Pope to proclaim six new blessed, including Polish prince turned priest

Vatican City, Apr 19, 2004 / 22:00 pm

Next Sunday, April 25, Pope John Paul II will proclaim six new Blessed, including a Polish prince turned priest and a mystic Portuguese laywoman.

The future blessed are:

·      Augusto Czartoryski (1858-1893), a young Polish prince who met St. John Bosco, founder of the Salesians in Paris, and decided to become a priest of the Salesians.

·      Laura Montoya (1874-1949), a Colombian virgin, foundress of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate and of St. Catherine of Siena, who devoted her life to the evangelization of the native populations of the Colombian jungle.

·      Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala (1878-1963), Mexican virgin, co-foundress of the Handmaids of St. Margaret Mary and of the Poor, who a few days before her marriage, felt the call to serve the sick.

·      Nemesia Valle (1847-1916), Italian virgin, of the Congregation of Charity, known as the “Angel of Tortona” for her endless charity and her constant prayer: Every day she discovers what she must lose or acquire: "Jesus strip me of myself, let me be wrapped in you. Jesus I live for you, and I die for you…"

·      Eusebia Palomino Yenes (1899-1935), Spanish virgin, of the Institute of Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesians) who offered her life to God for the end of religious persecution in Spain.

·      Alexandrina Maria da Costa (1904-1955), Portuguese lay woman, of the Union of Salesian Cooperators who at age 14 jumped from a window to escape a rapist; she was injured in the fall, paralyzed, and was bed-ridden for the rest of her life.  She became a Mystic and visionary. The last 13 years of her life she ate nothing, living solely off daily Communion.