|
 A Pilgrim's View of his First Canonization Ceremony.
November 21-22, 1999
Br. Donald Johanson
|
On November 21, 1999 the last canonization ceremony of the century was held. Coincidentally, the first canonization of the century also was for a Lasallian. In April of the year 1900, St. John Baptist de La Salle was canonized. This century has seen the canonization of 13 Brothers of the Christian Schools.
 St. Peter's was filled with lights and people on Sunday morning. Coincidentally the canonization of St. John Baptist de La Salle was the first time that electric lights were used in St. Peter's. I am sure that they were not nearly as bright on that day a hundred years ago. Dignitaries and common folk alike filled the basilica. This event was especially important to the people of Argentina because Br. Héctor Valdivielso is the first Argentinean saint. President Menen, the president of Argentina, was there along with many cardinals, bishops and thousands of pilgrims who had come to Rome to experience the canonization of what was the largest number of saints from a single congregation ever canonized on the same day.
Trumpets blared and flashbulbs twinkled as the pope entered the basilica and presided over the ceremony. The choirs were outstanding; the cantor who sang the responsorial Psalm after the first reading and a boy soprano who sang one of the verses for the offertory stand out in my mind.
For those who have not attended a canonization, the ceremony is a Mass. Following the Kyrie, the actual rite of the canonization takes place. After a brief introduction, a short biography of each of the saints is read, followed by the singing of the litany of the saints. At this point, the Holy Father reads the formula for canonization that presents the saints to us as models for the Church. Mass then continued with the Gloria and proceeded as usual.
 The Mass was almost entirely in Latin with the music being a wonderful blend of Gregorian Chant and variations on the same sung by several choirs. Much of it was antiphonal with the congregation responding. St. Peter's is so large I thought the music and the ceremony would be lost. But the amplification system is extremely good. I couldn't help but wonder what the ceremony was like when St. John Baptist de La Salle was canonized.
 On Monday November 22 we attended an audience with the Pope. This was a special audience for the Holy Father to greet the many pilgrims who came to Rome for the canonization. It was held in the audience hall and was a much more informal gathering, (not that anything in Rome can be informal.) But in the midst of the pomp and circumstance, the Holy Father was greeted with cheers, chants and flash bulbs. There was a large group of trumpeters in medieval costume there and when they were announced, they demonstrated their skill by trumpeting a fanfare that was a delight to the audience.
Our Superior General, Brother John Johnston, and our Postulator General, Brother Rodolfo Meoli, were on the stage with the other Superiors, Postulators and visiting Cardinals and Bishops.
Following the remarks of the Holy Father, they along with their councils and other visitors were presented to the Pope. We all cheered and waved a fond good bye as the Pope passed by a table holding gifts from the various individuals who represented those who had been canonized were placed. I am told that many of the gifts are in turn given to poor parishes for their use.
 That evening, we had our own celebration at the Casa Generalizia, our international headquarters. A Mass celebrating the canonization of the Martyrs of Spain was presided over by a number of bishops and priests. There was standing room only as we were host to over a thousand people who were there for the celebration. Brother John Johnston greeted the congregation and presented Brother Florencio Seco, who is the brother of Brother Aniceto Adolfo, who was canonized. One of the side chapels was set aside for the other relatives of the Brothers canonized, a reminder that their martyrdom was less than seventy years ago.
At the end of Mass, many of our visitors came forward to visit the Chapel of the Martyrs, the Reliquary of the Founder, and the portrait of the Brother Martyrs of Spain. During the Mass, the Chapel of the Martyrs was inaugurated in order to honor the many Brothers who have been martyred since the founding of our Order over three hundred years ago.
The final event of the day was a reception in the Casa Generalizia.
 
Thanks to all who participated in our celebration. |
If you have news notes that you would like us to consider
publishing, please email us: lasallew@lasalle.org |
|
