Vatican City, 14 January 2015 (VIS) –
On the morning of Wednesday 14 January, the Holy Father transferred
from the apostolic nunciature in Colombo to Galle Face Green. This
urban park in the heart of the financial district of Colombo spreads
over five hectares up to the coast of the Indian Ocean and can hold
up to half a million people. Twenty years ago, on 15 January 1995,
St. John Paul II celebrated Holy Mass in the same location and
proclaimed Joseph Vaz blessed. Francis then left the car in favour of
the Popemobile to tour the many faithful – more than half a
million – gathered in the park. Before entering the sacristy, the
Pope was greeted by the mayor of the city of Colombo, who presented
him with the keys to the city.
The Mass and canonisation of Blessed
Joseph Vaz began at 8.30 a.m. local time. Sri Lanka's first saint,
Vaz was born in Goa, India in 1651, the son of Cristovao Vaz and
Maria de Miranda, devout Catholics. His father belonged to a
prominent Goud Saraswat Brahmin Naik family from Sancoale, and Joseph
was baptised on the eighth day at the parish church of St. John the
Baptist. He studied Portuguese and Latin, and entered the Oratory of
St. Philip Neri. Since Ceylon, present day Sri Lanka, was under the
rule of Dutch Calvinists and therefore had no Catholic priests, he
moved there secretly, in the guise of a mendicant. He eventually came
to the attention of the Dutch authorities, who imprisoned him. He was
released in 1869 and obtained permission to preach the Gospel
throughout the Buddhist Kingdom of Kandy. He also continued to do so
secretly in the area under Dutch occupation until his death in 1711.
Blessed Vaz, said the Holy Father in
his homily, “like countless other missionaries in the history of
the Church … responded to the Risen Lord’s command to make
disciples of every nation. By his words, but more importantly, by the
example of his life, he led the people of this country to the faith
which gives us 'an inheritance among all God’s holy ones'. In Saint
Joseph we see a powerful sign of God’s goodness and love for the
people of Sri Lanka. But we also see in him a challenge to persevere
in the paths of the Gospel, to grow in holiness ourselves, and to
testify to the Gospel message of reconciliation to which he dedicated
his life”.
“Saint Joseph Vaz continues to be an
example and a teacher for many reasons, but I would like to focus on
three”, he continued. “First, he was an exemplary priest. Here
today with us are many priests and religious, both men and women,
who, like Joseph Vaz, are consecrated to the service of God and
neighbour. I encourage each of you to look to Saint Joseph as a sure
guide. He teaches us how to go out to the peripheries, to make Jesus
Christ everywhere known and loved. He is also an example of patient
suffering in the cause of the Gospel, of obedience to our superiors,
of loving care for the Church of God. Like ourselves, Saint Joseph
Vaz lived in a period of rapid and profound transformation; Catholics
were a minority, and often divided within; there was occasional
hostility, even persecution, from without. And yet, because he was
constantly united with the crucified Lord in prayer, he could become
for all people a living icon of God’s mercy and reconciling love”.
The new saint, explained Pope Francis,
“shows us the importance of transcending religious divisions in the
service of peace. His undivided love for God opened him to love for
his neighbour; he ministered to those in need, whoever and wherever
they were. His example continues to inspire the Church in Sri Lanka
today. She gladly and generously serves all members of society. She
makes no distinction of race, creed, tribe, status or religion in the
service she provides through her schools, hospitals, clinics, and
many other charitable works. All she asks in return is the freedom to
carry out this mission. Religious freedom is a fundamental human
right. Each individual must be free, alone or in association with
others, to seek the truth, and to openly express his or her religious
convictions, free from intimidation and external compulsion. As the
life of Saint Joseph Vaz teaches us, genuine worship of God bears
fruit not in discrimination, hatred and violence, but in respect for
the sacredness of life, respect for the dignity and freedom of
others, and loving commitment to the welfare of all”.
Finally, “Saint Joseph gives us an
example of missionary zeal. Though he came to Ceylon to minister to
the Catholic community, in his evangelical charity he reached out to
everyone. Leaving behind his home, his family, the comfort of his
familiar surroundings, he responded to the call to go forth, to speak
of Christ wherever he was led. Saint Joseph knew how to offer the
truth and the beauty of the Gospel in a multi-religious context, with
respect, dedication, perseverance and humility. This is also the way
for the followers of Jesus today. We are called to go forth with the
same zeal, the same courage, as Saint Joseph, but also with his
sensitivity, his reverence for others, his desire to share with them
that word of grace which has the power to build them up. We are
called to be missionary disciples”.
“Dear brothers and sisters”, he
concluded, “I pray that, following the example of Saint Joseph Vaz,
the Christians of this country may be confirmed in faith and make an
ever greater contribution to peace, justice and reconciliation in Sri
Lankan society. This is what Christ asks of you. This is what Saint
Joseph teaches you. This is what the Church needs of you. I commend
all of you to the intercession of our new saint, so that, in union
with the Church throughout the world, you may sing a new song to the
Lord and declare his glory to all the ends of the earth. For great is
the Lord, and greatly to be praised. Amen”.
At the end of the celebration, Pope
Francis presented to Cardinal Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don,
archbishop of Colombo, a reproduction engraved on copper of the “Sannas”, the document by which in 1694 King
Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe of Kandy authorised Fr. Juan Sylveira of the
Order of St. Philip Neri and his companions to preach the Gospel and
build churches in his kingdom, and the people to convert to
Christianity should they wish to do so. The original decree was given
to Pope Leo XIII by the then-archbishop of Colombo, Christopher
Bonjero O.M.I. The faithful of Sri Lanka reciprocated by donating
70,000 dollars to Pope Francis for papal charity.
The Holy Father subsequently returned to the apostolic nunciature of
Colombo to lunch and to rest, then shortly after 2 p.m. he left for
the heliport, in order to depart by helicopter for Madhu.
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