Concerning the coming beatifications
Three reflection days on the coming beatifications of 495 martyrs of the 1936 persecution were held at Madrid from the 3rd to the 5th October 2006.
These three days marked the beginning of a national awareness of this event and thus the search for an efficient way of presenting it in all the dioceses of Spain. Thus, it is the Church of Spain that has assumed this responsibility and not only the religious institutes.
About one hundred people attended these days, a very large number being the diocesan delegates responsible for the canonisation causes in their diocese.
Also present were many vice-postulators from religious congregations and four postulators general, resident in Rome.
Five bishops intervened on
– the ministry of holiness (the bishop of Oviedo),
– the catechesis of martyrdom and of holiness (the bishop of Placencia),
– the places of martyrdoms and pilgrimages (the bishop of Compostela),
– martyrdom and holiness in the means of social communication (the bishop of Jerez), and
– the value of being a witness to Christ and his influence (the bishop of Urgell).
This was a great awareness at the national level which will be echoed in the dioceses by the delegates to the causes for an event which is expected to be probably in autumn 2007. The Church of Spain has organised a pastoral year on martyrdom and holiness. This will involve the whole nation in pastoral work as we approach the beatifications.
For more clarity:
1-There will be 495 martyrs beatified.
2-Forty-seven of them are Marist Brothers: Brother Bernardo, Brother Laurentino and forty-five others.
3-The beatification is anticipated to be in the autumn of 2007, though the date has not yet been fixed (some are suggesting April ? May 2007).
4-The probable place of the beatification is Rome; but again no decision has been made.
Thus we Marist Brothers must start to prepare our hearts to know our martyrs, to pray to them and to create in ourselves the enthusiasm which is going to give meaning, fruit and duration to the event. The pathway is long, but we have a year to do it.
Brother Giovanni Maria Bigotto, Postulator General.