EUROPE/SPAIN - A most positive experience, the days in Rome for the beatification of 498 Spanish martyrs, “the treasure of the Church of the 20th century”

Wednesday, 31 October 2007

Rome (Agenzia Fides) - The beatification in Rome on Sunday 28 October of 498 Spaniards was an extraordinary experience, memorable days. This was said by the spokesman of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of Spain Fr. Martínez Camino at a press conference at the end of the Mass in St Peter's Square. “It was a celebration of the faith and of supreme witness of hope and charity", said Fr. Camino, on behalf of the bishops, family members, pilgrims and 23 postulants of the beatification causes.
"The spirit of the celebration was to thank God for the heroic witness of these martyrs who shed their blood to remain faithful to God and his Church. This fidelity is hope for humanity, seed of brotherhood, reconciliation and peace for the whole Church. The martyrs' witness of fidelity is a source of reconciliation and peace for humanity".
Some 50,000 pilgrims came from Spain for the occasion. The Mass in St Peter's Square was concelebrated by 71 bishops and 1,300 priests and 2,500 family members of the new Blessed were present for the event. Many of the pilgrims were young people "an element of satisfaction and hope".
This was the first time that so many Postulators 23collaborated in order to celebrate one Beatification Mass for all 489 martyrs. The new Blessed belong to the Church in Spain and the whole universal Church. M. Encarnación González Rodríguez, head of the Spanish Bishops' Office for the Causes of Saints “another 47 causes in progress, involving about 850 martyrs, are already in Rome for examination, many more are still at the diocesan stage".
“This luminous page in the history of the Church in Spain extends across our borders since three of the new blessed martyrs were French, two were Mexican and one was from Cuba. We are grateful to God for the witness offered by hundreds of thousands of Christian martyrs who rendered glory to God with their fidelity and consistency. This treasure of the Church of the 20th century will surely bear fruits of greater humanity brotherhood and reconciliation" Fr . Martínez Camino concluded (RG) (Agenzia Fides 31/10/2007; righe 27, parole 389)


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