Profound joy at the canonization on September 4 in the Vatican. Msgr. Arshad: "The Mother showed that serving others before ourselves defeats the evil of today." Priest and activist recalls the message of the Saint: love, a "language that everyone understands."
Lahore (AsiaNews) - The National Justice and Peace Commission (NCJP) of the Pakistani Bishops' Conference has expressed deep appreciation for the canonization of Mother Teresa. The organization pointed out that the "great little nun has struggled for years in the slums of Calcutta. She is a model and example of mercy and service for all human beings. With her work she has restored dignity to the human race". Msgr. Joseph Arshad, president of NCJP, said: "Saint Teresa is a model for all of us. The path that she showed us and the moral way in which she lived is a testament to humanity”.
"We have to understand - said the bishop - that love is the most important thing and the teaching of Christ 'love thy neighbor' must be our only motto." Faced with a mindset permeated by selfishness and superficiality, the Mother has shown that "serving others before ourselves defeats the evil of today."
Fr Bonnie Mendes, Executive Secretary of the Office for Human Development of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC-OHD), tells AsiaNews about when he met the saint in Rome, at the General Assembly of Caritas Internationalis. "There were 400 delegates from around the world - he says - and everyone was anxious to see her. They wanted to be all in the front row. We wondered what message she had for us. Then the Mother began to speak. She has given us a message of love, because 'love is a language that everyone can understand.' " The priest recalls that everyone present wanted to shake her hand. "She was so frail in body but strong in will."
Michelle Chaudhry, director of Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation, said that the "canonization of Mother Teresa was a moment of great joy for all. People already regarded her as a saint".