Pope praises selflessness of deceased Cardinal

Vatican City, Feb 2, 2007 / 06:44 am

At midday today, at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica, the Pope presided at the funeral of Cardinal Antonio Maria Javierre Ortas S.D.B., prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, who died yesterday in Rome - a few weeks before his 86th birthday.
 
In his homily, the Holy Father affirmed that the late Spanish cardinal, following the example of St. Don Bosco, would have wanted to live his Salesian vocation in direct contact with young people, in the mission lands, but Providence called him to other duties. Thus he became an apostle in the universities and in the Roman Curia, although without missing an occasion to continue his intense spiritual activity ... in the field of theology and in the wider field of culture, especially by animating groups of teachers and religious, and as chaplain to university students. His service to the Church was faithful and generous, always willing and cordial."
 
"Cardinal Javierre Ortas," he continued, "wanted his personal life and his ecclesial mission to be a message of hope. Through his apostolate, following the example of St. John Bosco, he strove to communicate to everyone that Christ is always with us. How often did he - son of the land of St. Theresa and of St. John of the Cross - pray in his heart: 'Nada te turbe, / nada te espante. / Quien a Dios tiene / nada le falta / ... / Solo Dios basta'."
 
"As a worthy son of Don Bosco, (Cardinal Ortas) was profoundly devoted to the Virgin Mary, whom he loved and venerated as Our Lady of Help. He sought to imitate the manner of discreet and generous service of the Madonna, 'Ancilla Domini.' He left his functions as prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments 'on tiptoe,' in order to dedicate himself to another function, one that must never be abandoned: that of prayer."