João Paulo Bueno

“Grant, O merciful God, that, just as the Saviour of the world, born this day, is the author of divine generation for us, so He may be the giver even of immortality,”1 prays the priest at Christmas Mass. However, what is the basis of the bold affirmation in this prayer, …

It is the year of grace 800. Before the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica, the venerable and august pontiff, St. Leo III, takes a golden crown, the imperial diadem, and places it on the head of the king of the Franks, who will henceforth be emperor. At this moment, …

The Gospels tell us that Jesus wept twice. Once, for Lazarus: it was the loss of a loved one; another time over the Holy City: He was losing His own people. The nation for which He had come into the world had rejected Him: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem…” (Lk 13:34). The tears …

Devotion to the Immaculate Conception of Mary was one of the most valuable gifts that the Portuguese nation bequeathed to its overseas colonies. Since the discovery of Brazil, countless chapels and oratories have been erected in honour of this invocation, and its feast day, on December 8, soon came to …

The monumental statue of Our Lord featured on one of Brazil’s most beautiful postcards, far from serving a merely aesthetic purpose, evokes sublime theological notions. The Heart on display, the exposed wounds and the open arms justify the very appropriate title that the statue bears: Christ the Redeemer. Indeed, the …

Alongside a countless number of abstract concepts – peace, freedom, fraternity, love and so many others – that of friendship is one of the most misrepresented by 21st century man. In fact, contrary to what many people think, being a friend is not about agreeing with another’s errors or sharing …

One of the most famous mottos of ancient philosophy is certainly “know thyself”. This phrase attributed to Socrates, Athenian philosopher, brings to mind a generally overlooked truth: the importance of always considering ourselves according to our true worth. A fact that occurred in the life of Dr. Plinio Corrêa de …

Humanity has been constructing for millennia. In fact, it is hard to pinpoint the origin of architecture, since buildings have always been an essential part of human life. From the most elementary and rustic monuments of prehistoric peoples to the colossal Egyptian pyramids – royal tombs housing the mummies of …