See What Love the Father Has Given Us!
Tens of thousands of the faithful gathered under brilliantly clear Roman skies on the morning of Sunday, 24 April, for the beatification of three Servants of God: Isidore Bakanja, a young Zairian martyr, and two Italian mothers, Gianna Beretta Molla and Elizabeth Canon Mora. In his homily the Holy Father pointed out that the celebration was taking place during the Special Synod for Africa and the Year of the Family, and stated that the risen Christ is the cornerstone on which man's dignity and future rest Here is a translation of the Pope's homily, which was given in Italian and French.
1. I am the Good Shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. . ." (Jn 10:11). Every year, on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, we hew these words in which Jesus speaks of himself, his death and his Resurrection: "I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again (Jn 10:17-18). Christ's paschal mystery is the work of immense love. Christ offers his life on the Cross for love of mankind and although he dies, he remains the Lord of his own life and his own death. Rising on the third day, he shows the life that is born from death and after the Resurrection, he enters the Upper Room to transmit to the Apostles the power to overcome death and to restore life. Thus we are also made participants his paschal mystery.
2. Today we would like to venerate in particular those who have shared in Christ's death and in his Resurrection. They gave their life, that same life which Christ restores to them through his Resurrection. Today's celebration takes place midway in the Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops. Therefore the solemn beatification rite of Isidore Bakanja, Gianna Beretta Molla and Elizabeth Canori Mora has a particular eloquence: the eloquence of heroic faith and heroic care. Heroic faith witnesses to the truth that is Christ. Heroic care witnesses to the love that never falters before any sacrifice. This is the love with which Christ loved us.
Isidore was faithful to the gift of his Baptism
3. You were a man of heroic faith, Isidore Bakanja, young layman of Zaire. As a baptized person, called to spread the Good News, you shared your faith and witness to Christ with such conviction that to your companions you seemed one of those valiant lay faithful, the catechists. Yes, Blessed Isidore, absolutely faithful to your baptismal promises, you were a true catechist, tolling generously for "the Church in Africa and for her evangelizing mission".
During the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, on the day that we are proclaiming your merits, we would like to pay homage to all catechists, those in-dispensable coworkers in building up the Church on the African continent. Catechists precede, accompany and complete the work of priests among their people. In many periods of history, they have enabled the faith to survive persecution. They are able to be true shepherds, who know their sheep and are known by their sheep; and, if necessary, they defend the flock at the cost of their life. Catechists are well aware that a great number of their brothers and sisters are not yet among the flock, and expect from their fraternal care the proclamation of the Good News. In their every action catechists give true witness to Christ, the one Shepherd.
Isidore, your sharing in the paschal mystery of Christ, in the supreme work of his love, was total. Because you desired to be loyal to your baptismal faith whatever the cost, you suffered scourging like your Master. Like your Master on the Cross, you forgave your persecutors; and you showed yourself to be a builder of peace and reconciliation.
In an Africa that is sorely tried by ethnic strife, your shining example is an encouragement to harmony and reconciliation among the children of the same heavenly Father. You showed brotherly love to all, without distinction of race or social class; you earned the esteem and respect of your companions, many of whom were not Christians. Thus you us the necessary way of dialogue among men.
Two Italian mothers practiced heroic virtue
During this advent in preparation for the third millennium, you invite us, after your example, to accept the gift of his own Mother that Jesus made to us on the Cross (cf. Jn 19:27). Clad in "Mary's habit", you advanced, like her and with her, in your pilgrimage of faith. Like Jesus, the Good Shepherd, you went so far as to give your life for the flock. Help us, who must take the same path, to raise our eyes to Mary and to take her as our guide.
4. Today we are also raising two Italian women to the honors of the altar: Gianna Beretta Molla and Elizabeth Canori Mora. Women of heroic love; Both exemplary wives and mothers, who gave dedicated witness to the demanding values of the Gospel in daily life.
Gianna Beretta Molla, crowning an exemplary life as a student and a committed young woman in the ecclesial community, and as a happy wife and mother, knew how to offer her life as a sacrifice so that the baby she bore in her womb might live, and she is with us here today! As a surgeon, she was well aware of what to expect, but did not falter be-fore sacrifice, confirming in this way the heroic nature of her virtues.
For her part Elizabeth Canori Mora, amidst a great many marital difficulties, showed total fidelity to the commitment she had made in the sacrament of marriage, and to the responsibility stemming from it. Constant in prayer and in her heroic dedication to her family, she was able to rear her children as Christians and succeeded in converting her husband.
Taking these two women as models of Christian perfection, we would like to pay homage to all brave mothers who dedicate themselves to their own family without reserve, who suffer in giving birth to their children and who are ready to make any effort, to face any sacrifice, in order to pass on to them the best of themselves.
Motherhood can be a source of joy but it can also become a cause of suffering, and sometimes of great disappointment. In this case, love becomes a trial, frequently a heroic one, that costs a mother's heart so much. Today we would like to venerate not only these two exceptional women, but also those who spare no effort in raising their children.
5. How extraordinary at times is their sharing in the Good Shepherd's care! How hard they have to fight against difficulties and dangers! How frequently they are called to face genuine "wolves" deter-mined to snatch and scatter the flock! And these heroic mothers do not always find support in their surroundings. On the contrary, the cultural models frequently promoted and broadcast by the media do not encourage motherhood. In the name of progress and modernity the values of fidelity, chastity, sacrifice, in which a host of Christian wives and mothers have distinguished and continue to distinguish themselves, are presented as obsolete.
We thank heroic mothers for their invincible love
As a result, a woman who is determined to be consistent with her principles often feels deeply alone. Alone in her love which she cannot betray, and to which she must remain faithful. Her guiding principle is Christ, who has revealed the love which the Father bestows on us. A woman who believes in Christ finds a powerful support precisely in this love that bears evening. It is a love that enables her to claim that all she does for a child conceived, born, adolescent or adult, she does at the same time for a child of God. As St. John states in today's reading: "We are called children of God, Yet that is what we are" (1 Jn 3:1). We are children of God. When this reality is fully revealed, we shall be like God, for we shall see him as he is(cf. 1 Jn 3:2).
>We thank you, heroic mothers, for your invincible love! We thank you for your intrepid trust in God and in his love. We thank you for the sacrifice of your life. Today, in the paschal mystery, Christ is restoring to you the gift you gave him. Indeed, he has the power to give you back the life you gave him as an offering.
6. "The Father loves me," Christ says, "because ! lay down my life in order to take it up again" (Jn 10:17).
The Father loves you, Africa! He loves you, Bishops and Pastors of the black continent! He loves you, priests, consecrated persons, sons and daughters of black Africa! He loves you, catechists! He loves you, fathers and mothers! He loves you, African youth, African families, parents and children! Trust in Christ! He alone is the cornerstone on which man's dignity and future rest. And there is no salvation in anyone else. "For there is no other name in the whole world given to men by which we are to be saved" (Acts 4:12).
We count on your name, Jesus Christ!
May you be our salvation!
Amen!
This item 3460 digitally provided courtesy of CatholicCulture.org
