VATICAN CITY, APR 25, 2004 (VIS) - This morning in St. Peter's Square, John Paul II beatified a priest, four women religious and a lay woman: Servants of God Augustus Czartoryski, Laura Montoya, Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala, Nemesia Valle, Eusebia Palomino Yenes and Alexandrina Maria da Costa.
When speaking about Polish Blessed Czartoryski of the Salesian Society of St. John Bosco, the Pope recalled that this young prince "presented all his questions and doubts to God in prayer and then in a spirit of obedience followed the advice of his spiritual guides. In this way, he understood his vocation to live poverty in order to serve the least of his brethren." The Holy Father especially urged young people to learn from the new blessed "to ardently ask for the light of the Holy Spirit and prudent guides through prayer" in their lives.
John Paul II noted that Colombian Blessed Laura Montoya, "realizing that so many indigenous people who lived far from big cities did not know God, decided to found the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate and St. Catherine of Siena, in order to bring the Gospel to those who live in the jungle. ... Inspired by her peaceful message, we pray to her today so that the beloved nation of Colombia may soon enjoy peace, justice and integral progress."
"Blessed Guadalupe Garcia Zavala from Mexico, who renounced marriage," he continued, "dedicated herself to the service of the poor, needy and sick, and founded the Congregation of the Servants of St. Margaret Mary and of the Poor. With deep faith, boundless hope and a great love for Christ, Mother Lupita sought holiness through love for the heart of Jesus and in fidelity to the Church."
The Pope went on to say that the mission of Italian Blessed Nemesia Valle, virgin, of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Charity of St. Jeanne-Antida Thouret was "to show God's love to the needy, the poor and to all human beings in every corner of the earth. ... She is an example of luminous holiness, aiming for the high summits of evangelic perfection, and translated into the simple gestures of daily life entirely dedicated to God."
The Spanish Salesian Eusebia Palomina Yenes, of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians, "was driven by love for the Eucharist and for Our Lady. What was important to her was to love and to serve; the rest did not matter. ... In a radical way and while adhering to her opinions, she forged a fascinating and demanding path of sanctity for all of us and especially for the young people of our age."
The Holy Father concluded by speaking about Portuguese Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Costa, lay person, of the Union of Salesian Cooperators. He emphasized her "strong will which accepted everything in order to show her love for God. ... She mystically relived Christ's passion and offered herself as a victim for sinners, receiving strength from the Eucharist which was her only sustenance during the last thirteen years of life."
At the end of the Mass and before praying the Regina Coeli, John Paul II greeted pilgrims in their respective languages. Speaking in Polish about Blessed Czartoryski, he said, "For me it is a great joy to be able to welcome the Blessed's family to the Vatican on this occasion. I am very close to Poland as former bishop of Krakow, and especially to the prelate Stanislaw Czartoryski."
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