Pope Francis leads canonization of Argentina’s first saint
Pope Francis presided over the canonization ceremony for Argentina’s first Virgin Mary Antonia, and the country’s president and thousands of pilgrims celebrated at the scene. In his homily at Mass, the Pope warned against the “gangrene” of the soul such as apathy and fear, and rediscovered “the joy of giving yourself to others.”
The “leprosy” of the soul makes us indifferent to love and compassion and destroys us through the “gangrene” of selfishness, prejudice, indifference, and intolerance. What’s the antidote? It is loving God and devoting oneself to one’s neighbor without fear or prejudice, without calculation or consideration of interests. Pope Francis presided over the canonization ceremony of María Antonia de San José de Paz y Figueroa at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on February 11. During the Mass homily, he elaborated on this with the parable of a leper.
The new saint Maria Antonia lived in the 18th century. During the period when the Jesuits were expelled from Argentina, she promoted Ignatian exercises in Buenos Aires and other areas, opening spiritual centers to help people know God. In this country, not only the common people, but also the founding fathers affectionately call her “mother” (mamma).
About 5,500 believers attended the canonization ceremony, including thousands of believers from as far away as Argentina, including bishops, priests, and pilgrims. The country’s President Javier Milei also came to the basilica in person. He briefly met the Pope in the vestry before the Mass. They greeted each other again after the liturgy, exchanged a few words, and shook hands. President Milei warmly embraced Pope Francis.
At the beginning of the Mass, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Congregation for Canonizations of the Holy See, introduced the life of Maria Antonia and requested that she be canonized. After the Pope agreed, thunderous applause broke out. The Pope recalled the new saint’s testimony “in the face of material and moral misery”, as well as her service and devotion to her neighbors. In his homily, the Pope pointed out that this is the antidote to “spiritual leprosy”. This leprosy does not gangrene the soul, as the disease gradually destroys the body.
“The Gospel of Mark” records that the leper who met Jesus was abandoned by his compatriots because the latter was afraid of being infected and thought that contact with a sore body would make him unclean. The patient was further hurt by distance and rejection, so Christ healed him with his “touch” and helped to free everyone from a distorted religious outlook.
The rejection experienced by the leper happened again and again today. “Let us not think of it as a thing of the past. How many suffering people we meet on the streets of our cities! How much fear, prejudice, and duplicity exist, even among believers and professed Christians, and these fears continue Keep hurting the sufferers!”
So, what to do? The Pope pointed out that Jesus was moved with compassion for the man and did two things. The first is the “touch”: the Son of God could actually heal the person “from afar”, but He touched the leper’s wound. This is the “closeness of God”, the “way of love that is close to the sufferer”. Followers of Christ are called to do the same and to be alert “when thoughts arise in their hearts that are contrary to close concern and devotion of themselves.”
“Healing” is Jesus’ second act. Jesus’ “touch” is not just closeness, it is the beginning of healing. “Closeness is God’s style. God is always close, compassionate and tender. We must be open to this”. By accepting the touch of Jesus, “we are healed from within, from the bottom of our hearts.” “If we receive the touch of Jesus in prayer, in adoration, if we allow Him to act in us through the Word and the Sacraments, His touch will bring about real change in us and provide us with healing from our sins, save us from the closed state and bring about changes in us that are beyond human ability.”
The touch of Jesus regenerates us and makes us better: “Heart tissue grows again; creative pulsing blood flows again, filled with love; wounds from past mistakes heal, and skin in all relationships returns to its healthy and natural state”. In this way, we return to “the beauty of what we originally had and were.”
“In the care of Jesus we rediscover the joy of giving ourselves to others, without fear and prejudice, without those insensitive and brotherly forms of religion; we regain within ourselves the power to love beyond all else, calculations, and profit considerations.”
In all this, the new Saint Maria Antonia sets an example: “She traveled thousands of miles barefoot, through wilderness and dangerous roads, in order to bring God there. Today she is for us an example of a zealous and bold apostle”.
At the end of his homily, the Pope mentioned that when the Jesuits were expelled, the Holy Spirit “ignited a missionary fire” in Maria Antonia, making her “trust in the providence of God and persevere.”
The new saint implored the intercession of Saint Joseph and, “in order not to overwork him,” she also asked Saint Gaetano Thiene to intercede. Thus, veneration of Saint Cayetan was introduced to Argentina, and his icon arrived in Buenos Aires in the 18th century. The pope finally called on everyone to call for help from the new saint. “May the Lord bless everyone!”
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