VATICAN CITY, MARCH 21, 2004 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II beatified a priest and three women religious whom he presented as witnesses of God’s love for each person.
On a rainy morning, 20,000 pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square broke out in applause when the portraits of the new blessed — two Italians and two Spaniards — were unveiled on the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica, after the Pope pronounced the beatification formula.
The two beatified Spanish are Matilde of the Sacred Heart Téllez Robles (1841-1902), founder of the congregation of the Daughters of Mary Mother of the Church, and Piedad of the Cross Ortiz Real (1842-1916), founder of the Salesian Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The two Italian blessed are Father Luigi Talamoni (1848-1926), founder of the Religious of Mercy of St. Gerard, and Maria Candida of the Eucharist (1884-1949), a religious of the Order of Discalced Carmelites.
In his homily at today’s beatification Mass, the Holy Father presented them as «singular witnesses of loving Divine Providence that accompanies the way of humanity.»
«Christ was always their support and consolation in the difficult events of life. Thus, they experienced in themselves that to live in him means to become a ‘new creature,'» he said.
