Celebrate Sainthood, but Emulate the Saints too: Archbishop Bernard Moras
Bengaluru, Nov 28: “When we wait and prepare spiritually, we get what we want at the end of the day” Archbishop Most Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras told a large congregation which gathered for a thanksgiving mass on the Canonization of St. Alfonso Maria Fusco at Resurrection Church in Bangalore, November 27th.
“It is not enough to just celebrate the Canonization of the Saints, but it is Important that we also strive to emulate the Saints. St. Alfonso Maria Fusco emulated Jesus all through his life by doing exactly what Jesus did in ministering to the people of God and so received the honor of Sainthood” the prelate said. He added that even though the doors of Mercy of the Cathedral are closed, our hearts should ever be open and flowing with mercy towards others. “We must empty ourselves in a spirit of humility if we want God to fill us with his love and mercy and must translate that into action” the Archbishop said. Narrating incident of how a visitor to the Archbishops house spontaneously offered money to a poor lady who had no currency but desperately wanted to buy fruits for someone from a fruit vendor, the Archbishop noted how love and mercy can be translated into concrete action.
St. Alfonso Maria Fusco, founder of the congregation of the Sisters of St. John the Baptist was canonized on 16th October 2016. The thanksgiving mass organized by the Indian Province of the congregation saw the participation of 50 priests, 150 nuns and over 300 lay faithful. Vicar General Monsignor C Francis, Apostolic Vicar for Religious Fr. Xavier Manavath, Fr Jerome Stanislaus D` Souza Provincial of the Jesuits in Karnataka and congregation provincial Sr. Mary Antony were present for the celebrations. Shortly after mass, the Archbishop blessed open a museum on the life and work of the newly canonized saint. The museum is housed in the convent premises adjacent to Resurrection Church in Indiranagar.
It may be recalled that Pope Francis on 16th October canonized seven new saints in the Catholic Church, saying that prayer isn’t always a smooth path, but that like the saints, Christ supports us even when it is difficult. The Holy Father said “The saints are men and women who enter fully into the mystery of prayer. Men and women who struggle with prayer, letting the Holy Spirit pray and struggle in them. They struggle to the very end, with all their strength, and they triumph, but not by their own efforts: the Lord triumphs in them and with them. The seven witnesses who were canonized today also fought the good fight of faith and love by their prayers.”