On today's Feast of the Holy Trinity, Pope Benedict XVI canonized 4 new saints at a Mass in St. Peter's Square, including one tertiary from the Carmelite Order.
Asia News has an article. Full translations of the homily are available from the Vatican and from Teresa Benedetta at Papa Ratzinger Forum. The Vatican also has an English translation of the Pope's very short statement at the praying of the Angelus.
The Vatican's page on the saints includes a photo and biography of each of the four (scroll down to June 3, 2007). They include St. George Preca, St. Simon of Lipnica, St. Charles of St. Andrew, and St. Marie Eugene of Jesus.
St. George Preca was a priest and Carmelite tertiary. He formed a society committed to a life of prayer and catechesis of the young. An article about his affiliation with the Carmelite Order (O. Carm.) is available from the Carmelite Web Site.
St. Charles of St. Andrew was a Passionist priest who lived most of his life at a monastic retreat near Dublin, Ireland. He was dedicated to spiritual direction, especially through the sacrament of confession. See much more at the Laus Crucis blog.
St. Simon of Lipnica was a Franciscan priest and evangelist, who comforted the suffering during an outbreak of the plague in 15th century Krakow.
St. Marie Eugenie of Jesus was founded the Religious of the Assumption in 19th century Paris, devoted to a life of prayer, study, and education. They sought to communicate the Gospel values in the context of their 19th century industrial society, and they were especially committed to the education of girls.
In his homily for the canonization, the Pope spoke of being wrapped in the mystery of the Holy Trinity as we admire the glory of God reflected in the lives of the saints, including the four today canonized. Here is an excerpt from the homily:
"Every single saint takes part in the richness of Christ, coming from
the Father and communicated at the right time. It is always the
sanctity of Jesus himself, it is always Him, the 'Holy', whom the Holy
Spirit imprints in 'holy souls', making them friends of Christ and
witnesses to his holiness."
Comments & Permissions