Brava: Priest says Our Lady represents “a lot” for Christians

Friar Matias Silva said today that Our Lady represents “a lot” for Christians, being a model of faith, hope, love and availability, of people who are open in heart and soul to accept the will of God.

The priest made this consideration in an interview with Inforpress, after the solemn mass in honor of Nossa Senhora do Monte, in Brava, which, as he explained, the Ascension of Our Lady is celebrated all over the world today, but in each parish or place that is celebrated, the day is given a different title.

According to the same source, Mary's “Yes” given at the Annunciation should be for Christians the example of someone who before God is “completely available and always ready to respond in faith”.

Because, as he explained, when Mary answered yes to God “she answered unconditionally and confidently because she didn’t understand everything either”.

“When we trust even if we don't understand, we are acting with faith”, said the priest.

And speaking of faith, the priest defended that the “only thing that is urgent in the lives of Christians is God”. And for God to be urgent in the lives of faithful Christians, faith is needed.

"God is all. When we assume that everything we are and have depends on God, God has to be a priority and if he is a priority, he is urgent”, he emphasized.

In other words, he reinforced that “there is nothing that we put before God. No matter how much of a hurry we are, God is always first.”

Asked about the title that is celebrated in Brava, this religious stressed that Nossa Senhora do Monte is not an exclusive title of Brava.

For, as he advanced, he tried to understand the origin, taking into account that Nossa Senhora do Monte Cintinha, Nossa Senhora de Monte Carmelo, among other Montes, are already celebrated.

But, celebrated with the title of Nossa Senhora do Monte, he said that he had to make an “almost inevitable connection” with the island of Madeira, since it is celebrated with this title on this island.

“And, bearing in mind that Brava had a large component of people from Madeira and knowing that this is the village of Nossa Senhora do Monte, and the parish was founded in the 19th century, more or less in 1826, it is likely that this devotion came from the island of Madeira in Portugal”, explained Friar Matias.

Taking into account the situation experienced due to the covid-19 pandemic, the procession of the image was carried out in the car and the Eucharistic celebration took place in the cultural sports complex that would be inaugurated this afternoon by the Minister of Sports, but due to the rain it was postponed to Sunday.