IN BEATIFYING, CHURCH DOES NOT ACCLAIM HISTORICAL ACHIEVEMENTS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 3, 2000 (VIS) - In St. Peter's Square at 10 a.m. today, John Paul II presided at a Eucharistic celebration during which he proclaimed as Blesseds, the Servants of God Pius IX (1792-1878), Pope; John XXIII (1881-1963), Pope; Tommaso Reggio (1818-1901), bishop and founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha; Guillaume-Joseph Chaminade (1761-1850), priest and founder of the Society of Mary and Columba Marmion (1858-1923), abbot of the order of St. Benedict.

At the start of his homily, the Pope told the 100,000 faithful present that, in beatifying her children, "the Church does not celebrate particular historical achievements they may have accomplished, rather it identifies them as examples to be imitated and venerated for their virtues."

Pius IX, Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti, said the Holy Father, was, "in all circumstances, faithful to the commitments of his ministry, he always knew how to give absolute primacy to God and to spiritual values. ... He was much loved, but also hated and calumniated." Elected to the See of Peter in 1846, Pius IX convoked Vatican Council I. "In proclaiming the dogma of the Immaculate Conception (1854) he reminded everyone that, through the storms of human existence, in the Virgin the light of Christ shines stronger than sin and death."

John XXIII, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, elected Pope in 1958, "impressed the world with his affability through which shone the goodness of his soul. ... It is well known that John XXIII profoundly venerated Pius IX and wished for his beatification." He convoked Vatican Council II, "with which he opened a new page in the history of the Church: Christians felt themselves called to announce the Gospel with renewed courage and greater attention to the 'signs' of the times."

The Pope then went on to speak of Tommaso Reggio, priest and journalist who later became bishop of Ventimiglia, Italy, then archbishop of Genoa. "Sensitive to the great suffering and poverty of his people, he took it upon himself to provide prompt assistance in all situations of need. ... His message may be summarized in two words: truth and charity."

Fr. Chaminade's love for Christ, the Holy Father continued, "brought him to tirelessly pursue his work by founding spiritual families, during a period of great agitation in France's religious history. ... His concern for human, moral and religious education constitutes, for the whole Church, a call to give renewed attention to youth."
The Pope concluded by speaking of Dom Columba Marmion. "In his writings, he taught a path of sanctity that was simple and, consequently, demanding for all the faithful. ... Throughout his life Blessed Columba was an outstanding spiritual director, having particular care for the interior life of priests and religious."

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