The Little Badge

evolution of the Sodality badge

Alexandre Martins, cm.

 

With the rediscovery of the sodalities of Our Lady by the youth of the century, several characteristic peculiarities were also rediscovered and became the object of discord or dismay, incredible as it may seem. 

the sodalities of Our Lady around the world have begun to adopt a sign that took the Marian Sodalists be featured in everyday society. As the ancient Knights Templar, bearing the Cross of Christ in their everyday clothes, the Sodalists Marian invented the use of a distinguishing itself for everyday use. 

Not enough use of the medal in liturgical ceremonies. Felt in the hearts a need to show to the whole world, to all people, pride in being a favorite son of the Virgin Mary. For that is the main reason for using the badge: proud to be a son of Mary and propagate this special devotion all the time, on any occasion. 

In the fervor of the early twentieth century, the sodalities of Our Lady propagated due to various reasons. And, as an army of Mary, felt the natural need for increased organization. How to show the world the sodalities of Our Lady through just a symbol? It was the time of the Nazi swastika, the hammer and sickle of communism, the sigma of the Integralists ... sodalities of Our Lady could not shut up.

The Brazilian badge [1] emerged in Rio de Janeiro (RJ) in the 1920s by drawing a carioca Marian Sodalist. How are Sodalists Marian Mary Queen of soldiers, knights are also hers. It is only natural that the format was a medieval shield. Was topped by three points, symbolizing the three cardinal virtues. Format gave his nickname by locals: the "escudinho" (the Little Badge). The primary color blue should be, of course. But it would be a more "masculine" blue, given that the vast majority of sodalities of Our Lady of the time were men. We opted for the cyan blue, a darker blue than the blue of Mary Liturgical this clearer. About it, a Latin cross on white, symbol of purity of Mary and also the purity of the Marian Sodalist. 

The golden crown is one of Marian symbols representing the sacred kingship of Mary. Under the initials "A" and "M" of "Ave Maria" (Hail Mary), the angelic salutation given to the Virgin (Lc2, 16). Was a common monogram at the time and used a long time ago. 

Quickly the sodalities of Our Lady throughout Brazil used this new mark for the first time in history. Marked the action of associations created by the Jesuits. Stamps, letters, m tones, and all printed material of the sodalities of Our Lady and the wall of the seats, was seen the badge. In Manual of Sodalists taught the practice to pronounce "Hail Mary" when Sodalist put him in his lapel morning to dress up. 

Was not long before it was made a lapel. It was a time when the austere standard and English menswear was gray or black suit, using any prop drew attention. It would be like the daily use of football shirts nowadays. This is proof that "ashamed" was not customary among Brazilians Marian Sodalists. 

Were of various sizes and models, such as jacket (with long pin) of the shirt (as brooch) but all gold-plated. 

It was actually the symbol of the sodalities of Our Lady of Brazil since appeared in the official flag and was on the cover of the editions of the Handbook of Sodalists. 

In 1953 was founded in Rome the World Federation of sodalities of Our Lady. The Pope Pius XII himself was encouraging element of this institution. Natural outgrowth of the International Congress of the Lay Apostolate, where it was realized that the sodalities of Our Lady did not have an international body that could represent. 

Like any institution, there is a need for a symbol, a mark. And, to the surprise of all Sodalists World was chosen a brand that was created decades ago in Germany. The "Chi-ro" monogram happened during a meeting of the Marian Congregations in Germany [2] 1920s - pre-Nazism - which was first used in flags of sodalities participants. 

It was the unfolding of a mark used by ancient Christians and the Church since the days of the catacombs of Rome. 

The first Sodality of Our Lady was also the first to adopt the new badge. The other sodalities of Our Lady of the World followed suit. Neither can you say "new distinctive" because only Brazil was in constant use of a symbol for their sodalities of Our Lady's Sodality medal beyond. 

The First World Congress of the sodalities of Our Lady in 1954 [3] it was decreed that the sodalities of Our Lady would adopt what was the symbol of this Congress, only used by Germany - which he left to create monogram - and 8 more countries , included Italy. As Brazilians sodalities were "tuned" to follow the model proposed by Rome, we used the current badge that was also used by the Sodality "Press-Primary". Shortly after the National Eucharistic Congress held in 1955 in Rio de Janeiro (RJ) solves the CNCMB after meeting with representatives from all over Brazil to adopt the "distinctive Press Primary". The excitement was great: we were "tuned" to the Catholic World! 

This monogram means the first two letters - X and P - the name of Christ in Greek (χριστος = "Kristos" = anointed). The letter "M" is for Maria. So symbolically means "to Christ through Mary." The Blue is the color of Mary. The golden color of Christ the Priest. The hexagon is the representation of creation, as the number six has this meaning - the world was created in six days - simbolizando4 we should create something from the Sodality, as our apostolate. Monogram (XP or Chi-route) is the ancient practice, and even liturgical objects found in the Catacombs of St. Priscilla in Rome dating from the second century. The letters I (Iota) and X (chi) are the Greek initials of the words Khristos Iesous (Jesus Christ). The symbol appears in posteriormente5 called "Confirmation of Constantine". This junction remains to this day in the liturgical representation. 

The use of the hexagon was the World Federation of use only to give a pleasant and cohesive to monogram format. The blue and yellow colors symbolize Mary (blue) and sacredness (yellow color of the Sun, classical representation of the deity, in the case of Christ, Sun of Justice). 

However, some sodalities of Our Lady - more by ignorance than anything else - do not bother with it and continued to use the flag with the old badge. But at the time also emerged of an association that would use the ancient symbol of the sodalities of Our Lady to mask their real purposes: the Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property - TFP. Created by Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira - a former Sodalist Federation of São Paulo (SP) - TFP for decades would prove as a kind of "sponsor" of social and religious values ​​and 1950s. And the use of the old badge as its symbol in Brazil was because the first members were all Sodalists paulistanos Marian, as well as its founder. The official symbol of the entity was a "lion rampant" armorial, but in Brazil its members wore on their lapels the old badge of sodalities of Our Lady. The intent was simple and clear: as sodalities of Our Lady always been seen as defenders of the Faith and propagator of Christian good deeds, using the Marian distinctive members of the TFP wanted to give legitimacy to their association. But it was also an attitude of rejection of the "modern" Vatican II, hated by members of the TFP as well as repudiation of the popes since John XXIII. 

From the 1960s, however, who used the old badge was identified as a member of the TFP, because all Sodalists Marian embraced Rome.

members of TFP with the old bage of the Sodalities

 The Brazilian National Confederation in 2002 also created a variation of the distinctive monogram composed solely for the Sodalists of Brazil use. What actually is a "setback" to that used in the Congress of German sodalities of Our Lady, 1920. Unsurprisingly, since it is already used by other sodalities such as the World of Medellin (Colombia) and even the Christian Life Communities, linked to the Jesuits, though more stylized. 

In the early twenty-first century, new generations of Sodalists Marian as relexo of his time, began a "wave of nostalgia" and sought the experiences of sodalities of Our Lady of the past. The young Catholic in the 2000s was disappointed with a Catholic pastoral activity which for many was closer to Protestantism. And even with the promulgation of Summorum Pontificum of Pope Benedict XVI, felt that they were "legitimate" to seek the Old. 

In sodalities of Our Lady of the logo that "back in time" was the use of the old badge escudinho by young people. 

But keep the tradition of the sodalities of Our Lady - and, of course, its effectiveness - not only passes by symbols and externalities that sodalities of Our Lady of Brazil have always liked, but in return the inner practices and sense of honor that always permeated Marian Sodalist life. 

Being a Christian who has pride of being a special son of the Virgin Mary to act both in his spiritual life as for your everyday, sincere, loving and pure straight form is the real tradition. This is the inside of the Marian Sodalist that makes a difference when we see the badge on their clothes. Without this inner overflowing to the outside we have a foot soldier but a carnival reveler wearing a soldier clothing. 

It is for this reason that some who use the blue tape has more "presence" than others. People get it when they see them. Some know what they are seeing, others not, but all feel in their hearts that the Marian Sodalist "is different." It is the interior that goes to the outside. The badge is an excellent means of propaganda Sodality. Currently all serious organizations use some form of symbol. And the sodalities, very serious as they are, could not fail to have its. Large business corporations japonesas6 insist their employees to use the pins of the company even in the everyday environment: for them, an advertisement, for the employee, an honor to join a great company. 

It is said that a parliamentary Sodalist Marian [7] purchased the Federation of Rio de Janeiro eight badges. Anyone surprised the amount. He explained: "It is that I will travel and take eight suits. I want a badge in each suit in order not to forget at home when changing suit. " There was a motto in Brazil [8] widespread, "where the badge can not be, can not be Sodalist". Served especially for young people who would not use it in somewhat vulgar dances. If they do not like to use his badge in those doubtful places, the more should not remain in them.

reception of Sodalists using the actual badge. Sodality of Our Lady in Bucaramanga (Colombia) - 2013

Always encouraged the Marian Sodalist using distinctive daily. But the vast majority did not use, even in time of great Marian activity. That does not matter either. Again, the interior promotes overseas. If Marian Sodalist is proud of what it is and want to show that love to others so that they too can benefit from it, so he often seek ways to use the badge in accordance with the prudence and common sense. Use the badge as a form of apostolate, not as a simple garnish prejudiced or ostentation. 

And the daily badge remains one of the best ways to see the inner life of each Marian Sodalist. 

Hail, Mary!



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1 - Antonio Maia , cm - lecture at the Sodality " Cappuccini " , Tijuca , Rio ( GB ) 1995 
 2 - magazine " Acies ordinata " 1954
 3 - World Assembly of the Sodality of Our Lady , Rome , Italy , 1954 - 7th Conclusion
 4 - Schlesinger & Porto , Hugo & Fr. Humberto - " Beliefs , Cults and Religious Symbols ," Ed Pauline, S. Paulo ( SP ) , 1983.
 5 - Lesage , Canon Robert - " Liturgical Vestments and Objects " - Catholic Encyclopedia in the Twentieth Century ( part 10) - translation of the Religious of the Virgin Company , Ed Flamboyant , S. Paulo ( SP ) , 1960.
 6 - Martins , A. - " Questions to a Sodalist" , Gonçalo S. ( RJ ) , 2005 - pp . 34 to 38
 7 - Fr. Paul J. de Souza , SJ , in " Marian Life " , p. 37
 8 - Ibid , " p. . 37...