595 Beatifications - Maria Menzes FMA
Via Boscolink
 
Rome 14 April - Appearing stronger than he has in weeks, Pope John Paul II beatified six Latin Americans today in St Peter's Square. Among the six were three Salesians: Fr Luis Variara, Salesian missionary among the lepers of Agua de Dios (Colombia) and founder of the Congregation of Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary; Sr Maria Romero Meneses, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians and first native of Nicaragua to be beatified, who mobilized social services for the poor of Costa Rica while engaging in an ongoing work of evangelization and education of the young; Artemides Zatti, from Argentina, who as a lay Salesian ministered to the sick, opened clinics and local infirmiries, and is called "Don Bosco's nurse in Patagonia."

Speaking of Maria Romero Meneses, John Paul expressed hope that the ``beloved Central American people may find in the newly beatified, who loved them so much, abundant examples and instruction to renew and fortify the Christian life, so rooted in those lands.''

Salesians have been celebrating the event all week. In a short talk given the night before at a youth rally in Rome's Cine Città, newly-elected Salesian Rector Major Pascual Chavez noted that Don Bosco's work really took root in America, as can be seen in the beatification of these three individuals. But the core of the "work" is the "call to holiness," and Fr Variara, Sr Romero and Bro. Zatti point out to us that we are all called to be saints. He hoped that all of us present – Salesians, Sisters, members of the Salesian Family, and especially the young people present would work towards holiness in their lives.
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