BEATIFICATION OF JOSE MARIA GRAN AND FELLOW MARTYRS

Words are not enough, but they are the means that I have, and I would like to express our gratitude on behalf of all the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, who, in the 50 countries where we are present, on five continents, have been united with us during these last days and especially today. 

We thank the God of Life who in Jesus Christ has shown us the ultimate display of Love in giving his life for those He loves. To the heart of heaven and to the heart of the earth, to the ancestors Quichés, Ixiles, Queqchíes and Mestizos of this “sacred land” – missionary territory of El Quiché fertilized by the blood of martyrs.

We thank you all and especially those who have added their grain of sand to make this Beatification a reality.  There are so many that by mentioning them I may leave others out. But I cannot fail to mention people like our dear Pope Francis who has believed in the authenticity of the martyrdom of our brothers and sisters.  Msgr. Rossolino -Bishop of the Diocese of El Quiche, Joaquín Herrera msc – Postulator of the cause of the martyrs of Quiché, Teresa Malagarriga op and Hector del Castillo pbro, members of the court for this Case. Jean Jules Chassem – MSC General Postulator. To the religious of El Quiche, to CONFREGUA the Conference of Religious of Guatemala – -. To the members of the MSC Provinces of C.A. and Mexico and Spain.  And Archbishop Julio Cabrera, who for me, has always had an MSC Heart. To the clergy and laity of the Diocese of Quiché who have prepared and organized with such dedication today’s Celebration. And to the many who have worked so hard for this Cause. Thank you one and all.

We thank the families of José María, Faustino, Juan Alonso, Rosalío, Miguel, Reyes, Tomás, Nicolás, Domingo and Juanito. Some here present and others who could not come, but who join us today from Spain.

The three religious Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and the seven Laity, today Blessed Martyrs, are a prophetic voice that continues to resonate, calling us to recognize the situation that was lived in El Quiché and Guatemala in the 80’s. Thousands of brothers and sisters who were killed because of justice and their faith while committed to building the Kingdom of God.  It was a system of death – of genocide – that destroyed the life of these ten new Blessed. They are the sign that Guatemala must “Never again” repeat this unjust barbarity that bled out an entire nation. Unfortunately, situations like this continue to happen in different parts of the world.

Through the ministry of Superior General and General Council, of which two members have come today – Chris Chaplin of Australia and Humberto Herniques of Brazil – we are encouraging our MSC brothers to appreciate that the best way to honor the memory of those who gave their lives is to remain committed to eradicating the causes that led these three Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and seven Laity and so many others to shed their blood.  Sadly, the causes of these deaths remain open, wounds continue to bleed in Guatemala and around the world, because of violence, exploitation, poverty, injustice and corruption. Our mother earth continues to be violated and destroyed. Our Common Home needs us, that inspired by the new Blessed Martyrs of Quiche, we raise our voices and bear prophetic, living and coherent witness, as the three Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and the seven Laity, now Blessed Martyrs, did.

May their Blood make us people who transform this dehumanized system that continues to destroy life in Guatemala and around the world. May new lay, religious, missionary and priestly vocations germinate, if not in quantity then Quality of Vocations, that, even if we are few, we can really create an ecosystem of Life, Justice and Fraternity – from Fratelli Tutti-.

The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart around the whole world join in the cry for life in this Diocese of El Quiché and in all the places where life cries out.

I conclude by expressing our joy that a Cardinal friend like you, Archbishop Ramazzini, who has suffered persecution and slander on the part of this genocidal and corrupt system, has been chosen by Pope Francis to preside over the Beatification of those who also suffered persecution and slander.  In view of Cardinal Ramazzini’s inability to be present, I thank Mgr. Nuncio of His Holiness in Guatemala for presiding over this celebration.

Greetings from the heart to those who follow us on social media from different parts of the world, different MSC Provinces on five continents, especially in a parish in Manado, Indonesia where Blessed Juan Alonso worked for three years and who are holding a great celebration. A special greeting to so many Quichelenses who are in other parts of the world and who have followed this transmission.

Thank you all for the wonderful prophetic light that is this celebration.

Mario Abzalón Alvarado Tovar, MSC

Superior General