Saint Joseph Vaz puts Lanka on world map

By Lalin Fernandopulle

The Catholic Church of Sri Lanka turned a new chapter last week with the canonisation of its first saint, Joseph Vaz, revered as one of the greatest missionaries from Goa, India who rebuilt the church shattered by the 17th century Dutch persecution.

The zealous missionary was proclaimed a saint amidst a congregation of over one million people at a waterfront ceremony at the Galle Face Green presided over by Pope Francis, an iconic global personality who resembles the life of Joseph Vaz for his simplicity and love for the poor.

Commending the faith of the Catholic community and unity among all races in Sri Lanka who welcomed him on a red carpet and thronged in large numbers wherever he went Pope Francis called upon the followers of all religions to take a cue from the new saint, a model for peace and reconciliation.

The presence of religious leaders and children of other faiths welcoming the Holy Father at the airport was stark evidence of religious and racial amity among people in Sri Lanka.

The Holy Father who looked a trifle exhausted commencing his second Asian tour under the blazing sun beamed smiles as he greeted and blessed the massive crowds that flocked to catch a glimpse of the Pontiff whose is hailed as the 'People's pope'. The Holy Father commended the warmth and hospitality of the Sri Lankans and rich cultural and natural diversity which he said should be a path leading to unity, inclusivity and justice.

He said his visit was primarily pastoral and to share the love and greetings of the universal church.

The Potiff acknowledged the country's potential to develop by respecting the rights, freedom and dignity of one another.

President Maithripala Sirisena paid tribute to the Pontiff whose life had touched millions of people across the globe and invoked his blessings on him to discharge his duties to the best of his ability.

The visit of the Pope marked another salient milestone in the annals of history in the country which has had a visit of a Pontiff hot on the heals of a change in the political landscape in the country.

The third visit by a Pontiff whose predecessors touched the soil of Sri Lanka in 1970 by Pope Paul the VI and Pope John Paul the Second in 1995 to beatify Joseph Vaz coincidentally at the same venue exactly 20 years later.

This is the second visit of Pope Francis to Asia within two years of his papacy. The Pontiff visited South Korea mid last year. Pope Francis was elected the Chief Shepherd of the Catholic church comprising around 1.2 billion people on March 13, 2013.

Renouncing of luxury and opting to live a simple life among the masses, using public transport even as a priest and Bishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, cooking his meals, refusing to travel to Rome for the ceremony to be conferred a Cardinal and instead giving that money for the service of the poor are some of the hallmarks of the saintly life of Pope Francis.

Wherever he visited he demonstrated his love for children by embracing and caressing them.

Pope Francis pleaded to rebuild peace and foster reconciliation among all communities and expressed his deep sense of joy when he witnessed the unity among people of all faiths during his trip to the Madhu shrine where a large number of people from the North and the East thronged to pay tribute to the Holy Father who conducted a short prayer service to invoke peace and unity in the country.

Pope Francis is the most searched global figure on the internet and was named by Time Magazine as the Personality of the Year in 2013.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires he was a chemical technician and football fan and lover of traditional Argentinean music. He is the 266th successor of Saint Peter, the first Pope.

Communication Director, Colombo Archdiocese Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini said that Sri Lanka is privileged over the visit of Pope Francis who decided to visit such a small country within a short time of his papacy.

Saints are those who transformed their lives from ordinary lives following noble values and sublime virtues.

Saint Francis whose name Pope Francis opted to take following his ascendancy to the Papacy renounced comfort to serve the poor although he hailed from a rich family.

Saint Francis loved nature so much that it is said that when he prayed the birds and beasts joined him in praising of God.

Similarly, Joseph Vaz left his country to serve the people in Sri Lanka having given up comfort and status to a life of service.

The sixth Executive President Maithripala Sirisena was elected last week whose leadership is expected to steer the country in an era of compassion.

Pope Francis told the massive gathering in the sizzling backdrop of rolling waves that Joseph Vaz was an inspiration for religious tolerance, justice and respect for human rights.

He said that the new saint was a challenge to the persecutors who denied the right of people to follow a religion of their chord and express their views.

"Joseph Vaz accomplished a mission to which he was called upon to spread the word of God and shares His love among people. He had immense love for people and his life is a spiritual and moral strength to all", the Pontiff said.

Joseph Vaz's life was characterised by profound love for people, simplicity and an unquenchable thirst for the salvation of souls.

The Goan Oratorian priest sensed the persecution of Christians in Sri Lanka and harkened to the call of God to deliver His people from the bondage of religious intolerance and division.

He embarked on a mission to rekindle the suppressed faith disguised as a beggar setting foot on the island's shores of Mannar in 1687 and venturing into his Apostolic mission from Kandy, a mountainous and rugged terrain.

He walked barefoot long distances across thick terrain undeterred by the threat of wild beasts and unbeatened by the scorching heat in search of Christians whose practice of their faith was confined to their homes and secret locations. Joseph Vaz visited them at night and nurtured their faith, administering the Sacraments and visiting the sick.Saint Vaz won the favour and admiration of the Kandyan king who assisted him to carry out his mission. Impressed by his exemplary life and service for the poor Joseph Vaz was welcomed to the palace on several occasions.

Joseph Vaz performed many miracles among which were the rains that he brought invoking God's intervention to save the people's lives who were battered by a long spell of drought and healing the sick. The life of the legendary priest came to an end in 1711 in the central hills. Sri Lankans will seek the intercession of Saint Joseph Vaz as the patron saint of the country and model their lives on the path he traversed.