João Batista Becker
Encyclopedia
João Batista Becker was a German-Brazilian
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
, serving as Archbishop of Porto Alegre
from 1912 until his death.
Born in Sankt Wendel
, Germany
, he was ordained
to the priesthood
on August 2, 1886.
On May 3, 1908, Becker was appointed the first Bishop
of Santa Caterina
, Brazil
, by Pope Pius X
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following September 18 from Archbishop Cláudio Gonçalves Ponce de Leon, CM
, with Bishops João Braga and João Pimenta
serving as co-consecrators
. Becker was later named Archbishop of Porto Alegre
on August 1, 1912, being installed as such on December 8 of that same year.
In October 1930, the Archbishop praised the Revolution
, saying, "The Rio Grande do Sul
forces are formed of the pick of our youth, and with dignity and honor. The military organization is perfect. The national revolution, a logical consequence of regrettable facts, goes irresistibly on its way to triumph. Religious feeling animates and strengthens our soldiers. The victory of the allied troops will begin a new era of national prosperity. May the Lord of Hosts shorten the days of the struggle, and grant us peace, from north and south, for the happiness of the nation and the glory of religion".
He died at age 76, after serving as Porto Alegre
's archbishop for thirty-three years.
German-Brazilian
A German Brazilian is a Brazilian person of ethnic German ancestry or origin...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, serving as Archbishop of Porto Alegre
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Porto Alegre
The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Porto Alegre is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Brazil. It was erected as the Diocese of São Pedro do Rio Grande by Pope Pius IX on May 7, 1848, and elevated to the rank of a metropolitan archdiocese by Pope Pius...
from 1912 until his death.
Born in Sankt Wendel
Sankt Wendel
St. Wendel is a municipality in northeastern Saarland. It is situated on the river Blies 36 km northeast of Saarbrücken, the capital of Saarland, and is named after Saint Wendelin of Trier.- Geography :...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, he was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on August 2, 1886.
On May 3, 1908, Becker was appointed the first Bishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
of Santa Caterina
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Florianópolis
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Florianópolis is an archdiocese located in the city of Florianópolis in Brazil.-History:* March 19, 1908: Established as Diocese of Santa Caterina from the Diocese of Curitiba...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, by Pope Pius X
Pope Pius X
Pope Saint Pius X , born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, was the 257th Pope of the Catholic Church, serving from 1903 to 1914. He was the first pope since Pope Pius V to be canonized. Pius X rejected modernist interpretations of Catholic doctrine, promoting traditional devotional practices and orthodox...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following September 18 from Archbishop Cláudio Gonçalves Ponce de Leon, CM
Lazarists
Congregation of the Mission is a vowed order of priests and brothers associated with the Vincentian Family, a loose federation of organizations who claim St. Vincent de Paul as their founder or Patron...
, with Bishops João Braga and João Pimenta
João Pimenta
João Nuno Cabral Pimenta is a Portuguese football player. Pimenta started at Sporting Clube de Portugal and is currently playing for S.C...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. Becker was later named Archbishop of Porto Alegre
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Porto Alegre
The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Porto Alegre is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Brazil. It was erected as the Diocese of São Pedro do Rio Grande by Pope Pius IX on May 7, 1848, and elevated to the rank of a metropolitan archdiocese by Pope Pius...
on August 1, 1912, being installed as such on December 8 of that same year.
In October 1930, the Archbishop praised the Revolution
Brazilian Revolution of 1930
The Revolution of 1930 was a movement that overthrew President Washington Luís and installed Getúlio Vargas as Provisional President.-See also:*Revolutions of Brazil*History of Brazil...
, saying, "The Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
forces are formed of the pick of our youth, and with dignity and honor. The military organization is perfect. The national revolution, a logical consequence of regrettable facts, goes irresistibly on its way to triumph. Religious feeling animates and strengthens our soldiers. The victory of the allied troops will begin a new era of national prosperity. May the Lord of Hosts shorten the days of the struggle, and grant us peace, from north and south, for the happiness of the nation and the glory of religion".
He died at age 76, after serving as Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre is the tenth most populous municipality in Brazil, with 1,409,939 inhabitants, and the centre of Brazil's fourth largest metropolitan area . It is also the capital city of the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The city is the southernmost capital city of a Brazilian...
's archbishop for thirty-three years.