Posted on 10/11/2009 2:03:51 PM PDT by NYer
.- Today, Pope Benedict XVI canonized five new saints in St. Peter’s Basilica, including Fr. Damian of Molokai. During his homily, the Holy Father noted that all of the saints followed the invitation of Christ: "Come, follow me!"
Speaking to the faithful packed in St. Peter’s Basilica this morning, the Pope described the invitation of Christ saying that he "invites his disciples to the total gift of their lives, without calculation and human self-interest, with a wholehearted faith in God."
This call, the Holy Father continued, is welcome by the saints who "place themselves in humble obedience" to follow the Lord.
They no longer focus on themselves, the Pope explained, but by their "logic of faith," they choose "to go against the trends of the time living according to the Gospel."
Benedict XVI then gave a brief description of each of the five newly-canonized saints: a bishop, a Trappist brother, two priests and a nun.
Archbishop Zygmunt Szczesny Feliński of Warsaw, founder of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Family of Mary, was committed to evangelization and support for the poor, defending the oppressed during the Russian occupation of Poland, and was sentenced to 20 years in exile in Jaroslaw on the Volga. "His gift of himself to God and man," the Holy Father said in Polish, was "full of confidence and love," and "becomes a shining example for the entire Church."
To those younger generations today who "are not satisfied with what they have," the Pontiff gave the example of Rafael Arnaiz Baron, who came from a wealthy family and was a bit "of a dreamer." He died when he was 27 years old, a Cistercian oblate, considered one of the greatest mystics of the twentieth century.
The Pontiff next spoke of Dominican Father Francisco Coll y Guitard, founder of the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation Blessed Virgin Mary. Through his preaching, the saint spread his love of the Word of God and the Sacrament of Reconciliation among people especially the young.
Father Damian, the famous apostle of lepers, at 23 years of age left Flanders, Belgium to go on a mission to modern day Hawaii. "Not without fear and loathing," Pope Benedict underlined, "Father Damian made the choice to go on the island of Molokai in the service of lepers who were there, abandoned by all. So he exposed himself to the disease of which they suffered. With them he felt at home. The servant of the Word became a suffering servant, leper with the lepers, during the last four years of his life."
He continued, "To follow Christ, Father Damian not only left his homeland, but has also staked his health so he, as the word of Jesus announced in today's Gospel tells us, received eternal life."
The figure of Father Damian, Benedict XVI added, "teaches us to choose the good fight not those that lead to division, but those that gather us together in unity."
And finally, the Pope spoke of St. Mary of the Cross, of the Little Sisters of the Poor, and her "wonderful work to help the most vulnerable elderly." He noted that her initiatives and goals are "still valid today, given that many elderly people suffer from multiple poverty and loneliness, sometimes even being abandoned by their families."
The Pope concluded by inviting all present "to allow themselves to be attracted by the shining example of these saints, to be guided by their teachings so that our entire life becomes a hymn of praise to God's love."
Beautiful ceremony!
This makes me very happy, especially the canonization of Mother Jeanne Jugan.
There is a community of the Little Sisters of the Poor, not far from here. The sisters do an outstanding job of caring for the elderly.
Caring for people who can never do anything to compensate you is true religion.
I sometimes think it would be easier, less stressful, to take care of the indigent elderly or the handicapped than it is to rear one’s own children, because you wouldn’t be responsible for how they turn out! Maybe my error is in thinking that I’m responsible for how my children turn out ...
No Saint Barack???
Rafael Arnaiz Baron, who came from a wealthy family and was a bit "of a dreamer." He died when he was 27 years old, a Cistercian oblate, considered one of the greatest mystics of the twentieth century.
Dominican Father Francisco Coll y Guitard, founder of the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation Blessed Virgin Mary.
Father Damian, the famous apostle of lepers, at 23 years of age left Flanders, Belgium to go on a mission to modern day Hawaii. "Not without fear and loathing," Pope Benedict underlined, "Father Damian made the choice to go on the island of Molokai in the service of lepers who were there, abandoned by all.
St. Mary of the Cross, of the Little Sisters of the Poor, and her "wonderful work to help the most vulnerable elderly."
I'm wondering where these saints will be in the new Liturgical Calendar. I think I only have references on Blessed Damien deVuester -- now Saint Damien deVuester
Canonizations
At 10 a.m. on Oct. 11, Pope Benedict XVI will canonize four new saints in St. Peter’s Square.
Damien of Molokai
Joseph Damien de Veuster (1840-1889) of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary was famous for serving a Hawaiian leper colony until he contracted the disease and died there at age 49.
Activity: Watch one of the movies about Damien. Warning: Preview your selection first; you may want to fast-forward for young children the depictions of the island’s immorality.
Jeanne Jugan
Marie de la Croix (Jeanne) Jugan (1792-1879) founded the Little Sisters of the Poor. She’s famous for saying, “We must spoil the poor all we can.”
Activity: Find a video about Jeanne at YouTube.com. To imitate her, take your children to visit a nursing home.
Siberian Exile
Sigmund Felix Felinski (1822-1895) was archbishop of Warsaw and founder of the Franciscan Sisters of the Family of Mary. The czar sent him to Siberia for 20 years over a religious dispute. He bravely started a parish there.
Activity: Remind children not to be defeated by difficult circumstances.
Dominican at Heart
Blessed Francisco Coll y Guitart (1812-1875), because of Spain’s suppression of religious orders, couldn’t be ordained a Dominican, but he always considered himself part of the order.
Activity: Tell your kids the difference between “secular” (that is “in the world”) priests and religious orders.
The Handsome Trappist
Rafael Arnáiz Barón (1911-1938) was a Trappist Cistercian Oblate of the Abbey of San Isidoro de Dueñas in Spain. He was very successful in school, known for being handsome, intellectual and artistic. Pope John Paul II named him a model for youth.
Activity: Discuss the different vocations with your children, and point out that there is no single type of person who enters religious life.
Most inspiring!
That's an interesting question. I watched the mass from the Vatican yesterday morning. Part of the liturgy includes the chanting of the Litany of the Saints, in Latin. It was a pleasant surprise to hear the names of some of the more recently canonized saints included with the older, more recognized ones.
Barry Hussein is deeply saddened ...
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