In Brazil, a Catholic Mass you'll never forget

I predict someone will be self-righteously chiming up, reminding us that "Now, now, the Liturgy is supposed to be prayer, not a performance..."

Hello from Sao Paulo, Brazil

Hello from your Portuguese translator! By the way, next time you come to Sao Paulo and go to Padre Marcelo's mass again, make sure to bring a translator along in order to understand what padre Marcelo says about you. LOL

Thank you for sharing these beautiful, sincere, joyful impressions with the public.

Ah, a Catholic Billy Graham and a master showman! Just what we DON'T need. More "Hollywood/TV Evangelist Catholicism" for the masses. I find this cheap and pretentious on just about every level. If you aren't already suspicious of this sort of charade, just follow the money! I bet there's lots of it. Why not feed and house the poor instead of building another huge sanctuary for 60,000. You also might want to build a few factories and provide jobs for the out of work masses. Christ's mother doesn't need another shrine.

John! Where have you been? I've attended such Masses at Notre Dame in the 70's! The Charismatic movement seems to have fizzled out in America. If you think that was something try a Cosmic Mass in Oakland California!

Reading this article was "the pause that refreshes."
Thanks for sharing.

Reading this article was "the pause that refreshes." Thanks for sharing.

If only North American Catholics could get this excited about praying and worshiping TOGETHER and stop showing up in churches on Sunday for their private prayer experience.

How wonderful it must have been to witness and be a part of such an honest expression of prayer. You can't help but imagine that as people leave, they truly "go out love and serve the Lord" as we are commissioned at the end of Mass. Thanks for this account. There is hope for us all!

I Certainly hope that Rome is watching. Recent studies tell us that the Church in the US is losing thousands of Catholics to evangelical Churches each year. Like it or not, Catholics are looking for liturgies that are upbeat, meaningful, and that touch their lives with good contemporary sacred music and meaningful homilies.

Although Fr. Rossi's approach is unique and not easily duplicated, it certainly offers huge clues and insight into what works for our contemporary society. Like it or not, the Catholic Mass needs to be less Roman and more incultural.

What is Rome's response to these realities? A new, more formal translation of the Mass using a form of the English language that is archaic and rigid, with run-on sentences and disconnected pronouns, due to strict standards set by Liturgical Authenticam. Rome is calling for more formality which it translates as "reverence," a return to latin and perhaps even a Tridentine style of celebration (ad orientem) for the sake of some kind of pharisaic tradition. Shame on the Church....it just doesn't get it. Just another nail in the coffin and another form of a liturgical abuse at the highest level.

Uh oh. Some REALLY big concerns, here: "liturgy as entertainment or spectator sport" and "beware the cult of presider personality," among them.

If we're singing well (hooray!), then why do we need someone to lead us? As compelling as Rossi may seem, does his approach really point people to God? Or to himself and to peoples' own culturally-driven pop preferences? "Raise your hand if . . ." and "I can't HEAR you!" make Father a schoolmarm and a martinet. While liturgy has a catechetical role, that's not primary. And all that attention on Father . . . not so good.

Please: give us presiders who simply serve, not always lead. Liturgy is not about ego. Liturgy should not divide; it must unite. Glitzy packaging and entertainment modelling may not serve best, even if they attract people in great number and apparent fervor.

Do we really need to mount private parties for everyone's disparate tastes? How can we unite, not divide? (And the answer is not all Mozart/Palestrina, all plainchant and neumes, all foursquare hymns, or all amplified guitars and well-intentioned folks wailing into microphones, either.) How do we balance the divine/awesome/mystical/reverent with the plebian/human/needful/simple?

And Mother spends her time going after the nuns. Sigh.

Great column, John. I've been to Brazil and though I haven't seen Padre Marcelo, I have heard much about him. Though my liberation theologian friends don't necessarily go to or enjoy his Masses (not sure what kind of social activism he espouses, if any), they certainly are appreciative of what he can do to move a crowd. And in Brazil, the Pentecostals are at every major intersection with a new church, microphones, loud and catchy music, and a very anti-Catholic message. Padre Marcelo is a product of, and a wonderful response to a Latin American church that is trying to find its way in post-modern society. He's a far cry from the bishop up north who excommunicated the parents of the 9-year-old girl who had an abortion.

Absolutely wonderful...kinda like heaven on earth.

May that large old factory be converted into jobs for those tens of thousands of people by which they may provide for their families food, shelter, health care and comfort.

That would be a true Communion. That would incarnate the Gospels. That would advance eschatology. Not rock concert Masses.

We read of a priest near Springfield, Massachusetts saying the closing of some English language parishes stinks like "300 skunks." Perhaps if he provided Masses, as here, but with the music of the majority of the residents of that section of the Connecticut River Valley, in Spanish, in bachata or salsa music, with sermons which touch upon the true and just aspirations of the people, including for work and homes and justice and peace, in Spanish, in the vernacular encouraged by the documents of the Second Vatican Council, perhaps those aging parishes would not now close, there would be no stink of "300 skunks" but old church buildings overflowing into the surrounding streets, and the old rifle factories would be converted into sanctuaries of peace and nonviolence in which the people receive at long last Hope and the further gifts of the Holy Spirit.

And a drug rehab center or two might also prove useful in the ministry, and food banks, and clothing banks, and fuel banks, and other social services agencies to assist with immigration, education and relief . . .

I suspect this is what Jesus had in mind when He gathered together his followers to enjoy glorifying God. What a beautiful experience!

How do you say "Fr. Cutie" in Portugese?

Dear John,
Your sharing of a mass in Brazil brought back so many wonderful memories. I did my research on Braziian music and have been back nine times to give workshops all over the country. My memory is of Padre Peter Guareshi - a friend in Porto Alegre. I accompanied him to a favella one Sunday outside Porto Alegre for Mass. The entire group of about 100 walked throughout the favela. We'd stop for each of the readings after which a parishioner would give a reflection. The gospel was the reading of the "dry and green wood." I had been given a branch to carry. At the last stop, he built a small fire in the street [?] and the branches were burned as part of the reflection. We returned to the "chapel" which had three open sides. The people gathered around the altar and joined in the consecration prayers. Afterward he called on an elderly woman in the back row to offer the closing prayer.
All of this was much less dramatic than what you shared about Padre Marcelo, but it was truly the people's Mass. That is THE Church of Brazil.
Another time, two American friends came with me to a mass in the matriz church of Copacabana and a priest more like Marcelo presided. People were standing in the aisles. He, too, came right across the language barrier. The people sang so lustily that the cantor was able to weave obligatos over their singing.
Another way that Brazilians internalize “being Church:” When the priest says “The Lord Be With You!” the people’s response is “Ele está no meio de nos” which is “God is in our midst!”
Thanks again for sharing.

The problem in NA: A quashing of meaningful music by uncaring priests and bishops; a lack of really well trained homilists who can be relevant to families seeking meaning and purpose in their daily lives (hard to do when priests are celibate and possibly gay) and an overall church social life commanded by pastors interested in their own agendas rather than the hunger for that meaning and purpose in their spiritual sojourns. Thanks for letting us in on one sparkling piece of hope for the Church.

Better to lose people to the Protestant evangelicals than to allow inculturation. Better to preserve the Roman/Latin rite than to allow for the customs and language of the common people to desecrate the celebration of the mass. Better to die on the vine than to prosper and grow. Better to follow Jesus...Oh, wait a minute...just where would Jesus be....

John, now look what you have done! Padre Marcelo is now toast monkeys. Now that the rigid right hears what's happening at a Mass in Brazil, we will all have to pay the price. The hammer will come down real fast now that the joy is out of the bag!

To Chris, Liz and all the others who are clicking their tongues: Don't worry, things will change real fast now. No more smiling; no more singing; no more hand-holding. Just "Pray, Pay, and Obey". Then you can have the Mass all to yourself...for the nearly empty church will be all yours! That's what you want anyway, isn't it?

How marvelous...and miraculous...given the generally moribund nature of the Mass in far too many places these days. Making a joyful noise unto the Lord makes sense, just sayin'

Last month over 10,000 Catholic faithful gathered in the Buffalo arena for a daylong conference with Fr John Corapi. Just straight talk about our Catholic faith and fidelity to the teachings of the magisterium of the Church. The crowds were ecstatic.

While I am not a Charismatic and feel no attraction to the movement, I disagree with those who voice negative comments and fears about this being a spectacle. Padre Marcelo sounds like he may be a very real gift from God to a part of the world where the Catholic Church is struggling to save itself from the Pentecostals. Brazil's culture is foreign to most of us here, and God certainly speaks to His entire creation in a vast multitude of voices and ways.
There is also no indication that the money that comes in is being directed to anywhere other than where it's needed most. And if their new, huge church is going to be ready as soon as sometime next year, they're certainly not pouring money into it that could be better spent elsewhere, as one comment stated.

Padre Marcello doesn't espouse ANY social activism on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised, if he did, he wouldn't be building mega churches that accommodate 60,000! Follow the money! He's rich and continues to get richer. The mother of Jesus would be much honored if Marcello were helping the poor. She really doesn't need a mega church shrine. Marcello is a showman and manipulator. I have seen no evidence that he is advancing the cause of Christ. He is only advancing his own pocket book.

Wonderfully hopeful report! I attended a Brazilian Mass in Hyannis, Massachusetts at St. Francis Xavier parish last summer and I haven't recovered yet. We really felt like we had celebrated Mass! The Latin Mass I attended last Sunday was a dirge by comparison.

This type of music and style has its place, but as a Church can we really construct our local liturgies on this model?

Sure, it attracts a lot of people -- for the time being. But like all things that are upbeat, lively, and euphoria inducing, they do not last. And what happens when they do not last? People will eventually get board of them and move on to the next new thing. The pop-music industry is a perfect example of this phenomena. Singers come and go; some fade into obscurity and die. Musicians are in constant pressure to keep up, but ultimately all of them cease creating top-charters at some point.

A church that bases its worship on this model is doomed with the same fate from the get-go. Case in point, as someone here pointed out: the charismatics in the US already seem to be waning.

People out there looking for true meaning in their lives. Humans haven't changed in terms of their innate desires and tendencies. People have always found Church boring. The only thing difference today is that people have lost a sense of purpose as to why they should attend Church. If you're going to answer this problem by offering something that appeals primarily to the emotions, be prepared for ephemeral results, cause it aint gonna last.

Thanks John for sharing church in another country...perhaps to the nay sayers...don't let your provencial ways get in the way of hearing and seeing an exciting and inviting church in another country.

I could just image what it was like to have the monstrance processed through the congregation. What a powerful moment it must have been...and it sounds, in part like something Life Teen is trying to do in the United States. More power,support and prayers to Padre Marvelo and the community of believers.

As always, I find the comments reflect that there are in Church and in life many more open mouths than open ears. If the Brazilian priest has found a way to unite thousands in worship of the Trinitarian God, may God bless him and his work. The goal of Christianity should not be to follow rules, but to reach people.

Thanks John for this wonderful column on Padre Marcelo and the Catholic Charismatic renewal (CCR) in Brazil. In fact the CCR in the US begain in 1967 at Duquesne Univ. in Pittsburgh when some students there had a transforming encounter with the love of God made manifest through the Holy Spirit. This form of Christian religious experience commonly called, The Baptism in the Holy Spirit, is the essential characteristic of the Christian charismatic/pentecostalism. The CCR is very much alive and well in the US today. Here in Ohio we have vigorous charismatic groups in both Cleveland and Cincinnati, and Franciscan Univ. in Steubenville, OH is widely regarded for it's catholic and charismatic identify and annual conferences (including many wonderful youth conference). There are similar catholic charismatic organizations, masses, and prayer meetings spread across the entire United States. So the CCR is by no means, weak or dying in our country. Eric from OH

if we can get people enthused about church, the Mass, God, worship, community, then why not use music, and dance and joyful praise? God created us as whole bodies, and so why wouldn't we return the favor in our worship services? I bet that joy is spread throughout the community after that Mass. Tell me how that is anything but wonderful?

Somebody better tell Padre Marcelo that placing the host in the monstrance is, according to Fr. Richard McBrien, a "step backward."

Eucharistic Adoration after Mass? What a huge step backwards, right Mr. McBrien?

I guess I just don't get the charismatic thing. Always seems like mob mentality to me. It's not something in which I am comfortable. I think I have seen the power of the Eucharist more times in small church communities than in large throngs like this. But that's just me. And I am glad others who like large gatherings have somewhere to worship. But it just doesn't feel like worship. I'm not against boisterous praise, just the huge crowd kind of thing.

I remember back in the late 70's attending a Church like this but soo much smaller in Linda Vista, CA. It was a joy-filled church where many people would stay just to sing songs after Mass, where volunteers were plenty and the food pantry shelves were always being refilled. It was a church with many nationalities and programs. Oh how I miss it.

Thankyou for sharing this. It sounds like the Spirit is moving wherever allowed.

When will we as Catholics recognize that Christ's mission was to bring the kingdom of God to the world and that he and his apostles approached different audiences in different ways as would best reach them. Instead of being so critical of one another, wouldn't we be better off trying to be more inclusive of more styles of worship in an effort to reach more people? I think the church is big enough to accomodate many styles of worship - no one is forcing you to participate in a particular one!
As to the clergy - unfortunately, there have been some abuses and some who simply are not gifted as pastors but many are decent men trying to do God's mission. Let's try not to label all according to some.
As to Rome, I pray that the powers there will also learn something more about what it means to be church and about inclusivity.

As long as we don´t forget that Christ is and will always be the centre of the Eucharistic Celebrations, I think what is happening now in Brazil is a joy to all Catholics. That's why, I also believe that Fr. Marcelo has a greater responsibility in helping the faithful especially those who go to the masses he celebrates to constantly remind them of this important message. In the same manner, I encourage all the Catholics to pray for this young priest for wisdom and humility so that he may consciously and consistently live his sense of being an instrument of God. And may his Bishop and the Brazilian church hierarchy give him all the support he needs not only for his ministerial work but most particularly for his personal, spiritual and emotional growth.

Yesterday Christopher West gave a day-long conference here in Duluth to a group of 300 catechists. At the conclusion, a Novus Ordo Mass was celebrated. A schola of 8 men (average age: 30) sang Gregorian chant Propers in Latin and English. The congregation, mostly young married couples, some with infants, enthusiastically sang the Ordinary: Kyrie, Sanctus, etc.

The focus was on the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The celebrant gave a well-prepared homily, based on the scripture readings of the day. Throughout, the congregation was focused and reverent. The mood was a mix of solemnity and joy--like a wedding. At the Communion and at the conclusion, the congregation sang a traditional English hymn.

After the Mass--it was in an auditorium--the people stood around and greeted one another.

At least in North America, this is the wave of the future.

By the way, Sherry, I found some of the anti-papal, thinly veiled liberation theology comments to this blog troubling.

We need liturgies that speak to the people, that move our hearts to action in behalf of Christian paths. I am not charismatic but believe in diversity of worship within the same framwork. Praise should go to anyone that can move folks in the direction of God and His Church. Jesus was a part of his times. I don't believe he would have remained rigid and unbending his method of worship, prayer and praise of God. The message is the same. That is the key to eternal life. Blessings and thanks to Fr. Rossi for spreading the Word of God.

Padre Marcelo

I can understand the attitude of some here.
Though I am Brazilian, I never enjoyed Charismatic masses.

However, please stop and think for one minute. The Evangelicals are fierce in gaining faithful to themselves in South America. Many of them absolutely hate Padre Marcelo because he is keeping the Catholics in the Catholic church.

If you don't like this kind of Mass, that's your prerogative. But don't let jealousy win you over. How many people have you attracted to our Church lately?

Lastly: those who allege that he is keeping the money to himself; what are your sources? Where did you hear that he is hoarding the money?
Try doing some research before you land an accusation.

And may God bless and protect us all, for the battle truly is spiritual, as we can see in any news that has to do with the Catholic Church.

Seems like we still can't control the Holy Spirit hey? When God wants to do something to reach His people I am encouraged to see that He can still get past the red tape now & then, and Life can be celebrated not squashed (as it sounds like some might prefer it to be).

Johns gospel was written in a new style to reach a new sector of humanity with the unchanging gospel. Anything that continues that tradition is faithfully furthering the great commission isn't it? I personally don't think Padre Marcelo's presentation IS meant to be replicated everywhere; because everywhere is not Brazil. There's (apparently) enough room in the Church for everyone. But it does sound like there's a lesson here for us all to learn: Connect with the people, and give the Holy Spirit some room.

Who are we to throw stones at this priest & his ministry? That's so very easy to do. When WE'VE stepped out enough to attract the same numbers to the Catholic faith & back to the table of the Eucharist, then our jealousy may die down & we won't be so concerned about 'trying to stop that other exorcist' who's 'not like us'.