MEXICO HAS 27 NEW SAINTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 2000 (VIS) - This morning, the Holy Father celebrated the Eucharist in St. Peter's Square and canonized the Blesseds Cristobal Magallanes (1869-1927), priest and 24 companions, priests and lay people, martyrs (1915-1937); Jose Maria de Yermo y Parres (1851-1904), priest and founder of the Congregation of the Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Poor; Maria de Jesus Sacramentado Venegas de la Torre (1868-1959), virgin, founder of the Congregation of the Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The Pope affirmed that the new saints "gave their lives to God and their fellow man, either through martyrdom or through the generous giving of themselves in order to serve the needy."

St. Cristobal Magallanes and his 24 companions, martyrs, 21 of whom were priests and 3 lay people, "did not abandon the courageous exercise of their ministry as religious persecution increased in the beloved land of Mexico and unleashed hatred for the Catholic religion. All of them freely and serenely accepted martyrdom as a witness of their faith, explicitly forgiving their persecutors. They were faithful to God and to the Catholic faith that was so deeply rooted in their ecclesial communities. They also sought to serve those communities by promoting material well-being and today they stand as an example for the whole Church and for Mexican society in particular."

John Paul II highlighted that St. Jose Maria de Yermo y Parres, "lived his priestly commitment to Christ, uniting himself to Him with all his strength." He requested that the religious of his order live "with generosity the rich heritage of the founder, beginning with sisterly communion and extending this in merciful love for their brothers and sisters, with humility, simplicity and efficiency and, above all, in perfect union with God."

Speaking of St. Maria de Jesus Sacramentado Venegas, the first Mexican woman to be canonized, he said: "Her spirituality was characterized by a particular Eucharistic piety. ... She wished to prolong her work by founding the Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus who, in the Church today, continue her charism of charity to the poor and the sick."

Following Mass and before praying the Regina Coeli, the Pope told the pilgrims present that he hoped that the intercession of the 27 saints "may keep Mexico ever faithful and ensure an increase in the number of Christians of the same stature as the canonized saints and as other great Mexican sons and daughter of the Church."

The Holy Father concluded by announcing that at 10 a.m. on Sunday May 28, he will celebrate Mass in St. Peter's Square for the occasion of the Jubilee of the diocese of Rome and he invited everyone to participate.

HML;CANONIZATION MEXICAN BLESSEDS;...;...;VIS;20000522;Word: 440;