Beatification of Pius IX, John XXIII, and 3 Others

VATICAN, Sept. 4 (CWNews.com) - On Sunday, September 3, Pope John Paul II presided at the beatification of five people: Popes Pius IX (1792-1878) and John XXIII (1881- 1963), the famous Irish Benedictine Dom Marmion (1858- 1923), the Italian Archbishop Tomaso Reggio (1818- 1901), and the Francisan Marianist priest Guillame-Joseph Chaminade (1761- 1850).

In an apparent reference to the protests that greeted the beatification of Pope Pius IX, the Holy Father noted that in exalting these men for their heroic virtue, the Church does not make any judgment on their responses to certain historical circumstances. "Sanctity lives in history, and no saint can escape from the limits and conditions of our humanity," John Paul observed in his homily.

Pope Pius IX was a controversial pontiff because of his political role at the time when the Italian republic was formed, and because of his relationships with Jews living in Rome. But Pope John Paul II emphasized that the beatification should not be seen in the light of recent polemical attacks. He remarked: "In beatifying one of her sons, the Church does not intend to celebrate the particular historical acts that he undertook, but rather his virtues, which are to be venerated and imitated."

Pope Pius IX was "widely loved, but also widely hated and calumniated," the current Pontiff said. "Caught up in the turbulent events of his time, he always gave first primacy to God and to spiritual affairs." He said that the pontificate of Pius IX-- the longest in the history of the papacy-- was marked by the Pope's suffering, but also by his serenity and faith. Among the most important landmarks of that papacy were the First Vatican Council (1869-1870) and the proclamation of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception in 1854.

The crowd of 100,000 people who had gathered in St. Peter's Square for the beatification ceremonies cheered enthusiastically when the Pope proclaimed the beatification of John XXIII, "a pope who touched with world with his affability, which showed the singular good will of his soul." He mentioned how the world has a clear memory of Pope XXIII as a smiling pontiff, "with his two great arms open to embrace the entire world." He also mentioned that John XXIII cherished a special veneration for Pius IX, and "ardently hoped for his beatification."

"The winds of change" that were welcomed by John XXIII at the Second Vatican Council "certainly did not pertain to the doctrinal domain," Pope John Paul II noted. He observed that John XXIII was traditional in his own piety, and energetic in his own practices of prayer and penance.

The life of Genoa's former Archbishop Tomaso Reggio was marked by "truth and charity," Pope John Paul II said as he proclaimed the next beatification. And he said that Father Guillaume-Joseph Chaminade played a heroic role in sustaining the life of French families during a period of turmoil in that country. Finally, the Benedictine abbot Dom Columba Marmion, one of the great spiritual writers of the 20th century, "left us a true treasure-trove of spiriting teaching," the Pope said.

Since the beginning of his pontificate, John Paul II has now presided at 123 beatification ceremonies, many of them involving more than one person. All in all he has proclaimed the beatification of 994 people, including 756 martyrs and 238 confessors.

Catholic World News Service - Vatican Update