Oh when the saints come marching in....

This Sunday, October 14, 2018, Pope Francis canonized seven new saints in St Peter's Square. " The saints are men and women who enter fully into the mystery of prayer. Men and women who struggle with prayer, letting the Holy Spirit pray and struggle in them ." (Pope Francis)

Let us meet the new saints.

1. Pope Paul VI --Implemented the mandates of the Second Vatican Council and issued the Humanae Vitae on the church's stance on contraception. There were many church reforms during his papal term.

2. Archbishop Oscar Romero--murdered March 24, 1980, while celebrating mass--advocate for the poor--martyr

3. Father Vinzenzo Romano--parish priest, best, known as the "Worker Priest", labored on behalf of his flock and the poor

4. Sister Nazaria Ignacia de Santa Teresa de Jesus --cared for the elderly and later founded the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Pontifical Crusade to promote the Gospel and human dignity.

5. Father Francesco Spinelli--a diocesan priest who loved the Eucharist. He founded the Sisters Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament

6. Sister Maria Katharina Kasper--established the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ to care for the poor, the sick and the children.

7. Nunzio Suprizio --His life was filled with pain and suffering. Raised by an abusive uncle, he was crippled from one of the beatings. Died at the age of 19. He had joy and love for the poor and the sick. He is the patron of the disabled.

Remember we are in communion with all the Saints, so pray for their intercessions in our petitions. Let's, also, pray "to be in their number. Oh, when those Saints go marching in." (Mary Jo Barr)