The beatification cause of John Paul I

The beatification cause of John Paul I

New step in the beatification cause of John Paul I. The pope who asked the world for a ‘new wave of love’

9 NOVEMBER 2017 ANITA BOURDIN ROME

Pope Francis approved the decree attesting the heroic virtues of Pope John Paul I (Albino Luciani, 1912-1978), the ‘pope of the smile,’ pope for 33 days, this Thursday, 9 November 2017, during the audience granted to the prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal Angelo Amato. This means that the examination of the beatification file, comprising the account of his life, testimonies and his writings, in 5 volumes, concluded that he lived the human and Christian virtues in a ‘heroic’ way, that is, in an authentically evangelical way.

Pope Luciani had invited people to ask God for a special grace a few days before his death: “Let us ask the Lord for the grace that a new wave of love for one’s neighbour may invade this poor world.” For the beatification of the pope who said of himself “I have not yet really ‘learned the trade,’” the subsequent authentication of a miracle due to his intercession will be needed: two facts inexplicable from the point of view of the current state of science are already under examination. “Papa Luciani. Cronaca di una morte” (‘Pope Luciani: Chronicle of a death’):

Cronaca di una morte”): the recent book by the Italian journalist and vice-postulator of the cause, Stefania Falasca, on the death of Pope John Paul I, has dispelled the doubt about his premature death due to an indisposition that occurred in the evening, at the time of the prayer of ‘Compline,’ and whose severity was underestimated. Pope John Paul I passed away in the night from a heart attack.

Prayers of petition

John Paul I

For one is even asked the name one wants to take! I had thought so little about it! I reasoned as follows: Pope John consecrated me with his own hands, here in Saint Peter’s Basilica, then, although unworthily, I succeeded him in Venice, on the See of Saint Mark, in this Venice which is still wholly filled with him. Everyone remembers him: the gondoliers, the sisters, everyone.

Then, not only did Pope Paul name me Cardinal, but a few months earlier, on the walkway of St Mark’s Square, he made me turn all red before 20,000 people, because he took his stole and placed it on my shoulders; never did I become so red! On the other hand, in 15 years of pontificate, this Pope showed not only me, but the whole world, how one loves, how one serves, how one works and suffers for the Church of Christ. For this I said: “My name shall be John Paul.” I have neither the ‘wisdom of the heart’ of Pope John, nor the preparation and culture of Pope Paul.

However, I am in their place; I must try to serve the Church. I hope that you will help me with your prayers.”

Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin. He writes in particular that Pope Luciani strengthened “the project of a conciliar Church close to the suffering of people and to their thirst for charity.” And in an address to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See on 31 August 1978, the new pope posed a question that still seems topical: “Does not this civilisation need a new spiritual energy, a love without boundaries, a firm hope?” On the occasion of the publication of her book, Stefania Falasca declared: “On the virtues and on the holiness, I do not believe there can be any doubts, because John Paul I is an extremely limpid figure from that point of view.

What was needed for Luciani was to dig through the archives to find the sources, so that one could speak of him in truly scientific terms.” During his first Angelus, on 27 August 1978, he explained how he had chosen the name John Paul, full of gratitude towards his predecessors: “Yesterday morning I went to the Sistine Chapel to vote quietly. Never would I have suspected what was going to happen. As soon as the danger announced itself for me, the two colleagues, my neighbours, murmured words of comfort to me.

One of them said to me: “Courage! if the Lord loads one with a burden, he also gives the help to carry it.” The other continued: “Have no fear, throughout the whole world there are so many people praying for the new Pope.” When the moment came, I accepted. Then it was a matter of choosing a name.

The Veni Creator

May I be permitted to add something further: it is the law of God that no one can do good to another without first loving him. This is why, on becoming Patriarch of Venice, Saint Pius X had exclaimed at St Mark’s: “What would become of me, Venetians, if I did not love you?” To the Romans I will say something similar; I can assure you that I love you, that I desire only to enter into your service and to place at your disposal all my poor strength, the little that I have and the little that I am.” He wished that a ‘new wave of love for one’s neighbour’ might invade the world, in his last Angelus, on 24 September 1978, at the moment when he paid tribute to Georges Bernanos and to the Carmelites of Compiègne: “This year is the 30th anniversary of the death of Georges Bernanos, a great Catholic writer.

One of his best-known works is Dialogue des Carmélites (Dialogue of the Carmelites).

During the Mass of inauguration of the pontificate, on 3 September 1978, John Paul I confided his state of mind at the moment of the election: “Filled with an understandable astonishment and anxiety, but also with an immense confidence in the powerful grace of God and in the ardent prayer of the Church, We have accepted becoming the Successor of Peter on the see of Rome, taking upon ourselves the ‘yoke’ that Christ chose to place upon our fragile shoulders.” And in taking ‘possession’ of his cathedral, Saint John Lateran, on 23 September 1978, he made this declaration of love to his diocese: “Although I have already been, for 20 years, bishop at Vittorio Veneto and in Venice, I confess that I have not yet really ‘learned the trade.’

In Rome I will place myself at the school of Saint Gregory the Great, who wrote ‘that the pastor surround each of his subjects with his compassion; that, forgetting his rank, he consider himself the equal of his good subjects, but that he not fear to exercise against the wicked the rights of his authority. Remember: while all the subjects extol what he has done well, no one dares to blame what he has done badly; when he represses vices, let him not cease, with humility, to acknowledge himself like unto the brothers he has corrupted; and let him feel himself all the more a debtor before God as his actions remain more unpunished before men’ (Reg. Past., Part II,

Here ends the explanation of the three biblical readings.

It was published one year after his death, written for the theatre from the work of Gertrude von Le Fort, a German writer. This ‘Dialogue’ was played in the theatre, then set to music and projected onto screens throughout the world. Very well known, the fact was nonetheless historical. Pius X, in 1906, here in Rome, had beatified the sixteen Carmelites of Compiègne, martyrs during the French Revolution. During the trial the sentence was heard: ‘to death for fanaticism.’

One of them asked in her simplicity: “Mister Judge, please, what does fanaticism mean?” The judge answered: “it is your foolish adherence to religion.” – “Oh, my sisters!” said the religious again, “you have heard, we are condemned for our attachment to the faith. What happiness to die for Jesus Christ!” They were made to leave the prison of the Conciergerie and to climb onto the fatal cart. During the journey they sang religious hymns.

Having arrived on the platform of the guillotine, one after another they knelt before the Prioress, to renew their vow of obedience. Then they intoned the Veni Creator. The singing, however, grew fainter and fainter, as the heads of the poor sisters fell one by one under the guillotine. Sister Thérèse of Saint Augustine, the Prioress, remained the last, and her final words were these: “Love will always be victorious; love can do all things.” There is the right word: violence cannot do all things, but love can do all things.

Let us ask the Lord for the grace that a new wave of love for one’s neighbour may invade this poor world.”