VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 008
DATE 14-01-2015

Summary:
- Francis canonises Joseph Vaz, Sri Lanka's first saint
- At the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu: Mary accompanies Tamils and Sinhalese in
rebuilding their lost unity
- Pope Francis' telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
- Other Pontifical Acts

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 Francis canonises Joseph Vaz, Sri Lanka's first saint
 Vatican City, 14 January 2014 (VIS) - On the morning of Wednesday 14 January,
the Holy Father transferred from the apostolic nunciature in Colombo to Galle
Face Green. This urban park in the heart of the financial district of Colombo
spreads over five hectares up to the coast of the Indian Ocean and can hold up
to half a million people. Twenty years ago, on 15 January 1995, St. John Paul
II celebrated Holy Mass in the same location and proclaimed Joseph Vaz
blessed. Francis then left the car in favour of the Popemobile to tour the
many faithful - more than half a million - gathered in the park. Before
entering the sacristy, the Pope was greeted by the mayor of the city of
Colombo, who presented him with the keys to the city.
 The Mass and canonisation of Blessed Joseph Vaz began at 8.30 a.m. local
time. Sri Lanka's first saint, Vaz was born in Goa, India in 1651, the son of
Cristovao Vaz and Maria de Miranda, devout Catholics. His father belonged to a
prominent Goud Saraswat Brahmin Naik family from Sancoale, and Joseph was
baptised on the eighth day at the parish church of St. John the Baptist. He
studied Portuguese and Latin, and entered the Oratory of St. Philip Neri.
Since Ceylon, present day Sri Lanka, was under the rule of Dutch Calvinists
and therefore had no Catholic priests, he moved there secretly, in the guise
of a mendicant. He eventually came to the attention of the Dutch authorities,
who imprisoned him. He was released in 1869 and obtained permission to preach
the Gospel throughout the Buddhist Kingdom of Kandy. He also continued to do
so secretly in the area under Dutch occupation until his death in 1711.
 Blessed Vaz, said the Holy Father in his homily, "like countless other
missionaries in the history of the Church ... responded to the Risen Lord's
command to make disciples of every nation. By his words, but more importantly,
by the example of his life, he led the people of this country to the faith
which gives us 'an inheritance among all God's holy ones'. In Saint Joseph we
see a powerful sign of God's goodness and love for the people of Sri Lanka.
But we also see in him a challenge to persevere in the paths of the Gospel, to
grow in holiness ourselves, and to testify to the Gospel message of
reconciliation to which he dedicated his life".
 "Saint Joseph Vaz continues to be an example and a teacher for many reasons,
but I would like to focus on three", he continued. "First, he was an exemplary
priest. Here today with us are many priests and religious, both men and women,
who, like Joseph Vaz, are consecrated to the service of God and neighbour. I
encourage each of you to look to Saint Joseph as a sure guide. He teaches us
how to go out to the peripheries, to make Jesus Christ everywhere known and
loved. He is also an example of patient suffering in the cause of the Gospel,
of obedience to our superiors, of loving care for the Church of God. Like
ourselves, Saint Joseph Vaz lived in a period of rapid and profound
transformation; Catholics were a minority, and often divided within; there was
occasional hostility, even persecution, from without. And yet, because he was
constantly united with the crucified Lord in prayer, he could become for all
people a living icon of God's mercy and reconciling love".
 The new saint, explained Pope Francis, "shows us the importance of
transcending religious divisions in the service of peace. His undivided love
for God opened him to love for his neighbour; he ministered to those in need,
whoever and wherever they were. His example continues to inspire the Church in
Sri Lanka today. She gladly and generously serves all members of society. She
makes no distinction of race, creed, tribe, status or religion in the service
she provides through her schools, hospitals, clinics, and many other
charitable works. All she asks in return is the freedom to carry out this
mission. Religious freedom is a fundamental human right. Each individual must
be free, alone or in association with others, to seek the truth, and to openly
express his or her religious convictions, free from intimidation and external
compulsion. As the life of Saint Joseph Vaz teaches us, genuine worship of God
bears fruit not in discrimination, hatred and violence, but in respect for the
sacredness of life, respect for the dignity and freedom of others, and loving
commitment to the welfare of all".
 Finally, "Saint Joseph gives us an example of missionary zeal. Though he came
to Ceylon to minister to the Catholic community, in his evangelical charity he
reached out to everyone. Leaving behind his home, his family, the comfort of
his familiar surroundings, he responded to the call to go forth, to speak of
Christ wherever he was led. Saint Joseph knew how to offer the truth and the
beauty of the Gospel in a multi-religious context, with respect, dedication,
perseverance and humility. This is also the way for the followers of Jesus
today. We are called to go forth with the same zeal, the same courage, as
Saint Joseph, but also with his sensitivity, his reverence for others, his
desire to share with them that word of grace which has the power to build them
up. We are called to be missionary disciples".
 "Dear brothers and sisters", he concluded, "I pray that, following the
example of Saint Joseph Vaz, the Christians of this country may be confirmed
in faith and make an ever greater contribution to peace, justice and
reconciliation in Sri Lankan society. This is what Christ asks of you. This is
what Saint Joseph teaches you. This is what the Church needs of you. I commend
all of you to the intercession of our new saint, so that, in union with the
Church throughout the world, you may sing a new song to the Lord and declare
his glory to all the ends of the earth. For great is the Lord, and greatly to
be praised. Amen".
 At the end of the celebration, Pope Francis presented to Cardinal Albert
Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don, archbishop of Colombo, a reproduction of the
"Sannas", a reproduction engraved on copper of the document by which in 1694
King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe of Kandy authorised Fr. Juan Sylveira of the Order
of St. Philip Neri and his companions to preach the Gospel and build churches
in his kingdom, and the people to convert to Christianity should they wish to
do so. The original decree was given to Pope Leo XIII by the then-archbishop
of Colombo, Christopher Bonjero O.M.I. The faithful of Sri Lanka reciprocated
by donating 70,000 dollars to Pope Francis for papal charity.
 returned to the apostolic nunciature of Colombo to lunch and to rest, then
shortly after 2 p.m. he left for the heliport, in order to depart by
helicopter for Madhu.

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 At the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu: Mary accompanies Tamils and Sinhalese in
rebuilding their lost unity
 Vatican City, 14 January 2014 (VIS) - This Wednesday the Holy Father made the
250-kilometre journey by helicopter from Colombo to the Shrine of Our Lady of
Madhu, the second stage of his trip in Sri Lanka. The shrine is located in the
north of the Island inhabited predominantly by the Tamil people, and has a
four-century-long history. In 1544 some Christians escaped from the massacres
ordered by the King of Jaffna, who feared the expansion of Portuguese
influence, and sought refuge in the jungle, where they built a rudimentary
place for prayer with the statue that is now located inside the shrine. In
1583 some Christians, again fleeing from Mannar, began to build churches in
nearby areas. One of these, in Mantai, subsequently became the first "home" of
the statue of Our Lady of Madhu. Following the persecution of Catholics by the
Dutch, who arrived in Ceylon in 1656, thirty Catholic families seeking refuge
journeyed from village to village, taking the statue with them. In 1670 they
settled in Maruthamadhu, where the shrine is now located. They were later
joined by other Catholics of Portuguese origin, who built the first small
church dedicated to Our Lady of Madhu.

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