Granada, Spain, Sep 15, 2010 / 09:49 am
During a Mass of Thanksgiving for the beatification of Capuchin Friar Leopold of Alpandeire, Archbishop Javier Martinez of Granada recalled that “the role of the Church and the saints is to bring us to heaven.”
Friar Leopold was beatified last Sunday by Cardinal Angel Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, before some 60,000 faithful and dozens of priests and bishops.
“The joy of yesterday and this morning in giving thanks for the beatification of Friar Leopold is pure joy. It is the joy that the redemption of Christ is fruitful, that the Blood of Christ was not shed in vain.” The new blessed, he said, is an example of living that joy.
Archbishop Martinez also spoke of the role that saints and blesseds play in the Church, underscoring their place as intercessors before the Lord and models of life worthy of imitation.