From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jun 8: Archbishop of Bengaluru Dr Bernard Moras attended the canonisation ceremony of blessed Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad and Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary Papczyński and concelebrated with Pope Francis at St Peter's Square, Vatican city on June 5.
It was a moment of joy as the archbishop 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 May 18, 1631 and baptized on the same day as Jan Papczyński in Poland. He was ordained priest for the Piarist Congregation on March 12, 1661.
After obtaining the required dispensation, he left the congregation and founded the institute of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception in 1670.
Among his penitents was Apostolic Nuncio Antonio Pignatelli, the future Pope Innocent XII. He died on September 17, 1701. He left behind many spiritual writings for the religious and the laity. Pope Benedict XVI enrolled him among the blessed in 2007.
St Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad was born in Sweden on June 4, 1870. She was a 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 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 April 24, 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 April 9 of the jubilee year 2000.
Pope Francis during the homily prepared for the occasion and delivered Sunday morning before a crowd of some 40,000 faithful praised the two new saints as outstanding models of Christian faith and faithful perseverance in the face of trials.
The Pope said, “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.”
Archbishop Moras 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 Swedish delegates, the archbishop honoured the mother superior general with a shawl and garland, congratulated her conveying his delight on the joyous vocation.