Sarah Mitchell
The Heralds of the Gospel is a Catholic International Association of Christ’s Faithful of Pontifical Right, founded by Monsignor João Scognamiglio Clá Dias, a Brazilian priest. It is an ultra-conservative community with a mission to spread devotion to the Virgin Mary, especially Our Lady of Fatima. The Heralds are strongly linked to groups in the Church that oppose the reforms of Pope Francis. They are active in 78 countries and are known for their distinctive attire, which includes a double-breasted tunic with a large red and white Gothic cross. The Heralds place a strong emphasis on music as a tool for evangelization and have formed various choirs and musical ensembles to spread their message. They also operate several schools and have partnerships with other educational institutions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founder | Monsignor João Scognamiglio Clá Dias |
| Type of organisation | Catholic International Association of Christ’s Faithful of Pontifical Right |
| Spirituality | Eucharist, the Virgin Mary and the Pope |
| Charism | Perfection of charity in all things |
| Membership | Young people |
| Members' marital status | Celibate |
| Members' living arrangements | Separate houses for men and women |
| Members' activities | Evangelising activities in dioceses and parishes, with special emphasis on the formation of youth |
| Members' professions | Priests, deacons, religious, lay people of consecrated life |
| Cooperators | Married or single lay people |
| Attire | Double-breasted tunic stamped with a large red and white Gothic cross, belted with an iron chain |
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What You'll Learn
The Heralds of the Gospel is a Catholic Association
The spirituality of the Heralds is based on three essential points: the Eucharist, the Virgin Mary, and the Pope, which are represented in their emblem. They strive for perfection and beauty in their daily actions, seeing culture and art as effective tools for evangelization. To this end, they have formed choirs, orchestras, and musical ensembles to bring their message to the world. The Heralds are active in 78 countries and operate several schools and educational partnerships.
The Heralds of the Gospel is divided into two branches: the male branch, consisting of the Brothers of the Heralds and the Clergy of Virgo Flos Carmeli, and the female branch, consisting of the Sisters of the Heralds and those in the Society of Apostolic Life, Regina Virginum. Both societies received papal approval in 2009. The Heralds also have a "Companions" category for those who cannot fully commit but identify with the spirit of the association.
The Heralds of the Gospel have been described as ultra-conservative and strongly linked to groups opposing the reforms of Pope Francis. They are known for their distinctive attire, including a double-breasted tunic with a large red and white Gothic cross. In recent years, they have faced scrutiny and criticism, particularly regarding the boarding schools they operated in Brazil, which the Vatican instructed them to close in 2018 due to concerns about the risk of psychological and sexual violence.
Despite the controversies, the Heralds of the Gospel remain a dedicated Catholic Association, seeking to serve the Church and spread the Gospel while adhering to their spiritual foundations and utilizing various forms of media to convey their message.
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Members are mainly young people
The Heralds of the Gospel is a Catholic International Association of Christ’s Faithful of Pontifical Right. It was founded by Monsignor João Scognamiglio Clá Dias, a Brazilian priest, in 1999, and officially approved by the Pontifical Council for the Laity in 2001. It is one of the fastest-growing religious orders today, with members in 78 countries.
The Heralds of the Gospel is made up mainly of young people, who practice celibacy and are dedicated to an apostolic life. They live in separate houses for young men and women, fostering a deep life of prayer and study. Their spirituality is based on three essential points: the Eucharist, the Virgin Mary, and the Pope, which are represented in their emblem. The Heralds place a special emphasis on music as an effective tool for evangelization, forming various choirs and musical ensembles to spread their message of faith and hope.
The members of the Heralds of the Gospel are strongly dedicated to their faith and seek to practice the evangelical counsels. They work in parishes, homes, and schools, serving the Church and proclaiming the Gospel to all social classes. They strive for perfection and beauty in their daily actions, seeing culture and art as instruments for evangelization.
In addition to the young members living in community houses, there is also a category of members called "Companions." These Companions identify with the spirit of the Association but cannot fully commit due to priestly commitments, belonging to other institutes, or matrimonial or professional duties. They are married or single lay people, priests, deacons, religious figures, or members of other associations, and they dedicate their free time to the Heralds' activities.
The Heralds of the Gospel have faced some controversies, including investigations by the Vatican due to their ultra-conservative nature and concerns about their boarding schools in Brazil, which the Vatican instructed them to close to protect students from the risk of psychological and sexual violence. Despite these controversies, the group continues to expand its missionary activities and remains a recognized Catholic association.
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They practice celibacy and are dedicated to an apostolic life
The Heralds of the Gospel is a Catholic International Association of Christ’s Faithful of Pontifical Right, founded by Monsignor João Scognamiglio Clá Dias. It is active in 78 countries, with a majority of its members being young people. The Heralds of the Gospel are dedicated to an apostolic life and practice celibacy. They live in separate houses for young men and women, fostering a deep life of prayer and study. Their daily lives alternate between recollection, study, and prayer, alongside evangelizing activities in dioceses and parishes, with a special focus on youth formation.
The spirituality of the Heralds is based on three key elements: the Eucharist, the Virgin Mary, and the Pope. They view art and culture as effective tools for evangelization and, therefore, place a strong emphasis on choral and instrumental music. The Heralds have formed various choirs and musical ensembles to spread their message of faith and hope to the world.
The Heralds of the Gospel have also established two societies of apostolic life: Virgo Flos Carmeli, the priestly branch, and Regina Virginum, the women's branch. Both societies received papal approval in 2009 and have distinct natures. Virgo Flos Carmeli is a clerical society consisting primarily of priests, while Regina Virginum is a feminine society of apostolic life.
The Heralds' "Companions" are another category of members who identify with the spirit of the Association but cannot fully commit due to their priestly commitments, membership in other institutes, or matrimonial and professional duties. These Companions strive to live in accordance with the charism and spirituality of the Association, dedicating their free time to fulfilling its obligations.
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They are active in 78 countries
The Heralds of the Gospel are a Catholic International Association of Pontifical Right, founded by Monsignor João Scognamiglio Clá Dias. It is active in 78 countries, although some sources state 80, and is one of the fastest-growing religious orders today. The association is made up mainly of young people who practice celibacy and dedicate themselves to an apostolic life. They live in separate houses for young men and women, fostering a deep life of prayer and study. Their daily life alternates between recollection, study, and prayer, alongside evangelizing activities with a focus on youth formation.
The Heralds bring the message of the Gospel to people of all ages, but especially young people, through beauty, pastoral activities, devotions, Catholic formation, and music. They believe that beauty is essential to sanctification and evangelization, and so they place a strong emphasis on choral and instrumental music. The main musical ensemble, the International Choir and Symphonic Band, travels to various cities worldwide, performing in churches, auditoriums, and stadiums.
The Heralds' spirituality is based on three key points: the Eucharist, the Virgin Mary, and the Pope, represented in their emblem. Their charism, or unique spiritual gift, leads them to strive for perfection and beauty in their daily actions, including evangelization, interactions with others, liturgy, and artistic presentations.
The association has two societies of apostolic life: Virgo Flos Carmeli, the priestly branch, and Regina Virginum, the women's branch, both established in 2005 and approved by the Pope in 2009. The Heralds also have a "Cooperators" or "Companions" branch for those who cannot dedicate their lives entirely to apostolic works due to their vocation or other commitments.
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The Heralds are an ultra-conservative community
The Heralds of the Gospel is an ultra-conservative community founded in 1999 by a Brazilian priest, Joao Scognamiglio Clà Dias. It is a Catholic International Association of Pontifical Right, the first to be erected by the Holy See in the third millennium, on the occasion of the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, 22 February 2001. The group is active in 78 countries and is mainly comprised of young people who practice celibacy and are dedicated to an apostolic life, living in separate houses for men and women.
The spirituality of the Heralds is based on three essential points: the Eucharist, the Virgin Mary, and the Pope. These points are represented in their emblem. They strive for perfection and beauty in their daily actions and see culture and art as tools for evangelization. The Heralds have formed various choirs and musical ensembles to spread their message of faith and hope. They also operate schools and have partnerships with other educational institutions.
The Heralds are strongly linked to groups in the Church that oppose the reforms of Pope Francis. They are an offshoot of the right-wing, traditionalist Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property (TFP), which was founded in 1960 in São Paulo by the Catholic writer Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira, known for his fight against communism and "Catholic progressivism". The Heralds are recognizable by their attire, which includes a double-breasted tunic with a large red and white Gothic cross, belted with an iron chain.
The Vatican has taken steps to protect students in the boarding schools run by the Heralds in Brazil due to the high risk of psychological and sexual violence, as well as complaints from parents about "rigid discipline" and the isolation of families. The Heralds have been described as having a utopian vision and pursuing a mission to subvert and transform the modern, secular state through their apostolate. They have been characterized as "soldiers of Christ," inspired by the Templars and medieval ideals.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Heralds of the Gospel is a Catholic International Association of Christ’s Faithful of Pontifical Right.
The Heralds of the Gospel was founded by Monsignor João Scognamiglio Clá Dias, a Brazilian priest.
The spirituality of the Heralds of the Gospel is based on three essential points: the Eucharist, the Virgin Mary, and the Pope.
The mission of the Heralds of the Gospel is to spread the Gospel to all social classes, working in parishes, homes, and schools. They are also dedicated to an apostolic life, with an emphasis on the formation of youth.
The Heralds of the Gospel are recognized by the Vatican as an International Association of Pontifical Right. However, there have been tensions between the two, with the Vatican instructing the Heralds to close their boarding schools in Brazil due to concerns over psychological and sexual violence.
