O modelo de homem católico: um estudo sobre o ideal de família a partir da “Liga Católica Jesus Maria José” na primeira metade do século XX

Abstract

This work aims to analyze and understand the construction of a model, taken as ideal for man and the Christian family, based on the conception of the group of lay Catholics known in Brazil as “Liga Católica Jesus Maria José”. To do this, we will carry out a historical study of the group that emerged in Belgium in 1844 under the name “Archiconfrerie de la Saint Famille”, with its creator being the army captain, Henrique Belletable. Next, we will focus on its Brazilian foundation in 1902. From this period onwards, we will try to pay attention to the religious aspects that founded this model, which was based on the “Holy Family”. The research will extend until the end of the 1950s, when a certain disengagement in the group is noted, in addition to noticing some social transformations, including changes in the structure of the Catholic Church. The questions that supported the discussion were: how was the model being designed by these men? How did they justify male exclusivity? Why didn't they allow women to join, since they also make up the family? There were public demonstrations, so how did they behave in them? How did the instructions for these men happen? To achieve these results, in addition to the theoretical basis in the field of History, we focused on the field of Science of Religion and used the assessment of chronicles, correspondence, photographs, manuals, statutes and mainly the group's official newspaper entitled “Jornal da Liga Católica JMJ”. The documents were researched in the archives of the Redemptorist Congregation and the National Confederation of the Catholic League. Studying the periodicals from the 1920s to the 1950s, we found the instructions given to men, in a way that led them to act as good Catholics and good heads of families, just as the group desired, forming good citizens for the country.