“What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand” (Jn 13:7). This phrase addressed by Our Lord to St. Peter, during the washing of the feet, easily springs to the mind of anyone looking to discuss the mystical life of Msgr. João. The impressions are so vivid, the realities so profound and the episodes still so recent that only by wisely biding the moment and applying careful analysis, will we be able, in time, to shed more accurate light on the matter.
However, it would be a serious omission to pass over this facet of our founder’s soul in silence, for two reasons: first, because he was a preacher who was convinced of the universality of the mystical way; secondly, because all who enjoyed his company glimpsed in him, despite his invariable simplicity and discretion, an intense and intimate relationship with God, with Our Lady and with Heaven. Briefly put, if it is true that mysticism is a way accessible to everyone, it is equally true that it has varying degrees.1
In this regard, a person with sharp psychological acumen and vast experience in dealing with souls had this to say: “Behind his smile, he hides a profound mystical life.” Here we will attempt, with deep respect and with no intention of exhausting the topic, to raise the edge of the veil that covers the inner sanctuary of the soul of Msgr. João.
“It is no longer I who live”
Many are eager to hazard guesses about the mysterious supernatural attraction exerted by Msgr. João – similar to that communicated by St. John Bosco – upon those who came close to him.
Experts of the mystical life, however, have no difficulty in clarifying the matter: in men of God – especially in the great saints and founders – the divine presence is so palpable as to make it irresistible.
St. Paul had sufficient magnanimity and modesty to translate this reality into words: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me!” (Gal 2:20).
Someone with vast experience in dealing with souls offered this felicitous commentary regarding Msgr. João: “Behind his smile, he hides a profound mystical life”
The Fathers of the Church take Jacob’s ladder – “set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to Heaven” (Gn 28:12) – to be a symbol of Christ Himself2 and affirm that the mystical life is an ascension in union with Him, towards “divinization.”3
Thus, based on the strictest and purest Theology, we can affirm that we lived with a deified man, in whom the supernatural continually pulsed. In his presence, it was impossible to separate the human from the divine for, as Friar Juan González Arintero rightly points out, the mystical path is constituted by the “interior life which just souls experience when, animated and possessed by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, they receive more and more perfectly and sometimes clearly perceive His divine impulses, delightful or painful, whereby they grow in union and conformity with Him who is their Head until they become transformed in Him.”4
In Msgr. João, however, this unfolded with a special note: his entire mystical progression was carried out by means of Our Lady, combining the conditions of son, slave and even spiritual spouse of the Blessed Virgin. Wonderful and countless fruits issued throughout this “Marian divinization”, some of which we will consider, by way of illustration, in the lines that follow.
The effect of a blessing, given before he was priest
In the year 1978, the then Mr. João was in Quito, Ecuador, praying in the Jesuit Church, when a distressed mother came to him. Holding out to him the young child she carried in her arms, she said: “My daughter is dying! My daughter is dying!”
Msgr. João promised to pray for the little girl and showed his compassion for her condition, but the distraught woman was not satisfied with this and persistently asked him to bless her daughter. Our founder tried to excuse himself by telling her that he was not a priest, but she brushed away the explanation. Finally, unable to refuse her, he blessed the child, invoking Our Lady, and bid her farewell.
Surprising to say, a few days later, the devoted mother returned to the church to testify that her daughter had been healed by that blessing. Indeed, God ordains that the most chosen souls, “apart from the graces which ordinarily accompany the mystical life, […] receive the charisms and extraordinary gifts (prophesies, miracles, the gift of tongues and the like) which are primarily directed to the good of others and the well-being of the Church in general.”5
Visions of the future
Another aspect of the mystical life of Msgr. João is also outlined by Theology in its dealing with the spiritual senses, which “permit us to observe the divine in some way, rending the veil of mystery to some extent, thus affording us an intermediate knowledge between that of faith and face-to-face or beatific knowledge.”6 In our father, this truth was proven time and time again, as in the following episode.
The beatitude of being defamed (cf. Mt 5:11) has often visited the movement founded by Dr. Plinio, and the year 1983 was one such “blessed” occasion. It all started on June 6, when two voluminous letters came into his hands containing far-fetched and absurd doctrinal accusations, which placed his faithful disciple as the principal author of the supposed deviations, in his apostolate meetings.
Having gone over the content of the missives, Msgr. João was beset with apprehension, for he discerned in that case a wave of explosive defamations against the work itself. Having retired to his room, he sat down on the bed, and it was then that he “saw” a medieval-looking building, made of beautiful stone, with an imposing door, which opened for him to enter. Upon crossing the threshold, he came upon another door from which a man with greying hair emerged, dressed in a white tunic and scapular. This person came towards him and embraced him warmly. And there, the vision ended abruptly.
Countless incidents could be narrated, showing how the barriers between faith, the human and the supernatural were clearly overcome!
Over the following days, it was decided that Msgr. João should travel to Spain in order to discuss the case with a prominent theologian or canon lawyer and ask for guidance. Arriving in Europe, the members of the Group who lived there suggested that he go to Salamanca, which they knew to be a centre of said specialists.
After about four hours of travel, they reached their destination. It was the first time that our founder had been there… physically. Everything was precisely as it had been shown to him: the stone building, the door and the Dominican friar who appeared in his beautiful habit. It was Friar Arturo Alonso Lobo, OP, a great canon lawyer.
The wise son of St. Dominic thoroughly analysed the accusations contained in the letters and responded to them in writing, affirming that neither in Dr. Plinio nor in his disciple was there anything contrary to the doctrine and customs of the Holy Catholic Church. The vision of Msgr. João had been fulfilled, bringing the solution to the inextricable problem. One detail, however, was missing, and would only come at the end of the visit: one by one, Friar Arturo cordially greeted the four people who accompanied Msgr. João but, when he came to him, the Dominican gave him a hearty embrace.
Uncountable episodes similar to the one above transpired over the years. Many spiritual sons and daughters received counsel from him at a distance; people would mystically appear before him in the most varied situations, asking for help, in danger or in need of guidance – sometimes, even with a “caption” next to the image, indicating the name of the person in question! Or instead, at times, those who were far away would see Msgr. João. It was also not unusual for him to describe someone’s entire life, their family situation, their ancestry and other details, just by looking at a photograph or hearing their voice over the phone.
Countless other incidents could be narrated, showing how the barriers between faith, the human and the supernatural were clearly overcome!
Irresistible and accurate breath of Holy Spirit
Audacity was another constant in Msgr. João’s life. Those who accompanied him up close witnessed the many serious decisions he made, promptly and with full assurance. Some could attribute this to temerity, hastiness or even presumption; others, the reactions of a fiery temperament with a taste for the unexpected. Poor mortals, who judge the men of God in this way!
Those versed in the mystical life have a very different explanation for this phenomenon: the soul that is entirely united with God “frequently feels certain violent and very sweet impulses, which carry it without it knowing where, but certainly to heights for which ordinary light, strength or direction do not suffice.”7
This is what happened in 1978. Having been made aware of some private revelations of Our Lady of Good Success to Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres, a Conceptionist nun from Ecuador, Dr. Plinio showed keen interest in looking more deeply into the matter. The tireless Msgr. João immediately made himself available to travel to the country to research the subject, although he lacked specific information to facilitate the mission.
Arriving at night in Quito, he was met by some brothers of vocation from the country, and he asked to go directly to the Conceptionist monastery. As expected, the church was closed at that hour. His companions commiserated with him and promised to return the next day. They were evidently not very well acquainted with our founder… With no more ado, like Joshua at the walls of Jericho, he walked around the monastery several times praying the Rosary. At the end of the last Rosary, he went over to one of the doors of the building and, to everyone’s surprise, found it to be open.
It was the first time that our founder had visited that monastery in Spain… physically. Everything was precisely as he had “seen” it while still in São Paulo
The next day he had to go to the city of Riobamba, to obtain more information about the mysterious prophecies at the Conceptionist convent there. However, the local superior stated that she would be unable to help him without written authorization from the superior, who was convalescing in Quito, where he had just come from… Without wasting a moment, Msgr. João took the road back to the capital with a sole accompaniment, arriving at about 8 p.m. To his companion’s astonishment, he said he would look for the mother superior that same night.
“But where shall we go? We have no address and Quito is a big city!” replied his helper.
“Let’s drive far up, and on the way down ask if anyone knows the whereabouts of the nuns,” responded Msgr. João, indicating a street on an incline.
Rather incredulous, his companion acquiesced, but showing slight annoyance at such a haphazard and apparently futile plan. They began the search, going from house to house, receiving a series of denials, which seemed to prove the “sensible” friend right… However, this was short-lived. They entered another street and Msgr. João went into a snack-bar, asking about the Conceptionists. Another surprise! They were lodged on the upper floor of that very building.
They knocked on the door and two nuns opened it. When the religious laid eyes on Msgr. João, standing there in suit and tie, they went down on their knees. Our founder apologized for the late hour but asked if it would be possible to speak to the superior. They confirmed that she was in that house, and went to call her. When the superior came to door she also knelt down!
Sensing the breath of the Holy Spirit in that chosen soul, they all had the same surprising reaction. The good mother duly wrote a letter aiding the work of Msgr. João on the subject of the private revelations of Our Lady of Good Success. How can such an episode be explained according to merely human criteria?
“Everything is resolved”
Another mystical phenomenon that accompanied Msgr. João throughout his life was that of interior locutions.
In the year 1997, the work founded by Dr. Plinio was facing a complex situation. With the paternal duty of supporting – of even materially sustaining – the numerous spiritual children linked to him, Msgr. João was searching for a way to obtain the needed means. He found the answer in Turin, before the body of St. John Bosco.
For reasons related to the apostolate he had to travel to Europe and, as he passed through northern Italy, he stopped at the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians in order to pray before the relics of the holy founder of the Salesians, to whom he was always deeply devoted.
After prolonged and recollected prayer, he left the basilica, and asked to be put in touch with the person responsible for the work’s financial affairs, telling him not to worry, as all difficulties would soon be resolved. His conviction was so strong that the treasurer thought that a large donation had come in for Msgr. João during the trip. But then he explained: as he prayed, St. John Bosco clearly promised him that he would take the finances in hand, and that shortly everything would be resolved. This is exactly what happened.
A consolation at the onset of the most painful trial
As the reader well knows, in 2010 our founder suffered a cerebrovascular accident. A few days later, while he was convalescing at Oswaldo Cruz Hospital, in São Paulo, an episode occurred that would open a new phase in his mystical life.
Early in the morning, those who arrived to accompany him realized something was different, for his eyes were shining especially brightly. When they asked if something had happened during the night – if he had received some unusual grace – he gave them emphatic confirmation. Then he made a gesture with his left hand, symbolizing a turnabout of one hundred and eighty degrees.
While he prayed before the relics of St. John Bosco, the saint clearly promised him that the problem weighing on his mind would soon be resolved
With effort, given that after the accident, precise phrasing did not always come to him, he managed to say: “Someone came here. They were three: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!” He also added that it was a supernatural favour analogous to the vision of God.8 Msgr. João became emotional as he spoke, and for several days in that hospital environment, he was filled with a superior joy, inexplicable according to a naturalist outlook.
Due to his communication difficulty and his discretion regarding this type of phenomena, he never gave more details about the episode, but it made a deep impression on him. Although it could seem to be an isolated phenomenon, it was actually an important milestone in the long ascent that was beginning its most difficult phase.
At the apex of life, an offering from the devil…
Since the mystical path is a participation in the very life of Our Lord Jesus Christ, those who climb this “ladder” cannot miss a step that was taken by the Divine Master: “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Mt 4:1).
In May of 2021, during the early morning hours, Msgr. João clearly “saw” someone approaching his bed. It had a human appearance, was dressed in black and conveyed a sense of evil and coldness. Our founder immediately discerned that it was a preternatural presence and promptly readied his spirit for battle.
The tempter had apparently not come to torment him, do him physical harm, or take revenge. He wanted, rather, to make a proposal: many more years of life, the complete recovery of the consequences of the accident he had suffered and all his personal aspirations fulfilled, if he would but join him.
Our father’s response could not have been different: a forceful act of hatred, rejection and contempt, expressed with profound vehemence in a shout that was heard from a considerable distance, against this rebellious and sordid being, who was playing his last card to win over the one who had always denounced and combatted him.
Seeing his crazed plan come to naught, the mysterious being retreated through the bedroom door, while Msgr. João followed him with a defiant and threatening look.
“Blessed are those who knew you”
Perhaps the most important event in the life of our founder was the embrace received from Our Lady on July 12, 2008, in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, which will be discussed in detail in another article in this same edition.
That day took place what St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross describe as the pinnacle of the mystical life: the spiritual espousal.9 From then on, the Blessed Virgin and he would no longer be two, but one (cf. Jn 17, 10:21-22), in this highest supernatural reality of which human marriage is a symbol.
Those who had the immense grace to live with Msgr. João knew a thoroughly supernatural man, of ardent faith, in whom the presence of God was always strongly felt
“The rest of his acts, combats, brave deeds and his greatness have not been recorded, for they were very many,” we could add, paraphrasing the epic chronicle of the Maccabees (cf. 1 Mc 9:22). Prophecies, visions, supernatural dreams, discernment of spirits, reports of advice received remotely and even possible bilocation… It is impossible to exhaustively cover a subject that, without a doubt, requires specified study and a very careful analysis of the facts?
However, from all that has been related, one point must surely be clear to the reader. Whoever had the immense grace of living with Msgr. João knew a thoroughly supernatural man, a man of ardent faith, hors-série, in whom the presence of God was always vibrantly palpable.
In short, supported by the great saints and theologians of the mystical life, we staunchly affirm: what we saw was no ordinary man, but the Holy Trinity living in him and loving the one with whom Mary had chosen to be of one heart.
Ah, Msgr. João, “blessed are they that saw you, and were honoured with your friendship (Sir 48:11). ◊
Notes
1 Cf. GARRIGOU-LAGRANGE, OP, Réginald. Les trois âges de la vie intérieur: prélude de celle du Ciel. Paris: Du Cerf, 1938, t.I, p.307-336.
2 Cf. AFRAATES. Sobre la oración. In: ODEN, Thomas C; SHERIDAN, Mark (Ed.). La Biblia comentada por los Padres de la Iglesia. Antiguo Testamento. Madrid: Ciudad Nueva, 2005, v.II, p.273.
3 Cf. GONZÁLEZ ARINTERO, OP, Juan. La evolución mística. Madrid: BAC, 1959, p.23.
4 Idem, p.17.
5 Idem, p. 603.
6 GONZÁLEZ ARINTERO, OP, Juan. Cuestiones místicas. 2.ed. Salamanca: Calatrava, 1920, p.58.
7 GONZÁLEZ ARINTERO, La evolución mística, op. cit., p.204.
8 Friar Juan González Arintero explains that this “seeing God” in “marvellous familiarity”, is the final degree of the mystical life. (cf. GONZÁLEZ ARINTERO, La evolución mística, op. cit., p.603).
9 Cf. Idem, p.529-549.
