In the the traditional Mass included in the popular festivities of the Portuguese National Day in Madrid, the Priest, a compatriot who happens to be the local Nuncio and the compatriot Nuns that sing in the Choir let loose their patriotism. The final chant is an ode to Our Lady of Conception, the Godmother ("Padroeira") of Portugal. The refrain does not go for subtleties: ("Ó Glória da Nossa Terra / Que tens salvado mil vezes / Enquanto houver Portugueses / Tu serás o seu Amor!") and the last stance is quite jingoistic too: "Portugal qual outra Fénix / À vida torna outra vez / Não se chame português /Quem cristão de fé não for."
It is in fact a thesis of the Chosen People-variety... Is Roman Catholicism a genetic component of Portuguese identity? In the same way that atheistic Jewish Israelis, pork-eating non-Yahve believers still consider themselves Jews at tribal identity level, a Portuguese - even an Atheist, or a non-Catholic - has to get on board, as far as identity roots are concerned, the final chant to the glory of Nossa Senhora da Conceicão?...
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