In the prologue to his Gospel, the Virgin Apostle refers for the first time to the greatest man born of a woman in these terms: “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John” (1:6).
The Evangelist uses the verb send, whose original meaning in Greek has an important nuance: sharing the same root as the noun apostle, the term designates an ambassador, an envoy of official representation.1 Therefore, from this point of view, John the Baptist is also an Apostle.2
The question then arises: does Divine Providence not send many other “apostles” in every historical period with the power to teach, guide and, above all, to serve as examples to society?
The answer is undoubtedly yes. God has always raised up His representatives in the Church for the fulfilment of the highest designs. Although their calling is different from that of the Apostles of earlier times, they are truly divine ambassadors, like new forerunners who go before the Lord in order to make ready a people prepared (cf. Lk 1:17).
Therefore, when we come into contact with the history of the holy founders of religious orders and institutes, we are moved to see in these providential men and women a mission of such magnitude.
Tailor-made for contradiction
As well as being the initiator of an institution, the founder is an undisputed model of conduct, an attentive teacher and an inerrant guide in what falls within his own mission, called to transmit the adequate response to the challenges and needs of ever-changing times and historical circumstances.3
On the other hand, he often appears as a “rock of scandal”, ready to counter the deviations and errors of his time. “Therefore,” says Chesterton, “it is the paradox of history that each generation is converted by the saint who contradicts it most.”4
Founders are sent by God to be not only initiators of a work, but also to be His own ambassadors, “tailor-made” for each historical period
Indeed, the founders are given to know something of the mysterious designs of the One whose judgements are unsearchable and whose ways are inscrutable (cf. Rom 11:33). His followers are called to the role of fidelity, even in the face of misunderstandings and unexpected attitudes.
In the Israel of Christ’s time, what could be more contrary to the general rule of behaviour than the appearance of a mysterious ascetic dressed in camel’s hair, feeding on locusts and wild honey, and preaching: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Mt 3:2)? Or during the Middle Ages in Assisi, which unfortunately was being swept down the path of worldliness and the enjoyment of life, what could have been more unusual than the figure of a friar of angelic demeanour dressed in poor rags, preaching the most extreme poverty and humility? The examples multiply.
Well, it could be said that God delights in devising “tailor-made” ambassadors for each historical period… and His “measure” is contradiction.
Founder on many counts
Following the above rule, we cannot consider Msgr. João Scognamiglio Clá Dias as a founder only on the grounds of his having been a mentor and organizer of pontifical associations and societies. That would be to greatly oversimplify the scope of his work.
If founders can rightly be said to hold the title of ambassadors of God, in what way does this glorious epithet fit the eminent figure we are now filially remembering?
To consider Msgr. João as a founder only for having been a mentor and organizer of pontifical associations and societies would be to greatly simplify the scope of his work
Those who knew Msgr. João closely are witnesses to his character as a strong opponent of the neo-pagan spirit of the modern world and its maxims, especially the growing relativism that proclaims a modus vivendi between good and evil.
Terms like intransigence, radicality and integrity – well understood – were part of his everyday vocabulary and were part of who he was, to the joy of those who followed him and the chagrin of his adversaries who, despite countless attempts, never managed to find any want of truth in his words or attitudes. Indeed, “He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out” (Prv 10:9).
Thus, our founder resembled Our Lord Jesus Christ also in this respect: loving sinners and desiring their conversion, he never ceased to hate and reject evil.
At odds with the world, young João defines himself
As we saw in a previous article, Msgr. João’s incompatibility with the spirit of the world had its origins in his early childhood.
Perhaps it was with a view to the fulfilment of his very high vocation that Divine Providence wanted to show him, at an early age, the extent of human wickedness and pride, as he himself commented on several occasions. There were two paths open to that boy: resignation or non-conformity.
The hostility of his surroundings, which were increasingly opposed to Catholic teachings, the contempt for the angelic virtue of purity, the various forms of selfishness and cruelty in his closest contemporaries, all helped to forge a resolution in his soul: “In the face of evil, I will not surrender!” As a result, from a boy emerged a lion.
Shy as a child, João became a valiant young man with a strong character. “When he wakes up in the morning, we do not know if he is going to have breakfast or make a revolution!” his mother would testify on one occasion.
If there was not yet an institution to bring together generous and selfless souls, then it had to be founded! And indeed, young João would have carried out this undertaking if he had not met another ambassador of God who, for many decades, shared his holy non-conformities, even though they did not know each other.
Two founders, one charism
In the history of religious institutions it is common to find, alongside the founder, the figure of one or more faithful disciples. Sometimes there is a soul entrusted with adapting the spirit of the foundation to a female branch, or vice versa, as in the case of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi. However, in the case of what could be broadly called the Heralds’ family of souls, things happened in a unique way.
Today, twenty-nine years after Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira’s departure for eternity, we can say without hesitation that Msgr. João was another founder, in the integrity of the term, alongside the one he considered “as true father and founder.”5 The Blessed Virgin was well aware of the difficulties Dr. Plinio was undergoing, and consented to give him a most faithful disciple, like a new Joshua next to Moses, or a new Elisha next to Elijah.
Indeed, misunderstandings were multiplying around the figure of Dr. Plinio. Many of the older disciples, devoid of any consonance with him, had their eyes set on their own selfish desires and had fallen into the illusion of the most diverse forms of worldliness, sometimes claiming vacuous positions of prominence within the small group that was forming.
Always in close harmony with his spiritual father, Msgr. João would prove to be an authentic founder of small institutions and of the most varied customs
Dr. Plinio found himself in a very delicate situation. He had sought in every way to keep even the most “complicated” ones on the good path; nevertheless, he realized that moving towards the great goals he had in mind would mean incurring the antipathy of several of them… On the other hand, he knew that Msgr. João, in taking the path of fidelity to his master, was heading towards the same incomprehension, but he also considered all that his disciple could do for the movement, working in areas where he himself, by force of circumstances, would not have the opportunity to act.
Thus, in the decades that followed his meeting with Dr. Plinio, Msgr. João would prove to be an authentic founder of small institutions and of the most varied customs, always in the closest and, so to speak, most scrupulous harmony with his spiritual father, who wholeheartedly approved of his daring and often brilliant initiatives.
“João of good surprises!” This is the epithet with which Dr. Plinio would reward his valiant “Elisha” in many circumstances.
Military marches… for religious?
As we will see in detail in one of the following articles, both Dr. Plinio and the then Mr. João were enthusiasts of the military spirit and sought to imprint notes of order and discipline on a youth so lacking in these attributes, increasingly absent in society.
Dr. Plinio undertook the task of stimulating in his spiritual sons, through meetings, talks and his own presence, the desire to be valiant soldiers of Mary. The role of the faithful disciple was to transmit his father’s enthusiasm for military life into regimented movements and other martial customs.
Thus, in 1973, under the aegis of Msgr. João, a specific style of marching emerged, “characterized by its calm and measured pace, but whose execution required extraordinary discipline.”6 Years later, when he witnessed a ceremony in which his disciples marched according to the new “Johannine” school, Dr. Plinio commented: “If I had to transpose my spirit and my mentality into a marching step, this would be the exact result!”7
With extraordinary success, a marching style had been founded which, over the decades, would impress and enthuse many generations right up to the present day.
An artist trained in the school of divine love
The same impetus led Msgr. João to form a polyphonic choir and an orchestra, which toured America and Europe for years. It was on one of these occasions that he received a singular compliment: a great conductor from the city of Palestrina, Italy, said he had never heard a Sicut cervus – an immortal work by the illustrious composer from the same city – performed so well in his lifetime.
From this initial nucleus, dozens of choirs and brass ensembles were organized under the same school of discipline and interpretation, achieving an impressive pastoral scope. In the humblest of places or amidst the splendours of cathedrals, basilicas and government palaces, Msgr. João’s choirs benefited thousands of people from the most diverse walks of life.
The scene became commonplace: members of the faithful with tears in their eyes, effusively expressing their gratitude for the opportunity to hear such uplifting melodies. Through these apostolic initiatives, Divine Providence never failed to use an occasion to act on souls, elevating them to Heaven.
It is worth mentioning another of our founder’s artistic gifts, by which he instigated and guided the construction and ornamentation of various basilicas and churches all over the world, in a style that was traditional yet innovative, at once recollected and breathtaking; the Heavenly Father has used them as a means to distribute countless graces and bring about conversions. “I want the people who enter here to recover their state of grace,” said Msgr. João during the construction of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Caieiras, São Paulo.
Finally, we must recall his supreme mastery in using the “art of arts”: the direction of souls, an office which, as a spiritual father, friend and confessor, he carried out in an unsurpassable way.
Beyond his artistic and musical gifts, Msgr. João excelled in the “art of arts”, the direction of souls, exercised as a spiritual father, friend and confessor
Once, while guiding one of his spiritual sons on how to carry out the apostolate with the younger generations, Msgr. João observed how, above all other factors, they were attracted to goodness. Affected by family problems that were becoming deeper and more frequent every day, young people showed a greater need for affection. It was therefore necessary for the mentors to win their trust through a true “apostolate of kindness”, of which our founder gave a shining example throughout his life.
Msgr. João’s youthful joy used to manifest itself in a very special way when, from the window of his living quarters, he would throw chocolates and other treats to his children who were waiting below for the paternal “bombing”. Many of those who were young at the time still have innocent memories of those episodes and remember them with gratitude.
On other occasions, Msgr. João would serve his own snacks to the young ones, who would crowd round his table to listen to him and be close to him. You could see in that great man the attention of a father, the affection of a mother and the warmth of a friend. And that is not to mention the hours spent in individual counselling, spiritual conversations and Confessions…
This explains why Msgr. João was able to win the trust and affection of everyone, from the youngest to the oldest. He showed that seriousness and the practice of virtue are perfectly in harmony with joy and kindness, and that true authority is worthy of the most sincere esteem.
A glorious future can be descried on the horizon!
In concluding these lines, the reader will surely agree with the statement made at the beginning of the article, that the erection of institutes and associations is just one aspect of the founding grace manifested in Msgr. João. In fact, they are just an unfolding of the wonders contained in his soul.
The work founded by Msgr. João is like a fruitful and verdant tree planted by the waters of the Holy Church; its fruits are a mere foretelling of the even greater marvels that ae to come in the future
Thus, the Association of Faithful Heralds of the Gospel, the Virgo Flos Carmeli Clerical Society, the Regina Virginum Feminine Society, the Aristotelian-Thomistic Philosophical Institute, the St. Thomas Aquinas Theological Institute, the St. Scholastica Philosophical-Theological Institute and so many other juridical realities in the most diverse fields are some of the flowers blooming in a work that, like a verdant tree, is planted by the waters of the Holy Church, at her service (cf. Ps 1:3).
But this tree, we believe and we plainly see, is extremely fruitful. Its flowers, although beautiful and fragrant, are mere signs of the countless fruits that will come, at the price of the fidelity of the Heralds’ founder, in a glorious future that will never tire of gratefully contemplating the treasure that sprang from a heart in love with Jesus and Mary, who wanted nothing more throughout his life than the fulfilment of the plea repeated by the Church for two thousand years: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” ◊
Notes
1 Cf. FERNÁNDEZ, Aurelio. Teología Dogmática. Curso fundamental de la Fe Católica. Madrid: BAC, 2009, p.211; 621-622.
2 Cf. ST. JEROME. Homilía sobre el Evangelista Juan (1,1-14). In: Obras Completas. 2.ed. Madrid: BAC, 2012, v.I, p.949.
3 Cf. ST. JOHN PAUL II. Message for the World Congress of Ecclesial Movements, n.4.
4 CHESTERTON, Gilbert Keith. St. Thomas Aquinas. Mineola (NY): Dover, 2009, p.4.
5 CLÁ DIAS, EP, João Scognamiglio. A gênese e o desenvolvimento do movimento dos Arautos do Evangelho e seu reconhecimento canônico [The Genesis and Development of the Movement Heralds of the Gospel and its Canonical Recognition]. Tese de doutorado em Direito Canônico – Pontifícia Universidade São Tomás de Aquino. Rome, 2010, p.23-24.
6 CLÁ DIAS, EP, João Scognamiglio. O dom de sabedoria na mente, vida e obra de [The Gift of Wisdom in the Mind, Life and Work of] Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira. Città del Vaticano-São Paulo: LEV; Lumen Sapientiae, 2016, v.IV, p.416.
7 Idem, ibidem.
