After arriving in Brazil in mid-September, I began Portuguese classes. While much of my time has been spent attending these classes and formally learning, I have had some time to visit some of the Spiritan parishes in São Paulo, attend a youth development course through a center that our confreres founded and continue to be involved with, gather with friends who live here in São Paulo, and even make a pilgrimage to the famed Basilica of Aparecida.
Even beyond this, I have been able to obtain some theological books and some poetry written of writers from the periphery. Through my interactions and with my reading, my Portuguese is developing.
Yet, in the midst of all this, the question of the pedagogy of language and, by extension, its mystagogical implications occupy my mind. More critically, how does one go about learning Portuguese that is oriented towards engaging with the mission of God already active in the peripheries.
Of course, there is technical Portuguese that one learns, yet, at the same time, there exist phrases of speech and means of expression which do not fit neatly into a language course.
I think, thus, about two experiences of salvation history: (1) the Tower of Babel and (2) Pentecost. In both of these cases, God’s will is clear: diversity and, in particular, linguistic diversity is to be a part of human existence. It is in the context of this will towards linguistic diversity that the mission of God on earth exists, requiring that the Reign is proclaimed in all languages. In other words, the Word is both able to be proclaimed and demands proclamation in the language spoken by the portion of the People of God with whom one finds residence. Though not alienated from the concrete conditions of the people, the particularly linguistic element should not be lost.
Therefore, one fact becomes clear: grasping the formal syntax, grammar, and vocabulary of Portuguese is not enough. The deep poetry and expressiveness of Brazilian Portuguese must be grasped as well. In other words, the language of the people is the language of the mission of God.
This takes on a particularly social dynamic due to (1) the fact that ‘formal’ languages have historically been defined by those in power and (2) the Preferential Option for the Poor.
Insofar as I remain in the ‘See’ stage of the See-Judge-Act (
ver-julgar-agir) formulation of pastoral action, my job still remains to ‘see’ the situation here in São Paulo.
Of course, ‘See’ includes seeing the concrete conditions, life, and religious expression, but the linguistic element, I argue, should not be overlooked.
In the midst of this all, I do trust in the Spirit, Who, during Pentecost, allowed the apostles to be understood by persons of every tongue. It is the Same Spirit, Who will assist me in concretely proclaiming the Word sent by the Father, for the sake of the Reign to which all Three Persons, as a society, continuously summons us together.
Matt is currently in Brazil for his Pastoral Ministry Experience. He is pictured here with Fr. Pat Geraldo McNamara, C.S.Sp.