Archbishop Bernard Moras at the Canonisation of Saint Mary Elizebeth Heselbald

Archbishop Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bangaluru attended the canonisation ceremony and concelebrated with the Holy Father on 5th June 2016 as Pope Francis lead a canonisation mass of Blessed Maria Elizabeth Hesselblad and Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary Papczyński, at St. Peter’s Square, Vatican city. For India it was a moment of joy as the Archbishop Bernard Moras was the only bishop from India who was present for the canonisation of Saints Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad and Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary.

St. Stanislaus was born on 18th May in 1631 and baptized on the same day as Jan Papczyński in Poland. On 12th March 1661 was ordained a priest for the Piarist congregation. In 1670 after obtaining the required dispensation he left the congregation and founded the Institute of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception. Among his penitents was Apostolic Nuncio Antonio Pignatelli, the future Pope Innocent XII. He died on 17 September 1701 being faithful to his ascetical observances. He left behind many spiritual writings for religious and laity. Pope Benedict XVI enrolled him among the blessed in 2007.

St. Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad was born in Sweden on 4th June 1870. She was baptized Lutheran convert to Catholicism who re-founded the Order of St. Bridget (Patron of Sweden and original foundress of the order of religious women that took her name and followed – follows her charism) in the early 20th century. Her desire was the unity of Christ’s Flock and rendered untiring service as a nurse. Her entire life was characterized by works of charity. During world war II she provided refuge to many persecuted Jews and took care of the sick and the suffering. On 24th April 1957 after a long life marked by suffering and sickness she died in the casa Santa Brigida in Rome, having a reputation for holiness among her Bridgettine sisters. she was beatified by Saint John Paul II on 9th April of the Jubilee year 2000.

Pope Francis during the homily prepared for the occasion and delivered Sunday morning before a crowd of some 40 thousand faithful praised the two new saints as outstanding models of Christian faith and faithful perseverance in the face of trial. He continued saying “the experience of Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary, and Maria Elizabeth Hesselblad remained deeply united to the passion of Jesus and in them the power of His resurrection was revealed.”

The Archbishop Bernard soon after the mass met the Superior General of the Order of St Bridget and wished her at St Peter’s Square on the same occasion. Later during the common gathering with the Sweden delegates Archbishop Bernard honored the Mother Superior general with a shawl and garland, congratulated her conveying his delight during the joyous vocation.