Vatican City, 24 November 2014 (VIS) –
This morning in the Vatican Basilica Pope Francis met with a group of
faithful of Syro-Malabar rite, gathered in Rome for the canonisation
on Sunday of Kuriakose Elias Chavara of the Holy Family, and
Euphrasia Eluvathingal of the Sacred Heart. The Holy Father took the
opportunity to thank the Church in India, and specifically in Kerala,
for “all its apostolic strength and for the witness of faith you
have”, he said. “Continue in this way! Kerala is a land that is
very fertile in religious and priestly vocations. Carry on working in
this way, with your witness”.
“May this time of celebration and
intense spirituality help you to contemplate the marvellous works
accomplished by the Lord in the lives and deeds of these new saints.
… who remind each of us that God’s love is the source, the
support and the goal of all holiness, while love of neighbour is the
clearest manifestation of love for God.”
Pope Francis described St. Kuriakose
Elias as “a religious, both active and contemplative, who
generously gave his life for the Syro-Malabar Church, putting into
action the maxim 'sanctification of oneself and the salvation of
others'”, while St. Euphrasia “lived in profound union with God,
so that her life of holiness was an example and an encouragement to
the people, who called her 'Praying Mother'. He encouraged those
present to “treasure their lessons of evangelical living ... follow
in their footsteps and imitate them, in a particular way, through
love of Jesus in the Eucharist and love of the Church. Thus you will
advance along the path to holiness”.
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