A Venetian voice

A Venetian voice June 24, 2017

 

Pope John Paul I at the window of the Apostolic Palace
“Yesterday,” quipped Albino Luciani to a large crowd in St. Peter’s Square, “a funny thing happened to me on my way to the Conclave.” The patriarch and cardinal-priest of Venice, Luciani was elected pope on 26 August 1978, and reigned as Pope John Paul I until his sudden death on 28 September 1978, just thirty-three days later.  He was sixty-five.  His papal motto was Humilitas.      (Photo from Wikimedia Commons)

 

“Pius X, in 1906, right here in Rome, had beatified the sixteen Carmelites of Compiègne, martyrs during the French revolution. During the trial they were condemned ‘to death for fanaticism.’ And one of them asked in her simplicity: ‘Your Honour, what does fanaticism mean?’ And the judge: ‘It is your foolish membership of religion.’ ‘Oh, Sisters, she then said, did you hear, we are condemned for our attachment to faith. What happiness to die for Jesus Christ!’

“They were brought out of the prison of the Conciergerie, and made to climb into the fatal cart. On the way they sang hymns; when they reached the guillotine, one after the other knelt before the Prioress and renewed the vow of obedience. Then they struck up ‘Veni Creator’; the song, however, became weaker and weaker, as the heads of the poor Sisters fell, one by one, under the guillotine. The Prioress, Sister Theresa of St Augustine, was the last, and her last words were the following: ‘Love will always be victorious, love can do everything.’ That was the right word; not violence, but love, can do everything. Let us ask the Lord for the grace that a new wave of love for our neighbour may sweep over this poor world.”

Pope John Paul I, Angelus (24 September 1978)

 

Posted from Venice, Italy

 

 


Browse Our Archives

Follow Us!