(Vatican Radio) The sacrifice of one hundred and forty seven Swiss Guards who laid down their lives in defense of Pope Clement VII and the Holy Mother Church during the Sack of Rome in 1527 is commemorated each year on May 6.
Yet again, that important date will be remembered on Wednesday afternoon during the annual swearing-in ceremony for new Swiss Guards which takes place in the Saint Damaso Courtyard of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace.
The Swiss Guard is the oldest standing army in the world and its motto is “Courage and Loyalty”.
2015 sees the swearing in of 32 new Guards who were received in audience by Pope Francis on Monday.
During that audience the Pope told the men who are charged with protecting him that they should pray the rosary during honor guard duty and always carry a small version of the Gospel in their pockets.
“What I tell everyone, I’ll tell you too: always keep a small Gospel close at hand, read it as soon as you have a calm moment. It will help you in your personal prayer, especially the Rosary, during the honor guard,” he said.
The Pope also called the audience an occasion “to nurture a meaningful friendship, because you work so close to me”.
During the ceremony each new guard approaches the flag as his name is called out. Firmly clasping the banner in his left hand, the recruit raises his right hand high and distinctly opens three fingers, a symbol of his faith in the Holy Trinity.
Then, he confirms the oath, proclaiming:
“I, [name of the new guard], swear diligently and faithfully to abide by all that has just been read out to me, so grant me God and so help me his Saints.”
The patron saints of the Guard include St. Martin, St. Sebastian, and St. Nicholas of Flue, “Defensor Pacis et pater patriae.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The Church will soon have three new saints and three new blesseds. Pope Francis has authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate decrees elevating six lay people and religious in the process towards sainthood. Seven people count among the new Venerable, including a married couple from Italy. On September 23,…
Read more
(Vatican Radio) The Church will soon have three new saints and three new blesseds. Pope Francis has authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate decrees elevating six lay people and religious in the process towards sainthood. Seven people count among the new Venerable, including a married couple from Italy. On September 23,…
Read more
(Vatican Radio) The Church will soon have three new saints and three new blesseds. Pope Francis has authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate decrees elevating six lay people and religious in the process towards sainthood. Seven people count among the new Venerable, including a married couple from Italy. On September 23,…
Read more
(Vatican Radio) The Church will soon have three new saints and three new blesseds. Pope Francis has authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate decrees elevating six lay people and religious in the process towards sainthood. Seven people count among the new Venerable, including a married couple from Italy.
On September 23, the canonization of Friar Junipero Serra
Among the future Saints is Junipero Serra, an 18 th century Spanish Friar Minor of California. The Pope will canonize him on September 23 during his apostolic visit to the US.
Among the Saints: Don Vincenzo Grossi and Maria of the Immaculate Conception
Also to become saints are a priest of Cremona, Italy: Vincenzo Grossi, founder of the Institute of the Daughters of the Oratory (Pizzighettone March 9, 1845 – Vicobellignano November 7, 1917) and Maria of the Immaculate Conception (born Maria Isabella Salvat Romero), superior general of the Sisters of the Company of the Cross (Madrid February 20, 1926 – October 31, 1998 Seville).
Two martyrs in Laos and an Italian priest become Blessed
Among the Blesseds are two young martyrs in Laos: the Italian missionary Oblate Mario Borzaga and the Laotian lay catechist Paul Thoj Xyooj, killed in hatred of the faith in 1960. The first was 27 years old, the latter, 19. Don Giacomo Abbondo, an Italian country parish priest (Salomino August 27, 1720 – February 9, 1788 Tronzano) has also been named a blessed.
New Venerable Servants of God
A married Italian couple, Sergio Bernardini (Sassoguidano May 20, 1882 – October 12, 1966 Verica) and Domenica Bedonni (Verica April 12, 1889 – 27 February 1971 Modena) are among the new Venerable Servants of God. Farmers in northern Italy, they educated their 10 children in the faith and service to the poor. 6 became religious and two others, Capuchin friars.
The other new Venerable are: Giacinto Vera, Bishop of Montevideo (born off the Atlantic Ocean July 3, 1813 – May 6, 1881 Pan de Azucar, Uruguay); Antonio Antié, professed priest of the Order of Friars Minor (Prvic Sepurine, Croatia April 16, 1893 – March 4, 1965 Zagreb); Giulia Colbert Falletti di Barolo, a lay widow and founder of the Congregation of the Daughters of Jesus the Good Shepherd (Maulévrier, France June 26, 1786 – January 19, 1864 Turin, Italy); Brigida Maria Postorino, foundress of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (Catona in Reggio Calabria, Italy November 19, 1865 – March 30, 1960 Frascati, Italy); Raffaela Maria Gesu Ostia (born Raffaela Martínez-Cavavate Ballesteros), professed nun of the Order of the Capuchin Sisters of St. Clare (Maracena, Spain March 31, 1915 – May 29, 1991 Chauchina, Spain).
(from Vatican Radio)…