Dom Helder – dreams and utopies

Father Geovane Saraiva*

“When we dream alone is only a dream, but when we dream together is the beginning of a new reality,” “Overcome yourself to yourself every day, every moment … Not for vanity, but for correspond the sacred obligation to contribute more and always better, to build the world (…) “.

“I am of those who is convinced that the writings of Dom Helder will still be a source of inspiration in Latin America to thousand years. Well, he threw seeds designed to produce an abundant harvest in this new age of Christianity that is starting now. His successive conversions indicate in some way the future trajectory of the Church in this new era of human history “(Theologian Joseph Comblin).

And that is why even if we get tired of saying that the life of Dom Helder is like a gold mine that needs to be always and increasingly explored, with a wonderful gift from God. Life of a beauty, we can say, differentiated in their rare gesture in favor of life of the impoverished, the “without voice and without time.”

By taking the Archdiocese of Olinda and Recife, in April 1964, said: “No one is offended when I come to the side of human beings seen as unworthy and sinful (…). He also said, with tenderness and passion, “Who are suffering in body or soul, who, rich or poor, you’re desperate, will take place in the heart of the bishop.”

Dom Helder, pastor of peace and tenderness felt honored when his enemies accused him of utopian and dreamy, as he approached the “knight-errantry”. Dom Helder told them: “Compare me to Don Quixote, is far from being a derogatory statement”. And added: “Woe to the world if there were no utopy, if there were no dreamers.”

Let us hold on the heart the message of optimism and hope, left by Dom Helder Camara, the artisan of peace and world citizen, the most influential Brazilian bishop at Vatican II, opening the path to renewal in its deepest and real coherence in favor of the impoverished, “If not mistaken, we men of the Church, we should make changes within the Church that we demand of society.”

He also spoke with extraordinary passion who God is love, what tone was very peculiar, poetic. “We, your creatures have invented your name? The name should not be a label pasted on people and on things … The name comes from the inside of things and people, and should not be fake … Have to express the depths of intimate, the very reason for being and existence of the thing or person named … Your name is and could only be love. ”

* Fr Geovane Saraiva, priest of the Archdiocese of Fortaleza, Writer, Member of the Academy of Letters of Municipalities of Ceará State (ALMECE), and the Metropolitan Academy of Arts in Fortaleza

Vicar of St. Alphonsus

Transl: Rhubens Levy