UP Ibalon Bicol: New canonized saints by the Vatican

New canonized saints by the Vatican

10/14/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

It is with great joy and thanks that Fr. Damien who served the lepers in Molokai, Hawaii is one of the new canonized saints of the Holy See. Jozef de Veuster, the 19th century Belgian priest who was shunned for contracting leprosy from those whom he served in the Pacific islands in the 1800’s is one among five new saints recognized by the Vatican in a solemn ceremony presided by his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Sunday, October 11, 2009.

Fr. Damien who selflessly served ill people stricken with the chronic disfiguring communicable disease of leprosy (Hansen’s disease) died at the age of 49. He served the remote leper colony for at least 16 years. With him, who were recognized as saints by the Vatican are:

-- Zygmunt Szczesny Felinski, a Polish bishop who kept championing Catholicism after Russia shut down Polish churches in retaliation for the Polish uprising against Russia in Warsaw in 1861.
-- Jeanne Jugan, a French nun who set up an order that runs homes for destitute around the world.
-- Francisco Coll y Guitart, a Spaniard who founded an order of Dominicans in the 19th century.
-- Rafael Arnaiz Baron, another Spaniard, who wrote extensively about spirituality before his death at age 27. Source: CNN.com /europe (10/13/09) (Photo Credit: lucindalunacy) =0=

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LABELS: Saints, Fr. Damien, canonization, Vatican, Holy See, Pope Benedict XVI, religion, faith, Totie Mesia