Vatican Basilica – Sunday, October 30, 1983
Today the Church expresses, with the words of the Book of Wisdom, the love with which God embraces all creation. [The] words of the Book of Wisdom seem to constitute as a special accompaniment of all that the Church lives in the Year of Redemption. They are a source of light for us as we raise to the glory of the altars the servants of God: James Cusmano, Dominic of the Blessed Sacrament and Jeremiah of Wallachia.
God’s Love for all creation finds its most special expression in the sanctification of man. The Church today rejoices because three of his children, cooperating with God’s Grace, they have traveled the path that leads to holiness. On this path they have been called by Christ [to love God and the brethren]. This twofold love marks the path of Christian perfection, trodden by the Servants of God, whom we have now proclaimed Blessed.
First and foremost was Blessed James Cusmano, a physician and priest. He, in order to heal the wounds of poverty and misery that afflicted so much of the population due to hungry strike and epidemics also social inequality, he chose the way of charity: translated the love of God towards his brothers and sisters and the gift to serve the needy and suffering pushed to the point of heroic sacrifice.
After opening a first “House of the Poor,” he began a broader work of social promotion, establishing the “Association Morsel of the Poor,” which was like the mustard seed from which such a flourishing plant would spring. Making himself poor with the poor, he did not disdain to beg on the streets of Palermo, soliciting charity from everyone and collecting provisions that he then distributed to the countless poor who clustered around him.
His work, like any other God’s works, encountered difficulties that severely tested his will, but with his immense trust in God and his invincible fortitude of spirit he overcame every obstacle, giving rise to the Institute of the “Sisters Servants of the Poor” and the “Congregation of the Missionary Servants of the Poor.”
He guided his spiritual sons and daughters to the exercise of charity in fidelity to the evangelical counsels and the striving for holiness. His spiritual rules and letters are documents of an ascetic wisdom in which accorded with fortitude and kindness. The main idea was: “To live in the presence of God and in union with God; to receive everything from God’s hands; to do everything for the pure love and glory of God.”
This magnificent “Servant of the Poor” died in the exercise of a charity that was flaring up to heroic heights. As a new cholera broke out in Palermo, he made unparalleled efforts to be close, at all times, to his poor. “Lord,” he repeated “strike the shepherd and spare the flock”. He emerged severely shaken in health and, at only 54 years of age, consummated his holocaust, lovingly surrendering his soul to that God whose name is Love.
[…]
The three Blessed made themselves worthy of the Lord’s call through their deep union with God in unceasing prayer and perfect adherence to the Church, which was founded by the divine Master to direct, instruct and sanctify His sons and daughters. The new Blessed allowed themselves to be taught by the Church, whom they loved and followed with great docility, and thus reached that summit of perfection and holiness, to which she never ceases to point and guide souls.
Today the Church by raising, to the glory of the altars as Blessed James, Dominic and Jeremiah, wishes to venerate God in a special way: to give glory to God. Man is what he is before God; he exists to be a “praise of his glory” (Eph. 1,14). The praise of God gives meaning to life, since, as St. Irenaeus says, “the glory of God is the living man” (St. Irenaeus, Adversus haereses IV, 20, 7). Yes! The saints speak of the glory of the Kingdom of God. They proclaim the power of Christ’s Redemption: the power of the cross and resurrection. They are a living testimony that the Creator and Father loves all existing things (cf. Wis 11,24).
Such a witness must become in the sight of the Church the Blessed James Cusmano, Dominic of the Blessed Sacrament, Jeremiah of Wallachia. Today we wish to welcome this witness into the treasury of holiness that the Church guards with great veneration and gratitude. We wish to welcome the witness of these new blessed in the year of the Extraordinary Jubilee, so that the legacy of the mystery of Redemption may be alive and life-giving for the entire generations of the People of God.
“All things are yours, O Lord, / Lover of life” (cf. Wis. 11,26). Amen.
( Full version: https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/it/homilies/1983/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19831030_tre-beati.html )
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