Opening prayer ending "We thank you that your Providence has arranged for the following to happen................"
The Canonisation of Saints Damien of Moloka'i, Mary of the Cross (Jeanne Jugan), Francisco Coll y Guitart, Rafael Arnaiz Baron, and Zygmunt Felinski.
On October 11 many of us will have been fortunate enough to follow the Canonisation Mass online and live from Rome. It was wonderful to feel spiritually close to so many of my 'sisters', particularly those in Hawaii itself at the 'Catholic Mom in Hawaii' blog. Their joy, thanksgiving and pride in their own Saint must have been indescribable. And I send them heartfelt felicitations. There was a large delegation from Hawaii at the ceremony in Rome including the Hawaiin lady who recovered from cancer after praying to St. Damien. Senator Daniel K.. Akaka of Hawaii was also present. There was great rejoicing in Belgium too where St. Damien was born.
St. Mary of the Cross began her foundation of the Little Sisters of the Poor in France, but it was not France alone that celebrated her canonisation, but in countless others across the world, specifically for the followers of this blog, in the US, UK, and Australia where her daughters still care for the deprived elderly. After the Ceremony had finished EWTN had a little interview with two of them. They were spilling over with serene happiness. I expect there will be an upturn in vocations for them!
My contact in Spain also had reason to rejoice in the raising to sainthood of St. Fransciso Coll and St. Rafael Arnaiz. Saint Francisco was a Dominican and lived his life as an itinerant preacher in the villages and towns of Catalonia. St. Rafael died aged 26 as an oblate in a Trappist monastery. He was from a rich family but unlike the rich young man in the Gospel of the Canonisation day, he did not go away sorrowing but followed Jesus unequivocally throughout his short life.
We do not have any direct connection with spiritual mothers in Poland but we can pray to St. Zygmunt to correct this lack. He was Archbishop of Warsaw at a very oppressive time for his nation and the Church within it. Throughout a difficulat life, 20 years of which were spent in exile in Russia, he was steadfast in his trust in Divine Providence.
Pope Benedict gave a beautiful homily in which he not only outlined the lives of these new saints, but showed us how much we can learn from them, holding them up to us as demonstrating the required answer to the question asked of Christ by the young man in the gospel, 'What must I do to inherit eternal life?'
If you haven't read the homily here is a link to the full text.
Traditional Anglicans knock at the door; Pope Benedict opens it and invites them in.
Our Holy Father has made an unprecedented move and has promised, in the very near future, to issue an Apostolic Constitution which will govern the terms of the acceptance of Traditional Anglicans into full visible unity with the one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. It will still be a complicated situation for the groups and individuals involved, but at least it IS a real possibility now. This matter has been under consideration in the Vatican for two years, ever since the TAC and others first appealed to Rome. Pope Benedict has cleared away many obstacles. He couldn't have done more.
We will not know for some time how many Traditional Anglicans will avail themselves of the new structures. May I ask for your prayers for these Anglicans, particularly those who will be priests - a whole new group for spiritual mothers to take under their wings!
Dear Lord Jesus, we thank you for our five new saints, and for Pope Benedict, who is giving the term 'ecumenism' a new and vibrantly effective meaning.
One Our Faher
Most Sacred Hear of Jesus, have mercy on us. (3 times)
Holy Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Queen of Clergy, pray for your Son's beloved priests.
Holy Mary, Virgin most prudent, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Cause of our Joy, pray for us.
Holy Mary, Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for us
One Hail Mary
St. Alban, protomartyr of England, pray for us.
St. Hilda of Whitby, pray for us.
St. Bede, the Venerable, pray for us.
St. Thomas of Canterbury, pray for us.
Holy Martyrs of England and Wales, pray for us.
Saints Damien, Mary of the Cross, Fransisco, Rafael and Zygmundt, pray for us.
Saints Joseph and Benedict, pray for our Holy Father, Benedict XVI.
Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, pray for all priests of Our beloved Lord and for us their spiritual mothers.
Final prayer to the Holy Spirit, "Come O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful............"
Deo gratias!
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