This biblical salutation opens our Pastoral Letter,
prepared in the See of the Apostle, James the Less, the first
Bishop of Jerusalem, which brings us a double joy. This year
is dedicated to Consecrated Life, which coincides with the
canonization of the two daughters of the Holy Land: Blessed
Marie-Alphonsine Ghattas from Jerusalem, foundress
of the Congregation of the Rosary Sisters, and Blessed
Mariam Baouardy from the village of Ibillin, foundress
of the Discalced Carmelites of Bethlehem, who, took the
religious name Sister Mary of Jesus Crucified.
The news of
the canonization of these two holy women is a blessing from
heaven on our land, devastated by violence yet persevering
in our longing for peace and justice.
This long-awaited announcement of the double canonization,
restores in us our trust and hope in Christ. The Lord
wants to comfort our country, torn apart by conflicts and wars,
and our people who continue to suffer and endure through injustices.
Nevertheless, divine grace has always given rise to
saints, who reveal to us the face of Christ, “meek and humble
of heart”, full of love, mercy and forgiveness. Despite their
human weaknesses, these saints imitated Christ, and continue
to do so, in this most Holy Land, where God Himself
walked!
The tribulations which we endure encourage us to become
saints, through the example of our two holy women. This is
not something impossible to do. Mother Marie-Alphonsine
was humble on earth and is now “great in the kingdom of
heaven.” She attained spiritual motherhood for a multitude, in
becoming the foundress of a religious congregation so dear to
our hearts.
Sister Mary of Jesus Crucified, was a living symbol
of God’s love. From her childhood, she understood that
everything here on earth was passing and mortal, and that only
Christ prevails in eternity. She entered the cloistered Order
of Discalced Carmelite nuns, whose presence in the Holy
Land is deeply appreciated. It is a discrete presence of prayer,
meditation, humble work and absolute consecration to the
Lord.
The Divine Master said: “Let your light shine before
men!”(Mt 5:16) This commandment, reminds us always that
Jesus himself is the “true light that gives light to everyone,”
(Jn 1:9) and gives to humanity, prudence and strength. Christ
is the only Light, all others are but a shadow of the truth. It
is Jesus who gives splendor and radiance to living beings
and everything that is good and beautiful. As saint Justin of
Nablus said, “They are but rays of the Sun, who is the Word
Incarnate.” (cf. Dialogue with Trypho cp. 121)
Our two new saints are lamps for our path. Their love and
faith inspire their religious families, the faithful in the Holy
Land, the Middle East and the entire world. In their lives, they
resembled in their vigilance the “faithful servants who awaited
the return of their master,” (Lk 12:36) as well as the wise virgins
who waited patiently for the arrival of the Bridegroom. For
this reason they have entered into “the banquet of the wedding
feast of the Lamb” (Rev 19:9). There is no risk of remaining
in “in outer darkness,” neither for them nor for the people who
follow them!
They were simple in greatness and great in their
simplicity. Their simplicity did not extinguish their greatness.
Their entry into holiness manifests the victory of virtue over
vice, of light over darkness, of love over selfishness, and of
faith over indifference and rejection of God. The integrity
of their life glorifies God. It exults their gifts and good
deeds, just as the holy Virgin Mary proclaimed in her eternal
canticle, the Magnificat : “My soul proclaims the greatness
of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; for
the Almighty has done great things for me and Holy is his
name.” (Lk 1: 47 ff).
Our two new Saints, through an exemplary life, their
silence and recollection, their fidelity amidst suffering and
their heroic selflessness in sacrifices, offer us a magnificent
lesson which can be summarized in the words of the Lord
Jesus : “the one who perseveres to the end will be saved” (Mt
24:13). And, like Saint Augustine, we can exclaim: “Can you
not do what these young men and maidens can?” (Confessions
8: 27). As Christ asks of us, our two Saints entered the narrow
gate. Unfortunately, “few will manage to succeed” (Lk 13: 24).
But for them, the door which was initially “narrow” became
wide open to get to Christ !
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