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.
__________________________ BoscoLink a rapid newslink service of
the NORTH AMERICAN SALESIAN NETWORK, complied by Joseph Boenzi, SDB.
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