VATICAN - The Pope beatifies six men and women: “With their confidence we too turn to Mary imploring… may the human family find again the paths of justice and peace”.

Vatican City (Fides Service) - “Like the apostles, we gaze in wonder at the marvels the Lord works in the hearts of those who trust in Him. During this Eucharistic Celebration we contemplate what he has done in these six newly Blessed”. On the 3rd Sunday of Easter April 25 in St Peter’s Square Pope John Paul II presided the Mass for the beatification of six servants of God: one priest, four women religious and one lay woman. Here are their names: Augustus Czartoryski, (1858-1893), Salesian of the Don Bosco Society; Laura Montoya (1874-1949), foundress of the Missionary Sisters of Immaculate Mary and St Catherine of Siena; María Guadalupe García Zavala (1878-1963), co-foundress of the Handmaids of Saint Margherita Maria and the Poor; Nemesia Valle (1847-1916), of the Sisters of Charity of St Jean Antida Thouret; Eusebia Paolomino Yenes (1899-1935), of the Daughters of Mary Auxiliatrix; Alexandrina Maria da Costa (1904-1955), lay woman of the Union of Salesian Co-operators
In his homily the Pope reflected on the spiritual traits of the newly Blessed. Augustus Czartoryski, young Polish prince, through prayer and the counselling of his spiritual guides discerned his vocation to live a life of poverty to serve to poor. Addressing young people in particular, the Pope said: “Learn from Augustus to pray for the light of the Holy Spirit and for wise guides to help you discern the divine plan in your lives and may you always walk on the path of holiness.”
Colombian Mother Laura Montoya, seeing so many natives peoples who had never heard of God, founded the Missionary Sisters of Immaculate Mary and St Catherine of Siena to carry the light of the Gospel to the native Indians. “Hers were no easy times because of social tension which bloodied also her noble homeland in those days... We ask her today to help beloved Colombia to enjoy soon peace, justice and integral development”.
Blessed Guadalupe García Zavala, a Mexican girl, renounced marriage to devote her life to serving the poor and the sick. For this goal she founded the Handmaids of Saint Margherita Maria and the Poor. Deep faith, unlimited hope and great love for Christ and the Church marked her life during which she put into practice the motto she left to her spiritual daughters: “Charity, sacrifice and perseverance to death ”.
"Showing God’s love to the little ones, the poor, all men and women in every part of the world" was the commitment of Blessed Nemesia Valle, the Sisters of Charity of St Jean Antida Thouret: “She is an example of glowing holiness tending towards the perfection of the Gospel, translated into simple acts of daily life totally dedicated to God.”
Also Salesian Sister Eusebia Palomino answered the Lord’s call with daily life marked by “intense spirituality and profound humility”. Animated by love for the Eucharist and for the Blessed Virgin Mary, “for her it was important to love and serve, nothing else mattered”.
The life of Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Costa can be summarised in three words “suffering, loving, reparation”. Filled with ardent love for the Lord, she lived a mystical experience of the Lord’s Passion offering herself as a victim of reparation for sinners receiving strength from the Eucharist , her only food for the last 13 years of her life.
At the end of the Mass, before leading the Regina Cæli prayer, the Pope greeted the visitors from all over the world who had come to pay homage to the newly Blessed, he said: “Each of the newly Blessed nourished filial and profound devotion for Most Holy Mary. With the same confidence we turn to her to ask her intercession that the human family find again the paths of justice and peace.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 26/4/2004 - Righe 44; Parole 618)