John Paul II
“They were men and women of all ages and states: diocesan priests, men and women religious, the fathers and mothers of families, young lay people. They were killed for being Christians, for their faith in Christ, for being active members of the Church. Before dying, all of them, as stated in the canonical processes for their declaration as martyrs, forgave their executioners from their heart”. With these words John Paul II addressed the pilgrims that were present in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, March 11, for the beatification of José Aparicio Sanz and his 232 fellow martyrs in Spain (1936-1939). These are the essential points of the Holy Father’s homily:
- “‘The Lord Jesus Christ will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body’ (Phil 3: 21). These words of St Paul, which we heard in the second reading of today’s liturgy, remind us that our true homeland is in heaven and that Jesus will transfigure our mortal body into a glorious body”.
- “This is a great mystery for the life of the Church, since we should not think that the transfiguration will happen only later after death. The saints’ lives and the martyrs’ witness teach us that if the transfiguration of the body will occur at the end of time with the resurrection of the flesh, that of the heart takes place now on this earth”.
- “We can ask ourselves: What are ‘transfigured’ men and women like? The answer is very beautiful: they are people who follow Christ in living and dying; who are inspired by Him and let themselves be imbued with the grace that He gives us; whose food is to do the Father’s will; who let themselves be led by the Spirit; who prefer nothing to Christ’s Kingdom; who love others to the point of shedding their blood for them; who are ready to give their all without expecting anything in return; who, in a word, live loving and die forgiving”.
- “This how José Aparicio Sanz and his 232 companions lived and this is how they died, being killed during the terrible religious persecution which scourged Spain in the 1930s. They were men and women of all ages and states: diocesan priests, men and women religious, the fathers and mothers of families, young lay people. They were killed for being Christians, for their faith in Christ, for being active members of the Church. Before dying, all of them, as stated in the canonical processes for their declaration as martyrs, forgave their executioners from their heart”.
- “The testimonies we have received speak of honest, exemplary people whose martyrdom sealed lives that were interwoven with work, prayer and religious commitment in their families, parishes and religious congregations. Many of them in life had already enjoyed a reputation for holiness among their countrymen. It could be said that their exemplary conduct prepared them in a way for the supreme confession of faith that is martyrdom”.
- “How many examples of serenity and Christian hope! All these new blesseds and many other anonymous martyrs paid with their blood for the hatred of the faith and of the Church which was unleashed by the religious persecution and the outbreak of the Civil War, the immense tragedy that Spain experienced in the 20th century. During those terrible years many priests, religious and lay people were killed simply because they were active members of the Church”.
- “The new blesseds being raised to the altars today were not involved in political or ideological struggles, nor did they want to be concerned with them. This is well known to many of you who are their relatives and are taking part in this beatification today with great joy. They died solely for religious motives. Now, by this solemn proclamation of their martyrdom, the Church wishes to recognize these men and women as examples of courage and constancy in faith, helped by God’s grace”.
- “May their blessed memory remove forever any form of violence, hatred and resentment from Spanish soil! May everyone, especially young people, know the blessing of peace in freedom: peace forever, peace with everyone and for everyone!”
- “On various occasions I have recalled the need to preserve the memory of the martyrs. Their witness must not be forgotten. They are the most eloquent proof of the truth of the faith, which can give a human face even to the most violent death”.
The Pope entrusts an intention deeply rooted in hearts to the intercession of the new blessed: the end of terrorism in Spain
“I would like to entrust an intention deeply rooted in your hearts to the intercession of the new blesseds: the end of terrorism in Spain. For several decades you have been put to the test by a horrible sequence of violence and killing. At the root of these deeply regrettable incidents is a perverse logic which must be denounced. Terrorism is born of hate and in turn feeds it; it is radically unjust and increases the situations of injustice, since it seriously offends God and the dignity and rights of individuals. With terror, man is always the loser! No motive, cause or ideology can justify it. Only peace builds peoples. Terror is the enemy of humanity”.