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” medal, one of the highest distinctions granted by the Pope to persons outstanding in their service to the Church and to the Roman Pontiff, was bestowed by His Eminence Franc Cardinal Rodé to Msgr. João Scognamiglio Clá Dias, in a solemn celebration of the Eucharist on August 15, in the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, at the seminary of the Heralds of the Gospel, located in Greater São Paulo.
Msgr. João S. Clá Dias is founder of Heralds of the Gospel and of two societies of apostolic life, one clerical and the other feminine, Virgo Flos Carmeli and Regina Virginum, respectively.
In the act of bestowing the medal, on the occasion of the 70th birthday of Msgr. João Clá, the Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life drew attention to the merits of the recipient, recalling the words of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux:
“At the moment of bestowing upon you this decoration with which the Holy Father wished to reward your merits, the words of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux at the beginning of his treatise De Laude Novae Militiae come to mind: ‘The news has been spreading for some time that a new type of chivalry has appeared in the world.’ These words could be applied to the present moment. In effect, a new chivalry has been born thanks to Your Excellency, not secular but religious, with a new ideal of sanctity and of heroic service to the Church. In this endeavor, born of your noble heart, we cannot fail to see a particular grace given to the Church; an act of Divine Providence in view of the needs of the world today.”
Upon expressing his gratitude for the prestigious decoration with which the Holy Father had honored him, Msgr. João S. Clá Dias emphasized the brilliant role of Cardinal Franc Rodé in directing the roman dicastery confided to his care and the valued guidance that led to the pontifical approval of the two societies of apostolic life: Regina Virginum and Virgo Flos Carmeli. But, above all, he wished to express the sentiments of filial adhesion to the Holy Father that pulses in the hearts of all the members of the movement of the Heralds of the Gospel, using the words of the eminent Brazilian Catholic leader of the Twentieth Century, Professor Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira:
“Everything there is within the Catholic Church of sanctity, of authority, of supernatural virtue, all of this, but absolutely everything without exception, or conditions, or restrictions, is subordinated, conditioned, and dependant upon union with the Chair of Saint Peter. (…) Because of this, it is a sign of a condition of spiritual vigor, an extreme sensitivity, a delicate and lively feeling of the faithful for all that touches upon the security, glory and tranquility of the Roman Pontiff. After the love of God, this is the highest of loves that Religion teaches us. One and the other love are even interchangeable. (…) And we can say: ‘for us, between the Pope and Jesus Christ, there is no difference.’ Everything that involves the Pope, directly, intimately and indissolubly involves Jesus Christ.”
On the previous day, August 14, the illustrious visitor inaugurated the Church of Our Lady of Carmel at the motherhouse of the feminine society of apostolic life Regina Virginum, with a solemn celebration of the Eucharist.
For more details and a video on the event (in portuguese) click here
The Founder of the Heralds of the Gospel is appointed Papal Canon of the Basilica of St. Mary Major
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
– Matthew 13:31–32
Those hearing this parable know of the botanic construction of mustard, characterized by its minuscule seed that, once planted, gives birth to a lush bush, always green.
God might have created the mustard seed solely to serve as the object of this beautiful parable of our Savior. Extremely small in its beginning, astonishing in its development, this plant is a good example to illustrate the origin and strength of Catholic apostolate, and even of the Kingdom of Heaven. Who, present when Jesus, just before ascending to heaven, gave instructions to the small group of disciples, couldn’t imagine that, in the future, millions of Catholics would populate the world.
In the teaching of this parable, growth is an essential element. The Kingdom of God and apostolate are almost imperceptible in their beginning, but as time goes on their expansion is incalculable, above all by the disproportion between the scarcity of the means and the greatness of the effects.
When a baby is brought to the baptismal font and is touched by the waters of grace, God sanctifies him. Years later some of these tender and delicate infants will become giants in the Faith, everyone knows of a St. John Bosco, or a St. Teresa of the Child Jesus for example. Colossal trees, born from such a simple ceremony…
This parable motivates us to believe in the strength of the expansion and the penetration of the Church, it teaches us, at the same time, the true sense of the Kingdom of Heaven and the triumph of the good ones, who will be shining at the Final Judgment.