The Holy Father visits Spain

Pope John Paul II, Jesus Christ's Prime Minister, celebrated Sunday mass on May 4th with one million faithful in Madrid, Spain as he canonized 5 more saints, stressing the need for more Christian role models in the path of sanctity:

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Ephesians 4:5

 

Did he go to preach the gospel of salvation?

Of course he did. That's his vocation.

How many were saved?

We will only know that when we reach our heavenly abode.

Now we don't have people coming up for altar calls.

Except for the altar call at every liturgy where we renew our baptismal covenant with God by partaking in the covenant sacrifice.

 

Carson, if your trust is solely in Jesus Christ, why do you perform rituals?

Don, your question entails what we call a non sequitur. Trusting in Jesus Christ for our salvation from sin in no way necessitates the exclusion of and in no way precludes ritual.

Ritual is defined by Meririam-Webster as "a customarily repeated act". This act may be prayer, breaking bread, gathering on Sunday, reading the Bible, etc. - and it can properly be termed "ritual".

Ritual is what helps us as Catholics in our relationship with the Lord, and if I were to examine your own Christian practice, I'm sure I could point out plenty of ritual in your own setting.

Jesus Christ commanded us to "do/offer (Gk. poiete, cf. Ex 29:38, LXX) this in remembrance of me", and we witness the first disciples faithfully celebrating the Lord's Supper constantly in a comitted fashion in Acts 2:42. This is ritual, is it not?

 

1 Million Attend Canonization of 5 Saints in Madrid

Martyr From Spanish Civil War Among Those Honored

MADRID, Spain, MAY 4, 2003 (Zenit.org) - John Paul II appealed to Spain's Catholics to be faithful to their rich spiritual legacy, as he canonized five of their compatriots.

More than 1 million people gathered in Columbus Square today to participate in the key ceremony of the Pope's fifth visit to Spain.

"The Successor of Peter, pilgrim in Spanish lands, repeats to you: Spain, continuing a legacy of courageous evangelization, be a witness today of the resurrected Jesus Christ!" the Holy Father said during the homily.

Two of the newly canonized saints are priests Pedro Poveda (1874-1936), founder of the Teresian Association who was martyred during the Spanish Civil War; and José María Rubio (1864-1929), Jesuit religious, apostle of the poorest neighborhoods of Madrid.

The other three were women religious: Genoveva Torres (1870-1956), foundress of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of the Holy Angels (known as the Angelicas); Ángela de la Cruz (1846-1932), foundress of the Sisters of the Company of the Cross; and María Maravillas de Jesús (1891-1974), a Discalced Carmelite.

"In giving thanks to the Lord for the many gifts he has lavished on Spain, I invite you to pray with me that new saints will continue to flower in this land," the Pope said.

The Holy Father mentioned two conditions for new saints to appear in Spain: the need to maintain faithfulness to the Gospel and to defend family unity.

"Do not break with your Christian roots!" he said. "Only in this way will you be able to give to the world and to Europe the cultural wealth of your history."

During the homily, the Pope highlighted the heroic virtues of the five saints.

He said that St. Pedro Poveda "ended his life with the crown of martyrdom" during "the religious persecution" that Spain suffered from 1936 to 1939, during which almost 12,000 priests and women religious died for their faith.

John Paul II highlighted St. José María Rubio's motto: "To do what God wills and to will what God does."

St. Genoveva Torres "was an instrument of the tenderness of God toward people who are alone and in need of love, consolation, and care of body and soul," the Pope said. "The characteristic note that drove her spirituality was reparation through eucharistic adoration."

"A similar love and sensibility toward the poor led St. Ángela de la Cruz to found her Company of the Cross, with a charitable and social dimension in favor of the neediest," he added.

"St. Maravillas de Jesús," he said, "lived inspired by a heroic faith, made concrete in the response of an austere vocation, placing God at the center of her life."

Among those attending the canonization was Manuel Vilar, an Argentine boy who was pronounced clinically dead when he drowned in a pool. He miraculously returned to life through the intercession of Mother Maravillas.

Among those concelebrating with the Pope was a Jesuit religious cured of terminal cancer through the intercession of Father Rubio.

ZE03050403

 

Papal Collaborator Evaluates John Paul II's Trip to Spain

Interview with Father Lombardi, Vatican Radio's Program Director

VATICAN CITY, MAY 5, 2003 (Zenit.org) - A great surprise of John Paul II's visit to Spain was the large number of people who attended the two key events, says the program director of Vatican Radio.

Father Federico Lombardi, who followed the Pope closely during his 99th international trip, evaluated the visit.

Q: What is your opinion of the Pope's fifth trip to Spain?

Father Lombardi: I think it is a trip that went perfectly, as anticipated. Although at present the Pope is limited in his movements, we can still say that, with his spiritual presence and his voice, he dominated the terrain.

We saw it in the talks with the young people, in his improvisations, in the force of his expressions. So we arrived at trip No. 99 and we will surpass 100.

Q: You mentioned young people. What scene impressed you most of that meeting?

Father Lombardi: I was very impressed by the testimonies during the meeting with young people. They were extremely effective and wrung applause from the young.

The theme of the trip was "You Will Be My Witnesses," and we were able to see witnesses not only in the figures of the saints canonized on Sunday morning, but also in the way in which the young people witnessed their commitment to Christ.

They were individuals with different ecclesial occupations -- a young nun, a seminarian, a layman, and also a married couple and a handicapped woman had prepared for the occasion. They were really able to demonstrate that the Lord's Spirit blows very strongly and that witness is alive.

Q: One of the characteristics of this trip was the contagious cries of enthusiasm that hundreds of thousands of pilgrims dedicated to the Pontiff. Was that Latin affection for John Paul II?

Father Lombardi: Certainly. When there are Spanish-speaking young people in St. Peter's Square or in the world, their presence is noted, by the way they transmit enthusiasm, by the slogans they cry out.

I am always very interested in the creativity of these slogans. This time, I learned two new ones, which I had never heard before. One is: "John Paul 'torero' [bullfighter], the whole world loves you."

We must remember that these days, patron feasts are being celebrated in Madrid with bullfights. To address a person with the name "torero" is to pay him the highest possible compliment.

Another slogan was "John Paul II has changed the world for us." It is a beautiful slogan, full of hope. I think young people continue to feel the novelty the Pope brings.

Q: There were a million people at the canonizations. The Spanish faithful did not want to miss this engagement. From what you were able to see and hear, what is the impression of the bishops of this attendance and, more generally, of the Pope's presence in their national community?

Father Lombardi: I think the bishops were very pleased. On Saturday, I attended the dinner offered by the episcopal conference, where there was a very happy and peaceful atmosphere. The Spanish people have really responded with much affection.

The different parts of the country were represented, and one could perceive a peaceful community atmosphere. I would say, therefore, that the episcopal conference has been really encouraged and sustained by the Pope's presence to carry forward its pastoral projects.

They have also been encouraged to promote the climate of reconciliation and peace in a country in which there is no lack of moments of tension, in particular, as we know, linked to terrorism.