4-June-2007 — Catholic World News Brief
Four New Saints Canonized in Vatican Ceremony
Vatican, Jun. 4, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI presided at the canonization of four new saints on Sunday, June 3.
A hard, steady rain failed to dampen the spirits of the large congregation in St. Peter’s Square as the Holy Father delivered the official decrees of canonization for Malta’s first saint, Father Giorgio Preca (1880- 1962); Father Szymon z Lipnicy (1435?- 1482), a Franciscan priest; Father Karel van Sin Andries Houben (1821- 1893), who was born in Holland but earned fame as a missionary in Ireland; and Marie-Eugénie de Jesus Millert (1817- 1898), the French founder of the Sisters of the Assumption.
During his homily at the canonization Mass, Pope Benedict spoke of the readings for the day, Trinity Sunday. He observed that the first reading, from the Book of Wisdom, reminded the faithful of the “multi-faceted and endless manifestations of holiness” in the world. The second reading, from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians, spoke of how God pours out his love to the faithful. Connecting these themes with the canonizations, the Pope commented that each saint is completely unique, and the variety of their backgrounds illustrates the universality of the Church. At the same time, the Pontiff added, the saints are all alike insofar as their lives reflect God’s love. Their sanctity, he said, “is always same sanctity of Jesus: always Him.”
