蜜桃交友

By Devin Watkins

The Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal Semeraro, beatified Francisco Cástor Sojo López and his three companion martyrs on Saturday morning.

The beatification Mass took place at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Tortosa, in Spain鈥檚 Catalonia region.

Everyone invited to follow Christ

In his homily, Cardinal Semeraro said Francisco Cástor Sojo López, Millán Garde Serrano, Manuel Galcerá Videllet, and Aquilino Pastor bore witness that those who lose their lives for Christ will find it again in Him.

Jesus, he said, told everyone: 鈥淚f anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.鈥�

The Cardinal noted that Jesus made this demand to 鈥渆veryone鈥�, not just the courageous or holy, and that His invitation entails a free choice on the part of the disciple.

An image of the four Blesseds

Christ and His cross

Denying ourselves, continued Cardinal Semeraro, requires us to put aside our personal interests and selfishness for Christ鈥檚 sake, while taking up our own cross.

Though Jesus bore His cross once for the salvation of all, we, on the other hand, have to 鈥渢ake it up every day and set off on the path of discipleship鈥�, in order to overcome the temptation to follow a 鈥渃ross-less Christ鈥�.

But, added the Cardinal, 鈥淛esus reminds us that His way is the way of love, and there is no true love without the sacrifice of self.鈥�

Finding eternal life

Cardinal Semeraro said the new Blesseds were priests who endured the brutality of the Spanish civil war (1936-1939).

鈥淭hey did not seek martyrdom, because martyrdom is not sought after but endured,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut when the moment came to bear witness to Christ with their blood they did not hesitate but embraced their cross with love.鈥�

Blessed Francisco Cástor Sojo López and his three companions, concluded the Cardinal, found their true life because they freely gave their earthly lives for Christ.