Franciscan bishop Esquiou’s Mass of the Lechen Blessing was held in Piedra Blanca, Argentina, the city where the new mother was born 195 years ago. Argentine Cardinal Villalba presided over Mass as the representative of the Pope.
(Vatican News Network)The Argentine Franciscan, Mamerto de la Ascensión Esquiú, was canonized as a blessing in his birthplace, Piedra Blanca, on September 4th. The celebration was held in the square in front of St. Joseph’s Church. Due to the new crown epidemic, there was no large-scale participation of believers, but many people participated in this event through radio, digital media and social networks. Previously, in the process of promoting the listing case, the applicant reported to the Holy See Candidate of the experience of a girl miraculously healed due to the intercession of the Franciscan. The girl suffered from acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis, which developed into a chronic disease, and the miraculous recovery took place in January 2016.
Cardinal Villalba: Let us be as willing to be saints as he is
Cardinal Luis Héctor Villalba, the retired bishop of Tucuman of Argentina, presided over the mass, which was attended by many bishops of the country. The cardinal stated in the Mass that Mamedo Esquiou, as a fellow, a priest, and a bishop, “is an example worthy of imitation” and “he prayed for us”. “The church tells us that through the blessings, we can call on him and ask him to pray, because he has participated in eternal happiness.” His honoring the true blessings also invites everyone to “walk the path opened by Jesus Christ,” that is, the path of sanctification. And Mamedo Eskiu longed to be a saint throughout his life. The most important thing in his life was to work hard to do the will of God at all costs.
The cardinal went on to say that Mamedo Eskiu was also a shepherd who prayed deeply. “He is a missionary bishop who often visits various groups in his vast diocese”; this bishop is also a good shepherd, “famous for his humility, poverty and simplicity of life.” Esquiou “is a pastor dedicated to the poor in the style of Saint Francis. He tirelessly helps the sick and administers the sacrament.”
The Argentine cardinal finally stated, “The true love of the country of Mamédo Esquiou is an example, and he is recognized as one of the greatest figures in our country. He illuminates the secular order with the light of the gospel, defends and promotes Human dignity, peace and justice”.
About Mamedo Eskiu
Xin Zhenfu was born on May 11, 1826 and joined the Franciscans on July 14, 1842. He was ordained as a priest on October 18, 1848. In 1850, he began to teach at the Catamarca Convent and also served as a spiritual guide. Because of his piety and moral integrity, he served as an adviser and member of the Catamarca government from 1855 to 1862. In 1862, he moved to Bolivia as a missionary and taught at the Sucre Convent in Bolivia in 1864. He was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Cordoba, Argentina by Pope Leo XIII, and was promoted to pastor on December 12, 1880. During his pastoral ministry, he prayed devoutly, provided material and spiritual assistance to the poor, actively promoted pastoral and charitable work, cultivated seminarians, established philanthropic associations and faith groups, preached to the people, and offered retreat courses. Mamedo Eskiu died in Argentina on January 10, 1883. On December 16, 2006, the Holy See promulgated a decree concerning his table of St. Francis.
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