One of the highlights of Pope Francis’ September 6-11 Apostolic visit to Colombia, is to offer the nation emerging from decades of armed conflict, two martyrs to imitate in their task of peace, reconciliation and nation building.
At this morning Mass in Villavicencio, some 94 kms southeast of the capital (Bogotá), Pope Francis declared Bishop Jesús Emilio Jaramillo Monsalve of Arauca and Father Pedro María Ramírez Ramos Blessed, which is a step away from final sainthood. Both were killed for their faith during the twentieth century.
Critic of rights abuses
A strong critic of the armed rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), Bishop Jaramillo, a member of the Xaverian Missionaries of Yarumal, spoke out against the group’s atrocities in the conflict and a drug war. Opting to be the voice of the poor and the marginalized, he came to be known as a zealous and caring pastor, fighting against social injustice. The ELN, which on Monday agreed to a temporary ceasefire with the Colombian government, killed Bishop Jaramillo on October 2, 1989, after kidnapping him.
Zealous pastor
Redemptorist priest, Father Antonio Marrazzo, the postulator or promoter of the beatification and canonization of Bishop Jaramillo, spoke to Vatican Radio about his martyrdom. He said the 73-year-old bishop preached the Gospel not just by word but more by promoting the human person. He joined the Xaverians who were reaching out to Colombia’s remote and abandoned regions inhabited by peasants and natives. He set up institutions for their uplift and also started a hospital for them.
Father Marazzo noted that Bishop Jaramillo lived at a time when the armed guerilla groups such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) were born. The ELN, which was active in the area where the bishop lived, criticized and calumniated him and his apostolate. The group also falsely denounced the bishop for misappropriating the salaries of teachers from an institution set by the government in collaboration with the bishops’ conference.
Serene in his last moments
The postulator said that Bishop Jaramillo was killed for his faith because he was a stumbling block to the ELN ideology. The bishop was on a parish visit along with two priests, when they were abducted by the rebels. The bishop asked that the priests be allowed to go. One of the priests came back to the spot where they were abducted and found the tortured body of Bishop Jaramillo with several bullet wounds.
Father Marazzo noted that Bishop Jaramillo is well known to Colombians, including young people, particularly for his integrity of life and total fidelity to Christ. Speaking of the two priests who were abducted by the rebels, Father Marazzo said, they came to know that the bishop was serene in his last moments, knowing he was doing God’s will. The fact that Pope Francis is himself beatifying Bishop Jaramillo, is not just a sign of hope but also an invitation and an exhortation to the people to forge ahead in promoting the human person in his/her integrity.
On July 7th of this year, Pope Francis approved a decree recognizing the martyrdom of Father Ramirez, killed during the outbreak of Colombia’s civil war known as La Violencia.
Refused to abandon his people
Born in La Plata on October 23, 1899, Father Ramirez was ordained to priesthood in 1931. He served as the pastor of Chaparral then of Cunday and later of El Fresno before opting for Armero, where he was killed on April 10, 1948. When violence between the liberals and conservatives erupted, families in Armero offered to smuggle him out of the area to safety but he refused to abandon his people. The rebels burst into his church and dragged him to the town square where they lynched and mutilated him.
Trinitarian Father Antonio Doménico Sáez Albéniz, the postulator or promoter of the cause of beatification and canonization of Father Ramirez told Vatican Radio that he was a very faithful priest given much to prayer, especially to the Eucharist, and quite demanding in questions of morality of the people. As he was about to be taken to the town square by the rebels, he wrote down his last declaration, thanking the bishop for having posted him in Armero and expressing his gratitude to the Church. He said he was ready to shed his blood for his people.
Father Saez said that Father Ramirez is a martyr because he died for his faith and for justice. With several Protestant sects and Communists active there, Armero was not a particularly religious town. Several priests assigned to Armero before him had given up and gone away but Father Ramirez volunteered to go there.
Faithful to the last
The postulator said that with the eruption of violence in 1948 in Bogotá, Armero was also involved, with Father Ramirez and he was accused of everything. Some women persuaded him to go into hiding, but the priest said he had consulted his Lord who asked him to stay on. While being dragged to the square amidst insults, Father Ramirez forgave those about to kill him, Father Saez said. The message of Father Ramirez is one of fidelity, which he expressed in the profound awareness of his priesthood.
At this morning Mass in Villavicencio, some 94 kms southeast of the capital (Bogotá), Pope Francis declared Bishop Jesús Emilio Jaramillo Monsalve of Arauca and Father Pedro María Ramírez Ramos Blessed, which is a step away from final sainthood. Both were killed for their faith during the twentieth century.
Blessed Jesús Emilio Jaramillo Monsalve
Critic of rights abuses
A strong critic of the armed rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), Bishop Jaramillo, a member of the Xaverian Missionaries of Yarumal, spoke out against the group’s atrocities in the conflict and a drug war. Opting to be the voice of the poor and the marginalized, he came to be known as a zealous and caring pastor, fighting against social injustice. The ELN, which on Monday agreed to a temporary ceasefire with the Colombian government, killed Bishop Jaramillo on October 2, 1989, after kidnapping him.
Zealous pastor
Redemptorist priest, Father Antonio Marrazzo, the postulator or promoter of the beatification and canonization of Bishop Jaramillo, spoke to Vatican Radio about his martyrdom. He said the 73-year-old bishop preached the Gospel not just by word but more by promoting the human person. He joined the Xaverians who were reaching out to Colombia’s remote and abandoned regions inhabited by peasants and natives. He set up institutions for their uplift and also started a hospital for them.
Father Marazzo noted that Bishop Jaramillo lived at a time when the armed guerilla groups such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) were born. The ELN, which was active in the area where the bishop lived, criticized and calumniated him and his apostolate. The group also falsely denounced the bishop for misappropriating the salaries of teachers from an institution set by the government in collaboration with the bishops’ conference.
Serene in his last moments
The postulator said that Bishop Jaramillo was killed for his faith because he was a stumbling block to the ELN ideology. The bishop was on a parish visit along with two priests, when they were abducted by the rebels. The bishop asked that the priests be allowed to go. One of the priests came back to the spot where they were abducted and found the tortured body of Bishop Jaramillo with several bullet wounds.
Father Marazzo noted that Bishop Jaramillo is well known to Colombians, including young people, particularly for his integrity of life and total fidelity to Christ. Speaking of the two priests who were abducted by the rebels, Father Marazzo said, they came to know that the bishop was serene in his last moments, knowing he was doing God’s will. The fact that Pope Francis is himself beatifying Bishop Jaramillo, is not just a sign of hope but also an invitation and an exhortation to the people to forge ahead in promoting the human person in his/her integrity.
Blessed Pedro Maria Ramirez Ramos
On July 7th of this year, Pope Francis approved a decree recognizing the martyrdom of Father Ramirez, killed during the outbreak of Colombia’s civil war known as La Violencia.
Refused to abandon his people
Born in La Plata on October 23, 1899, Father Ramirez was ordained to priesthood in 1931. He served as the pastor of Chaparral then of Cunday and later of El Fresno before opting for Armero, where he was killed on April 10, 1948. When violence between the liberals and conservatives erupted, families in Armero offered to smuggle him out of the area to safety but he refused to abandon his people. The rebels burst into his church and dragged him to the town square where they lynched and mutilated him.
Trinitarian Father Antonio Doménico Sáez Albéniz, the postulator or promoter of the cause of beatification and canonization of Father Ramirez told Vatican Radio that he was a very faithful priest given much to prayer, especially to the Eucharist, and quite demanding in questions of morality of the people. As he was about to be taken to the town square by the rebels, he wrote down his last declaration, thanking the bishop for having posted him in Armero and expressing his gratitude to the Church. He said he was ready to shed his blood for his people.
Father Saez said that Father Ramirez is a martyr because he died for his faith and for justice. With several Protestant sects and Communists active there, Armero was not a particularly religious town. Several priests assigned to Armero before him had given up and gone away but Father Ramirez volunteered to go there.
Faithful to the last
The postulator said that with the eruption of violence in 1948 in Bogotá, Armero was also involved, with Father Ramirez and he was accused of everything. Some women persuaded him to go into hiding, but the priest said he had consulted his Lord who asked him to stay on. While being dragged to the square amidst insults, Father Ramirez forgave those about to kill him, Father Saez said. The message of Father Ramirez is one of fidelity, which he expressed in the profound awareness of his priesthood.
No comments:
Post a Comment