Lahore, hundreds line up for the relics of Saint Mother Teresa (Video)
The faithful attended the Mass in honour of the Saint of Calcutta. The canonisation in St Peter's was broadcast live. The Missionaries of Charity showed three relics preserved in their home, which welcomes women and girls with disabilities. Archbishop tells Catholics “not to be afraid to become saints”.
Lahore (AsiaNews) – Hundreds of Catholics flocked yesterday to the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Lahore to attend the ostension of Mother Teresa's relics, whilst, at Vatican, Pope Francis proclaimed the founder of the Missionaries of Charity a saint.
Mgr Sebastian Shah, archbishop of Lahore, led the Mass in honour of the Mother, which was attended by many disabled women accepted and treated in the ‘Home of Love’ run by the Missionaries.
Those present followed Mother Teresa’s canonisation in St Peter’s on live video. Speaking to the faithful, Mgr Shah said that today “is a day of pride and immense joy. The Lord opens doors of blessings when a saint is inducted,” and “you can pray for any special purpose and then kiss the relics”.
Mother Teresa, the archbishop added, "lived a life of poverty to show that God is with the poor. She became the model of His mercy and love. We need such people in our society today. Every Catholic is called to be a saint: do not be afraid to become one”.
At the end of the function, the Missionaries showed three relics of the saint kept in the chapel of their home since 2003, when the Calcutta nun was beatified. Today, at the facility, the sisters serve 50 women and girls with mental and physical disabilities.
Javed Waraich, a Catholic businessman, said that he was honoured to touch the relics of the saint. “We had heard about her work since childhood, but I never imagined that I could attend her canonisation in my life time."
For Fr Joseph Louis, a former executive secretary of Caritas Lahore, the practical work of the congregation speaks louder than words.
“Wearing simple sandals and their trademark white-and-blue sari, they [the Sisters] continue the difficult work of their founding mother”, he said.
The priest noted that as a young man he had met Mother Teresa at the airport. He was among those who acted as her escort.
“She was very small,” he said, “and we were afraid the crowd would be all over her. After listening to her polite voice, one could not believe that she was the same icon. She rejected the VIP culture that plagues the leaders of today”, he added.
.png)
