The Wedding of Holiness: Pope Francis Canonizes Maronite Martyrs
As Pope Francis canonizes 14 new Saints, including the 11 Martyrs of Damascus, Bishop Simon Faddoul praises the three Maronite laymen among them for bearing witness to fidelity to Christ.
By Devin Watkins
“I think we are witnessing a wedding of holiness.”
Bishop Simon Faddoul offered that assessment of the canonization that took place at Mass on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square.
Speaking to Nour El Khoury at the studios of Vatican News, the Apostolic Exarch for Maronite Catholics in Western and Central Africa recalled that the blood brothers Francis, Mooti, and Raphael Massabki were martyred alongside eight Franciscan friars in 1860 and were canonized with them on Sunday.
Known as the 11 Martyrs of Damascus, they were murdered in hatred of the faith at St. Paul Monastery during the Shiite Druze persecution of Christians, which spread over Lebanon and Syria.
Bishop Faddoul said the three Maronite laymen stand as role models for all laymen, showing how “courage and perseverance in the faith can pay off in the Church.”
He also recalled the situation currently facing many people in the Middle East.
“Especially during these difficult times, this event reminds us to root our people more and more in their land,” he said. “Looking back in history, we remember that many of our forefathers gave their lives for their faith.”
Constant Communion with Rome
Bishop Faddoul noted that the Maronite Church has been faithful to Rome and the Holy See since its recognition in the Council of Chalcedon in 451.
“As an Eastern rite of the Catholic Church, the Maronite Church has its own unique role to play in the body of Christ,” said Bishop Faddoul.
The relationship between the Maronite Church and the Universal Church is strengthened with every canonization, fostering a deeper sense of identification and unity.
The canonization of Francis, Mooti, and Raphael Massabki offers an opportunity to showcase that unity, emphasizing the importance of perseverance in the faith and the overall message of fidelity to Christ.
