Kingdom of Christ is the glory of saints
The communion of saints
gives foretaste of Kingdom of heaven and inspires us
to build it in the world
On Sunday, 25 November, in St Peter's Basilica, the Holy Father
canonized three religious and a bishop, presenting them as models
for the Church of the new millennium in what they said and did.
St Joseph Marello, apostle of youth and those on the margins
of society, told his congregation, "Be extraordinary in ordinary
things ".
The Pope mentioned St Paula Montal Fornés whose
educational charism of promoting women and the family "is
a source of inspiration in the formation of the generations of
the
third Christian millennium".
St Leonie Aviat who also dedicated
herself to the education of young women is a call to "to
go against the current of egotism and easy pleasures,
and to open ourselves to the social and spiritual
needs of our time".
The Pope highlighted St Maria Crescenzia
Höss, of the Third
Order Regular of St Francis, who lived an intensely
mystical life for 40 years and was even adviser to the Archbishop
of Cologne. "She
endured the intrigues of her own community, without
ever doubting her own vocation". Here is a translation
of the Holy Father's homily given in Italian, Spanish, French
and German.
1. "There
was an inscription over his head,"This is the
King of the Jews" (Lk 23,38).
That inscription, which Pilate had placed on the cross
(cf. Jn 19,19), contains the motive of the condemnation
and the truth about the person of Christ. Jesus is king ... he
affirmed
it ... but his kingdom is not of this world (cf. Jn 18,36-37).
Before him humanity is divided into two parts: those who reject
him on
account of his apparent failure, and those who recognize
him as theChrist, "the image of the invisible God, begotten before
all creation" (Col 1,15), according to the expression of the
Apostle Paul in the Letter to the Colossians, that we have heard.
Before the Cross of Christ, the great scene of the world
is opened up and the drama of our personal and collective
history takes place. Under the gaze of God, who in
his Only begotten Son
immolated for us, has become the measure of every person,
institution, and civilization, each one is called to
decide for or against Christ.
2. Those who were just proclaimed
saints: Joseph Marello,
Paula Montal Fornés de San José de Calasanz, Leonie
Frances de Sales Aviat and Maria Crescenzia Höss come before
the crucified divine king. Each of them entrusted himself/herself
to his mysterious kingship, proclaiming with their
entire life: "Jesus,
remember me when you enter into your kingdom" (Lk 23,42).
And in an absolutely personal way, each received the
reply from the
immortal King: "Truly, I say to you, today you will be
with me in Paradise" (Lk 23,43).
Today! That "today" belongs
to the time of God, to the plan of salvation, of which St Paul
speaks in the Letter
to the
Romans: "Those whom he foreknew he also predestined ...
he also called ... justified ... glorified" (Rom 8,29-20).
That "today" contains
the historical moment of today's canonization, in which
these four exemplary witnesses of evangelical life
are raised to the glory
of the altars.
St Joseph Marello
3. "It pleased God to make every fullness dwell in him Christ" (Col
1,19). St Joseph Marello participated in that fullness,
as priest of the clergy of Asti and as Bishop of the Diocese of
Acqui. Fullness
of grace, fostered in him by an intense devotion to the
Blessed Virgin Mary; fullness of the priesthood, which God conferred
on
him as gift and mission; fullness of holiness which he
ahieved, by being conformed to Christ, the Good Shepherd. Bishop
Marello
was formed in the golden period of holiness in the Piedmont
area, when, in the midst of numerous forms of hostility against
the Church
and the Catholic faith, the champions of the spirit and
of charity flourished, Sts Cottolengo, Cafasso, Don Bosco, Murialdo
and Allamano.
Joseph was a good and intelligent young man, enthusiastic
about cultural and social movements, but our saint only found in
Christ
the synthesis of every ideal and was consecrated to him
in the priesthood. "To
take care of the interests of Jesus" was his motto inlife,
and for this reason he wanted to imitate St Joseph, the
spouse of Mary, the custodian of the Redeemer. What strongly attracted
him
to St Joseph was the life of hidden service, joined with
deep interior life. He knew how to transmit this style to the Oblates
of St Joseph,
the Congregation he founded. He liked to repeat to them, "Be
extraordinary in ordinary things" and he added, "Be Carthusians
inside your house and apostles outside". The Lord wanted to
use his robust personality for his Church, calling him
to govern the Diocese of Acqui, where, in the span of a few years,
he spent
himself for his flock, leaving a memory that has only grown
with time.
St Paula Montal Fornés de San José de Calasanz
4. "I say to you: today you will be with me in Paradise" (Lk
23,43). St Paula Montal Fornés de San José de Calasanz,
foundress of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary, Sisters
of the Pious Schools, was received in paradise, into the fullness
of
the kingdom of God, after a life of holiness. First in
her native city, Arenys del Mar, she was involved in many apostolic
activities
and in prayer and interior devotion she was led into the
mystery of God; then as foundress of a religious family, inspired
by the
slogan of St Joseph Calasanz "Piety and Letters", she
gave herself to advancing women and the family with her
ideal: "Save
the family, educating the young girls in a holy fear of
God";
in the end, she was to give proof of the authenticity,
the firmness and the beauty of her spirit, a spirit shaped by God
during the
30 years of hidden life in Olesa de Montserrat.
The new
saint belongs to the group of founders of religious orders
who in the 19th century came forward to meet the
many needs that were present and that the Church, inspired
by the Gospel and
by the Spirit, wanted to respond to for the good of society.
The message of St Paula is still valid today and her
educational charism
is a source of inspiration in the formation of the generations
of the third Christian millennium.
St Frances de Sales Aviat
5. The loving plan of the Father "who has made us enter the
kingdom of his beloved Son" found a splendid realization in
St Frances de Sales Aviat: who lived her self offering
to the end. At the heart of her dedication and of her apostolate,
Sister Frances
de Sales put prayer and union with God, where she found
the light and the energy to overcome trials and difficulties, and
to persevere
to the end of her life in the life of faith, desiring to
be led by the Lord: "O my God, let my happiness be found in
sacrificing my will and my desires for you!". The resolution
which distinguished Mother Aviat so well, "Forget oneself completely",
is also for us an appeal to go against the current of egotism and
easy
pleasures, and open ourselves to the social and spiritual
needs of our time. Dear Oblate Sisters of St Francis-de-Sales, at
the
school of your foundress, in profound communion with the
Church and wherever God has placed you, be determined to receive
the present
graces and to benefit from them, for it is in God that
we find the light and the help necessary in every circumstance!
Trusting in
the powerful intercession of the new saint, accept with
joy the invitation to live, with renewed fidelity, the intuitions
which
she so perfectly lived.
St Maria Crescenzia Höss
6. Give glory to Christ the King: this wish inspired St Maria Crescenzia
Höss from her childhood. It was for his service that she used
her talents. God gave her a beautiful voice. Already as
a young lady she could sing a solo part, not to display herself
but to sing
and to play for Christ the King.
Her knowledge of her fellow
men she placed at the service of the Lord. This Franciscan
was an esteemed advisor. To her convent
came many visitors: both simple men and women, princes
and empresses, priests and religious, abbots and bishops.
In a certain way she
became a kind of "midwife" and helped those seeking
counsel to bring forth the truth in their hearts.
Sorrow did not
spare the saint. "Mobbing" took place in
her time. She endured the intrigues of her own community,
without ever doubting her own vocation. The long period
of suffering allowed
her to grow in the virtue of patience. That was helpful
for her when she became superior: for her to direct meant
spiritually to
serve. She was generous with the poor, motherly with
her sisters, and kind to all who needed a kind word. St Crescenzia
lived
what
the Kingdom of Christ means: "Whatever you do to the least
of your brothers, that you do to me" (Mt 25,40).
Build the
Kingdom of God as they did
7."Let us give thanks with joy to the Father who has qualified
us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light" (Col
1,12). Never as at the present time do the words of St Paul find
an echo in our hearts! Truly the communion of saints gives us the
foretaste of the Kingdom of heaven, and, at the same time, inspires
us, following their example, to build it in the world and in history.
"He must reign" (I Cor 15,25), the Apostle wrote
referring to Christ.
"He must reign", you repeat to us with the
example of your lives, St Joseph Marello, St Paula Montal Fornés de San José de
Calasanz, St Leonie de Sales Aviat and St Maria Crescenzia
Höss.
May your example inspire us to living contemplation of
Christ the King, crucified and risen. May your support help us to
walk faithfully
in the footsteps of the Redeemer, to share one day with
you together with Mary and all the saints, his eternal glory in heaven.
Amen.
(©L'Osservatore Romano - 28 November 2001)
SUNDAY
ANGELUS: 25 NOVEMBER, SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING
Pray
for peace, for projects I announced last Sunday
On Sunday, 25 November, the Solemnity of Christ the
King, the Holy Father prayed the Angelus with thousands of
pilgrims who had come for the canonization of four new
saints: Sts Joseph
Marello, Leonie Aviat, Paula Montal and Maria Crescenzia
Höss.
The Pope said: "Their witness shows that the Crucified One
truly "lives and reigns for ever and ever'". He also
brought Christ's kingship to the fore, "his is the power
of love and service that requires the gratuitous gift of self
and a consistent witness to the truth". Here is a translation
of his reflection in Italian.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
On this last Sunday of the liturgical year we are celebrating
the Solemnity of Christ the King and the Church invites
us to contemplate the kingship of the Redeemer that emerges
very forcefully from the
lives of the saints. This morning, in St Peter's Basilica,
I had the joy of proclaiming four new saints: Bishop Joseph
Marello of
Acqui, founder of the Congregation of the Oblates of St
Joseph, and three consacrated virgins: Paula Montal Fornés of Calasanz,
Leonie Frances de Sales Aviat and Maria Crescenzia Höss.
Four saints experienced the power of love and service with
Christ
Their witness shows that the Crucified One truly "lives and
reigns for ever and ever". Yes, he is "the Living God", "the
Lord" and he reigns in the lives of men and women of every
place and time who accept him freely and follow him faithfully.
His Kingdom, "a kingdom of justice, love, and peace" (Preface)
will only be manifested fully at the end of time.
2. If
it is assessed according to the criteria of this world,
Jesus' kingship can appear "paradoxical". Indeed,
the power he exercises does not fit into earthly logic.
On the contrary, his is the power of love and service that requires
the gratuitous
gift of self and the consistent witness to the truth (cf.
Jn 18,37).
This is why the Lord gave his life as "an immaculate victim
of peace on the altar of the Cross" (Preface), knowing that
only in this way could he redeem humanity, history and
the cosmos from the slavery of sin and death. His Resurrection
attests that
he is the victorious King, the "Lord" in heaven and
on earth and under the earth (cf. Phil 2,10-11).
We look to Mary
as Queen of Peace
3. The creature who more than any other is associated with Christ's
kingship is Mary, whom he himself crowned Queen of heaven and earth.
The saints the Church presents for our veneration today looked to
her as their constant model. Let us also turn our eyes to her, so
that she may help us "reign" with Christ to build a world
where peace may "reign".
We must pray tirelessly to obtain this great gift that
is peace: a gift for which humanity has so great a need.
Let us also ask for it confidently along with the two projects I
announced
to you last Sunday: the day of fasting in December, and
the prayer meeting with the representatives of the world's religions
in Assisi
in January. May Mary, Queen of Peace, intercede for us
with her divine Son, immortal King and Lord of peace.
After leading
the prayer of the Angelus, the Holy Father
greeted the pilgrims and faithful in various languages:
I greet the bishops, the civil authorities, the Calasanz
family and all the faithful who have taken part in
the canonization of St Paula Montal Fornés. In this Marian prayer,
I would like to recall her great love for the Blessed Virgin to
whom she
addressed her last words, spoken in her mother tongue: "Mare,
Mare meua". I encourage you all to imitate the new saint, finding
in genuine devotion and love for the Virgin Mary the constant
motivation for following Christ.
Dear French-speaking pilgrims,
I extend a cordial greeting
to you as I give thanks for the canonization of Mother
Frances de Sales Aviat, whose life is an example to us
all. She invites us
to combine action and contemplation in our lives and
humbly to do the will of God. May the Virgin Mary accompany
you on your
daily
journey! With my Apostolic Blessing.
I warmly greet the
pilgrims from Germany who came to Rome for the canonization
of Sr Crescenzia Höss. There are many
of the faithful from her birth- place, Kaufbeuren,
in particular, but also from Bavaria. May the new saint be a powerful
model and
intercessor for you! I gladly impart my Apostolic Blessing
to you.
I cordially greet the pilgrims from Poland and
all my
compatriots who have joined us in prayer via radio
and television. I send a
special greeting to the organizers and participants
of the first National Congress of Catholic Action taking
place in
Poznan on the
theme: "Christ, Hope of the future". May the Son of
God, whom today we celebrate as King, make this time
of reflection and
prayer inspire everyone with great apostolic enthusiasm.
I wholeheartedly bless you all.
Today in Rome we are celebrating
Seminaries Day. As
I adress an affectionate greeting to the seminarians,
I assure each
of them
of my special remembrance in prayer. At the same
time, I express deep gratitude to all who offer spiritual
and material support to
the Roman Seminary, the heart of our diocese.
I greet
with affection the Italian-speaking pilgrims, especially
those who have taken part in the canonization
of Bishop Joseph Marello. I also greet the faithful
from St Frances de Sales Parish in Rome, whom I encourage
to continue faithfully
in their Christian way of life.
(©L'Osservatore Romano - 28 November 2001)
TO
PILGRIMS AND DEVOTEES OF FOUR NEW SAINTS
Holiness:
doing the ordinary as lovingly as possible
On Monday, 26 November, the Holy Father received the
pilgrims who came to Rome for the canonization of the four saints
in the Paul VI Hall. It was the chance for him to do
the panegyric of
the saints. He singled out Bishop Marello for summing
up in person the theme of the Synod on Bishops. The two
foundresses St Paula
Montal Fornés and Leonie Frances de Sales Aviat were ahead
of their time in devoting themselves to the Christian
and human education of women to be leaders in society
and in the family.
St Maria Crescenzia had a deeply mystical union with
Christ crucified that is attractive to Catholics and
to Protestants as well. Here
is a translation of the Holy Father's address given in
Italian, Spanish, French and German.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
1. I am very pleased to meet
you again, the day after the solemn canonization of Joseph
Marello, Paula Montal Fornés
of St Joseph of Calasanz, Leonie Frances de Sales Aviat
and Maria Crescenzia Höss. Today's meeting gives us the opportunity
to prolong the thanksgiving we addressed to the Lord
yesterday. At
the same time, we can reflect a little longer in contemplation
of the shining witness of these exemplary disciples of
Christ.
I cordially greet the Cardinals, as well as the civil
authorities who have wished to be present at this festive
event. I offer a special "thank
you" to the bishops and priests who have led the groups of
pilgrims.
St Joseph Marello, Bishop and Founder
2. The first to rejoice in the canonization of Joseph Marello are
his spiritual sons, the Oblates of St Joseph, whom I warmly
greet and congratulate. Eight years have passed, dear friends, since
I
proclaimed your beloved founder Blessed in the Campo del
Palio of Asti. Another miraculous sign - the cure of two children
in Peru
- has made it possible on this earth to crown his journey
of holiness. This meaningful event has occurred just after the Ordinary
Assembly
of the Synod of Bishops, dedicated precisely to the ministry
of the bishop in the Church and in the world today.
I greet warmly
the pilgrims from Asti and from Acqui, cities
that had him as priest and bishop respectively, and I
greet all the communities, all over the world, where the
Oblates and their
mission have providentially arrived. Together with you
all, sons
and followers of St Joseph Marello, I would like to praise
the glorious St Joseph, Patron of the universal Church.
Young Marello's deep
love for the Virgin Mary prompted him to choose St Joseph
as his model of life and guide in following Christ. And
this sums up the
message that he left to all Christians - religious, families,
priests - love the Mother of the Redeemer and imitate
her Guardian.
St Paula Montal Fornés
3. I now warmly greet the bishops, priests and faithful who have
come for the canonization of Mother Paula Montal Fornés and,
in particular, the Daughters of Mary, Sisters of the Pious
Schools, as well as the Piarist Fathers and their students and the
large
group of alumni of the Calasanz family.
The new saint is
a person you know well and admire; and so you wanted
to be in Rome for yesterday's solemn ceremony.
Now, with her canonization, St Paula Montal is held up
to the whole Church
as model and intercessor. Her spiritual profile shows
us a person who trusted in God and consecrated herself to
him, collaborating with his plan of salvation, especially
through her mission
of teaching.
She was a mystic rooted in action, dedicated to carrying
out properly a task at the service of the Church and
of the world. In the concrete
circumstances of her time that were far from easy, she
intuited the role of women in the family and in society
and dedicated herself
to an ideal: the human and Christian education of women.
Her message is very much up to date. In this regard, I am pleased
to recall what she writes in one of her letters: "We
are bound to seek the tranquillity and progress of society
that are only possible with a transparent life, which is
the life God
asks us to live". Through her intercession, may today's world
travel on these paths that require Christian teachers who
can transmit the values of the Gospel competently and with
the witness of their
lives to the children and young people of today who are
called to be the leaders of tomorrow.
St Frances de Sales Aviat
4. Dear pilgrims, your presence shows your attention to the ever
current charism of St Frances de Sales Aviat, foundress
of the Congregation of Sisters Oblates of St Francis de Sales, whose
Superior General,
Sr Frances Isabelle Stiegler I greet; I also greet Bishop
Stenger of Troyes and Bishop Louis of Châlons, the dioceses
where Leonie was born and lived, as well as the members of the civil
institutions
of the region.
Teachers and educators who with the Oblate
Sisters guarantee a mission and thus render an indispensable
service to young
people in many of the world's regions, I encourage you
to continue this
educational task, to pass on to young people, through
an integral formation and the witness of your life, the human
and Christian values they need for their growth. Dear
Sisters, I give
thanks for
your beautiful vocation that combines contemplation and
action. Your desire to live daily life with love already
has a missionary orientation. Do not let yourselves be
discouraged by difficulties,
of which Mother Aviat said: "They are always the means that
God gives us to reach him!". Following her example, may you
be able to witness to the joy of giving yourselves to Christ,
glad "to
be of service to Our Lord, joyful to win souls for him,
and joyful ... to teach them renouncement and self-control"!
I impart an affectionate Apostolic Blessing to you all.
St Maria
Crescenzia Höss
5. With great joy I welcome the German faithful who have come on
the occasion of this canonization. I greet especially Cardinal Friedrich
Weter and Bishop Viktor Josef Dammertz, who have led the pilgrimage
to to the Eternal City.
St Maria Höss is a great gift. You must be proud of this woman.
She is an attractive person for the city of Kaufbeuren,
and for the Diocese of Augsburg, for the Ecclesiastical Province
of München
und Freising and for the whole Church of Germany.
Although
we are distant from her in time, nevertheless the new
saint speaks to us at the beginning of the third millennium.
Every day, people of various creeds praying at her tomb entrust
their concerns to her. Already in her lifetime
Maria Crescenzia Höss reminded people of the one whom we
all need: the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit can work
great things in our lives and throughout the Church
if we allow him to do so. With
this hope, I impart my Apostolic Blessing to you and
to all who have brought
their resolutions to Rome.
Holiness is doing the ordinary
as lovingly as possible
6. Dear friends, once again, through these four new saints, the
Church is pointing out to us and calling us to the high standard
of ordinary Christian living: holiness. Holiness that consists not
in doing exceptional tasks, but in living ordinary things in an
extraordinary way, that is, as lovingly as possible. Returning to
your usual occupations, treasure this teaching, learned at the school
of Mary and of these saints. Thus you will experience a reflection
of eternal bliss, which God promises to his faithful in the heavenly
kingdom.
With these wishes, which I accompany with prayer, I cordially
renew my Blessing to you.
(©L'Osservatore Romano - 28 November 2001)
