Pope Francis celebrated a Mass on Sunday to celebrate the canonization of 14 new saints, including 11 martyrs executed in Syria for refusing to renounce their faith. Who maintained the Christian testimony while following Jesus’ path of service.
Vatican News
Vatican City, Sunday, October 20, 2024 (REI): Pope Francis declared 14 new saints on Sunday, October 20, and granted them the highest honor of the Church.
Father Manuel Ruiz and his seven companions (minor friar); Francis, Mooti and Raphael Massabaki (Maronite laymen); Father Joseph Alamano (founder of the Missionary Brothers of Consolation and the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Consolation); Sister Mary Lavigne Paradis (Founder of the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family); And Sister Elena Guevara (founder of the Order of the Oblates of the Holy Spirit) was declared a saint by Pope Francis on Sunday, having borne witness to the unique vocation of holiness while also exemplifying the sacramental virtues.
World Mission On Sunday, on the occasion of the canonization ceremony in the courtyard of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, the Holy Father said that these new saints lived the path of Jesus, that of service.
Reflecting on the text of his sermon, the Pope asked: “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:36) Immediately after this he asks emphatically: “Can you drink the cup that I am about to drink, or can you be baptized with the baptism that I am about to drink?” Jesus asks questions and in doing so helps us introspect, because questions allow us to know what is inside us and shed light on the desires of our hearts.
“Can you drink my cup?”
“Let’s imagine that He asks each of us: “What do you want me to do for you?”,” the Pope said, provoking self-reflection; “Can you drink my cup?”
Through these questions, Jesus reveals the relationship between himself and his disciples, as well as his expectations of them, along with all aspects of a relationship. James and John were certainly associated with Jesus, but they also had demands. They express the desire to be close to Him, but only to have a place of honor, to play an important role, “to sit one at your right and the other at your left, in your glory.” (Mark 10:37) They certainly see Jesus as the victorious and glorious Messiah and expect Him to share His glory with them. They see the Messiah in Jesus, but they place him in the category of power. Jesus does not stop at the words of the disciples, but thinks deeply, listening and reading their hearts. Then, in the conversation, try to discover the desire behind their requests through a couple of questions.
The first question Jesus asks is: “What do you want? What should I do for you? A question that reveals the thoughts of their hearts and brings to light the hidden hopes and dreams of glory that the disciples secretly harbored. It seems as if Jesus is asking, “What do you want it to be for you?” In this way, they reveal their true desire, that they actually longed for a powerful and victorious Messiah who could give them a place of honor.
a king who came to serve
In his second question, Jesus refutes this image of the Messiah and thus helps them change their perspective, that is, to convert: “Can you drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized? Can you take what I am going to drink?” “. carry?” Thus, they reveal that He is not the Messiah they thought; He is the God of love, who bends down to reach out to the fallen; Those who weaken themselves to exalt the weak, those who work not for war but for peace, those who came to serve, not to be served. The cup that the Lord will drink is the gift of his life, which He will give us out of love, until death and death on a cross.
Furthermore, there will be two thieves on His right and left, hanging on a cross like Him, not sitting on a throne of power; The two thieves who were nailed in agony with Christ would not have sat on the throne of glory. The crucified King, the just condemned one who became a slave to all: truly the Son of God! (Mark 15:39) It is not those who dominate who conquer, but those who serve with love. We are also reminded in the Epistle to the Hebrews: “Our high priest can sympathize with our weaknesses, because he has been tempted in everything except sin, just as we have.” (Hebrews 4:15)
At this point, Jesus helps his disciples to convert, to change their mentality: you know that the rulers of the world govern their subjects in an autocratic way and exercise authority over those who have power. (Mark 10:42) But this should not be the case of those who follow God, who became a servant to reach everyone with his love. Those who follow Christ, if they want to be great, must learn and serve from Him.
Addressing the faithful, the Pope said: “Jesus reveals the thoughts, desires and projects of our hearts and, sometimes, our expectations of glory, dominion and power. They help us think not according to the world’s standards, but according to the way of God, who became the lowest to elevate those considered humble. Although these questions of Jesus, along with his teachings on service, are often incomprehensible to us, by following him, following in his footsteps, and accepting his gift of love, we too can walk the path of service to God.
example of saints
We should not long for power, but for service. Service is a way of living the Christian life. This is not a list of tasks, after completing them we consider our work finished; Whoever serves with love does not say: “Now it’s someone else’s turn.” That’s how employees think, not witnesses. Service arises from love, and love has no limits, it does not calculate, it spends and it gives. We do not work only for the result, it is not an occasional service, but it arises from the heart, a heart that is renewed by love and in love.
When we learn to serve, every gesture of attention and care, every expression of tenderness, every act of kindness becomes a reflection of God’s love. And so we continue the work of Jesus in the world.
Citing examples of saints who have been canonized, the Pope said: “In light of this, we remember the disciples of the Gospel who are being canonized today. Throughout the turbulent history of humanity, faithful servants have remained, serving in martyrdom and joy, like Father Manuel Ruiz López and his companions. They were enthusiastic priests and religious, like Father Joseph Alamano, Sister Mary Leonie Paradis and Sister Elena Guerra, full of missionary passion. These new saints lived a life of service in the way of Jesus. The faith and apostolate that they exercised did not satisfy their worldly desires and their hunger for power, but, on the contrary, they became servants of their brothers, being creative in doing good, persevering in difficulties and generous to the end.
The Pope concluded: “We pray to you with faith so that we too can follow Christ, follow him in his service and be witnesses of hope for the world.”