Wars, Rumors of Wars, and Recent Events
Before ascending into Heaven, Jesus directed his Apostles “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). Emboldened by the Holy Spirit who came upon them ten days later, the Apostles and those trained by them, spread the Gospel far beyond Judea. And their descendants and successors carried the Gospel farther still. Today, that message of the Gospel is still being carried around the globe. Christ’s message of a loving and merciful God transcends culture, ethnicity, language and geography.
Over the two millennia since Christ’s ascension, countless people have worked tirelessly tospread the Gospel and serve the Kingdom of God. In doing so, many have been recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as saints and many others are in the process of canonization. There are seven continents in this world. Holy men and women have been canonized by the Catholic Church on every continent but Antarctica.
South America
Maria Rita Dulce Lopes Pontes was born in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, on 26 May 1914. Inspired by Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, Maria entered religious life, taking the name Sister Dulce. Her devotion to serving the poor prompted people to call her the “Mother Teresa of Brazil.” She died on 13 March 1992 at age 77 and was canonized by Pope Francis I on 13 October 2019.
Asia
Mariam Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan was born on 26 April 1876 into a Catholic family in Puthenchira in the southern Indian state of Kerala. From the early age of eight-years-old, Mariam devoted herself to prayer, penance, and service to the poor, sick and needy. She experienced visions of the Holy Family and was blessed with numerous spiritual gifts including prophecy, healing, ecstasies and levitations. She also experienced periodic diabolical attacks and the stigmata. She gathered a small group of women with her to pray and serve the poor. This group was formed into the Congregation of the Holy Family by her bishop in 1914 with Mariam as its first superior. Over the next twelve years, Mother Mariam directed the establishment of three new convents, two schools, two hostels, a study house and an orphanage. She accomplished all of this while struggling with diabetes. She died on 8 June 1926 and was canonized by Pope Francis I on 13 October 2019
Australia
Australia’s first Catholic saint was born Mary MacKillop on 15 January 1842 in Melbourne. Working with her parish priest Father Julian Tenison Woods, Mary founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart in January 1866. She professed her vows of poverty, chastity and obedience the following year with several other young women who had experienced similar callings. Her congregation quickly grew as more women became inspired by the order’s service to poor children. Yet she faced opposition to her efforts and was even excommunicated for a time by her local bishop. Nevertheless, Sister Mary of the Cross overcame these adversities and a stroke to establish Australia’s first community of religious sisters. She died on 8 August 1909 and was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on 17 October 2010.
North America
Rafael Guizar Valencia was born in Cotija, Michoacan, Mexico, on 26 April 1878, educated by Jesuits and ordained as a priest in June 1901. When the Mexican Government began persecuting the Catholic Church, Father Rafael continued to minister to the faithful covertly until finally being forced to flee first to the United States and then to Cuba. While in Cuba, he was elected Bishop of Veracruz, Mexico in August 1919, and installed as Bishop in the Cathedral of Havana on 30 November 1919. He snuck back into Mexico and formally took possession of his diocese on 9 January 1920. He helped administer a seminary that covertly trained priests for 15 years. He suffered a serious heart attack in December 1937 that left him bedridden but still able to administer his diocese and seminary. He died on 6 June 1938 and was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on 15 October 2006. He was the 7th member of the Knights of Columbus and the first Bishop/Knight to be canonized.
Europe
John Fisher was born on 19 October 1469 in Yorkshire, England. He earned a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree from the University of Cambridge. He was ordained as a priest despite being only 22-years-old. Father John spent most of his life in academia, earning a Doctorate in Sacred Theology and becoming Chancellor of Cambridge University in 1504. That same year he was appointed as Bishop of Rochester by King Henry VII. He served in both posts simultaneously. As Bishop, John Fisher promoted reform to eliminate abuses within the Church and opposed efforts by Martin Luther and other radical Protestant reformers. Imprisoned in the Tower of London by King Henry VIII for his opposition to the King’s taking control of the Catholic Church in England, Cardinal Fisher was martyred on 22 June 1535. He was canonized by Pope Pius XI on 19 May 1935.
Africa
Josephine Bakhita was born free in the Sudan region of Africa in 1869 but abducted and sold into slavery at age seven. After being owned by several owners, she was purchased by an Italian Consul, Callisto Legnani. When he returned to Italy, he took her with him. In Italy, she converted to the Catholic faith and later entered the Canossian Sisters of the Institute of the Catechumens in Venice. For the next fifty years, she lived in the convent in humble and pious service to others. The last years of Mother Bakhita’s life were marked with sickness and suffering which she bore with faith and love. Mother Bakhita passed away on 8 February 1947, and was canonized by Pope St. John Paul II on 1 October 2000.
St. Dulce, St. Mariam Thresia, St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop, St. Rafael Valencia, St. John Fisher, and St. Josephine Bakhita all came from different cultures, different backgrounds and different times. Yet, they all shared an uncommon devotion to Our Lord and his Holy Catholic Church. Together they demonstrate the universality of Christ and his Church.
Bryan J. Dickerson is an author and historian specializing in military and naval history, and Catholicism. He earned his BA in History from Rowan University (NJ), MA in American History from Monmouth University (NJ) and a graduate Certificate in Archival Studies from Louisiana State University. His writings have appeared online and in print in such publications as Columbia (the magazine of the Knights of Columbus) and Celebrate Life (the magazine of the American Life League). He is a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and a Past Grand Knight of a council in New Jersey. His book The Liberators of Pilsen: the U.S. 16th Armored Division in World War II Czechoslovakia was published by McFarland Books in 2018 and his book Dive Bomber Down: James A. Nist Naval Aviator in the Pacific War is now available from McFarland Books. He has also self-published sixeen books, including In the Name of COVID: The Assault on Religious Freedom in 2020. A former U.S. Navy Reserve Religious Program Specialist 1st Class (Fleet Marine Force), he mobilized and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom twice. He and his wife Lisa have four children and live in southern New Jersey.
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