|
|
|
|
|
JOHN PAUL II
ANGELUS
1. At the end of this celebration, I would once again like to
greet and thank everyone who has come to pay homage to the five new blesseds,
one of whom is an Italian, Bl. Anna Rosa Gattorno. I hope that the religious of
the institute she founded and all who share our rejoicing today will draw
abundant fruit from the spiritual heritage left us by this faithful disciple of
the Lord, who was always ready to serve her poor and suffering brothers and
sisters.
2. I extend a special greeting to the pilgrims present for the
beatification of Mary Elisabeth Hesselblad, Francis Xavier Seelos and Mariam
Thresia Mankidiyan, especially those from Sweden, Germany, the United States and
India. Through the intercession of the new beati, may you be strengthened
in your faith and in Christian living.
I also extend a cordial greeting to the German-speaking pilgrims.
Bl. Francis Xavier Seelos was born at Füssen in the Allgäu and was educated by
the Benedictines in Augsburg. Swabia was thus the native soil of his faith. May
the new blessed also encourage you to risk the adventure of faith.
3. With great affection I now address the Colombian pilgrims who
have come for the beatification of Fr Mariano de Jesús Euse Hoyos. I greet the
Cardinals, Bishops and priests who have accompanied the large pilgrimage.
Through Fr Marianito's intercession may Colombians see their right to peace
respected, the basis on which the development of all other rights depends. May
God bless Colombia with peace!
4. As we thank the Lord for these generous Gospel witnesses, I
would like to add a few words about two initiatives of solidarity. The first is
the World Campaign for Elementary Instruction, a good that millions of
children unfortunately still lack. I hope that the international community's
efforts will soon achieve the goal of providing basic education for all minors.
Secondly, I join the appeal of the Italian health authorities for blood
donations and hope that people's commitment to such a human and evangelical
way of helping our neighbour in need will be more and more generous.
May Mary, Queen of All Saints, guide and support us all on our
Lenten journey to Easter, which is now close.
© Copyright 2000 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
|
 |