Will Brazil Introduce a “Day of the Tridentine Rite”?

A major exception is that there is a crucifix hanging in the Chamber of Deputies in Brazil

(Brasilia) In Brazil, a parliamentary debate on the introduction of a “Day of the Tridentine Mass” was scheduled for yesterday, but was then canceled at short notice.  The move is a reaction to, without mentioning, the Motu proprio Traditionis custodes, which radically restricted the traditional rite of Pope Francis.

The parliamentary initiative is unparalleled.  The Brazilian Parliament scheduled a debate yesterday on the creation of a National Day of the Tridentine Mass.  This was intended to honor the Immemorial Rite in Brazil and “make it known”.

Brazil's bishops, strongly imbued with liberation theology, use the motu proprio Traditionis custodes to be able to take action against the traditional rite in their dioceses.  The motu proprio was issued by Pope Francis in July 2021.  It was the most brutal Bergoglian slap in the face of his then living predecessor Benedict XVI.  The first goal of Traditionis custodes is to promote the penetration of the traditional Rite in the secular clergy, as indicated by the Motu proprio Summorum Pontificum of Benedict XVI., was set in motion to radically eradicate.  The second goal is to rein in the so-called Ecclesia Dei communities.

In Brazil, the largest Catholic country in the world, the Church has been in crisis for a long time.  The causes are primarily of a political nature, on the one hand due to the spread of Marxist liberation theology, and on the other hand, as a reaction to this, the spread of evangelical groups promoted by the USA.

The country's bishops have often gone beyond the repressive provisions of Traditionis custodes and made them even stricter.  Some even declared believers to be excommunicated if they took part in celebrations in the Immemorial Rite, even if this was not done publicly but privately, for example in a residential building.

For this reason, a motion was introduced in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies to establish a National Day of the Tridentine Mass.  The responsible parliamentary committee for culture should discuss the matter from 10 a.m. yesterday and, as a first step, hold a public hearing.  Four experts were invited to this, including the Redemptorist Father Bráulio Róger Martins Nunes Pereira, a priest.

The Redemptorist Father Bráulio Róger Martins Nunes Pereira in a procession in Goiania

Father Pereira works in the city of Goiania in the state of Goias and celebrates himself in the traditional Rite.  He was ordained a priest in December 2007 and is characterized by the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum.  Even before Traditionis custodes came into force, the archdiocese and the superior general of his order forbade him to publicly celebrate the Immemorial Rite.  Since then he has been celebrating it in private houses where believers gather.  For this reason, among other things, in June 2021 he was awarded honorary citizenship of the city of Goiania, which has 1.6 million inhabitants.  He is spiritual director and founder of the Associação São José and rector of the Church of São José in Goiania.

A look at the clergy of the Archdiocese of Goiania reveals differences of opinion in ecclesiological understanding.  Father Pereira is managed by the archdiocese, but without an official position.  The traditional Rite must not be given any visibility.  He is banished to clandestine society.

Professors Anna Maria Fedeli, André da Silva Melo and Álvaro Alberto Ferreira Mendes were invited as further experts.  Then Parliament would announce its decision.

The Church of São José in Goiania, cared for by Father Pereira

The motion comes from MP Beatriz Kicis Torrents de Sordi, better known as Bia Kicis.  She belongs to former President Jair Bolsonaro's conservative Partido Liberal (PL).  The PL is the parliamentary group with the largest mandate in the Brazilian parliament.  Kicis, a Catholic, was formerly the attorney general of the capital district of Brasilia.  The YouTuber has been a member of the Federal Parliament since 2018.

It is currently unclear when the motion will be debated.  The initiative deserves attention because what seems unthinkable to the Brazilian bishops is apparently possible in parliament.

 Text: Giuseppe Nardi

 Image: Wikicommons/Youtube (screenshots)

Trans : Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG