2015-01-14 15:36:00

Pope Francis canonises St. Joseph Vaz, Sri Lanka’s first saint


On the second day of Pope Francis’ Apostolic visit to Sri Lanka, Vatican Radio’s envoys on the trip with the Holy Father, say that authorities have told them that over 500 000 people attended the Wednesday Canonisation of Sri Lanka’s first saint, Joseph Vaz. Commentators say that the canonisation Mass, which took place at Colombo's seafront Galle Face Green was probably one of the biggest public gatherings the city has ever witnessed.

Pope Francis arrived in Sri Lanka on Tuesday morning for a three-day apostolic visit to Sri Lanka.

The new saint, Joseph Vaz was a missionary born on 21 April 1651 in Goa, India. He died on 16 January 1711 in Kandy, present day Sri Lanka. He was an Oratorian missionary priest. He arrived in Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, during the Dutch occupation.

The Dutch had expelled the Portuguese who had introduced Catholicism to the Sri Lankan island. The Dutch then went on to impose Calvinism as the official religion in Sri Lanka.  Fr. Vaz travelled throughout Sri Lanka, bringing the Eucharist and Sacraments to clandestine groups of Catholics. He would sometimes disguise himself as a beggar in order to facilitate his mission. Later, he founded a shelter in the Kingdom of Kandy where he intensified his missionary work of ministering to both the minority Tamil and Sinhalese ethnic groups. By the time of his death, he had managed to rebuild the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. He was beatified by Pope Saint John Paul II on  21 January 1995, in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo. Pope Francis approved his canonisation on 17 September 2014.

Catholics in Sri Lanka account for only 6 percent of the 20 million strong population. The majority of the people are Buddhist.

Speaking in English, Pope Francis told the canonization crowd that followed him attentively that St. Joseph Vaz was an example of religious tolerance who is still relevant to Sri Lanka and to the world. "Saint Joseph shows us the importance of transcending religious divisions in the service of peace," he said in his homily.

 “Saint Joseph Vaz was first, 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,” Pope Francis said.

The Holy Father then continued: “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,” Said Pope Francis.

Other reasons why Saint Joseph is relevant is because he “shows us the importance of transcending religious divisions in the service of peace,” The Pope emphasised.

Further sitll,  the Church not only in Sri Lanka but the world over is always at the service of society. The Church “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,” Pope Francis said.

(John Baptist Tumusiime)

e-mail: engafrica@vatiradio.va

 

 








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