Do not lower your arms in the face of adversity.
Live together and integrate those who think differently in a climate of fraternity and without losing joy.
For the Archbishop of Buenos Aires,
Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva
, the first Argentine saint, María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, popularly known as
Mama Antula
, lived a series of attitudes that should be
a source of inspiration for Argentines today
.
On the eve of his canonization this Sunday in St. Peter's Basilica by Pope Francis, García Cuerva highlighted the importance of
President Javier Milei attending the ceremony
.
At the same time, he highlighted the pontiff's desire to visit Argentina and the fact that "the people want to see his pastor."
--What does Mama Antula mean for Argentina?
--I think that the first thing we Argentines have to challenge ourselves is not only to see our lives, but to get out of the history of 200 years ago.
That is to say, it is very good to remember with gratitude for his life in the 18th century, but we must bring his notes of holiness to the world today.
In that sense, I believe that there are some aspects of his holiness that are very important for Argentines in 2024.
--Which is it?
--The first: a restless and bold woman who dared in a time of great difficulty (the Jesuits had been expelled from the Spanish colonies by Charles III and, therefore, from the viceroyalty of the Río de La Plata) to propose spiritual exercises precisely from Jesuits.
She therefore seemed like an eternal nonconformist.
It is not that she simply accepted that the Jesuits left because they were expelled, but that she was encouraged to do more.
To propose the spiritual exercises that they could no longer carry out.
I think that, in that sense, the message of not giving up is good.
And we Argentines do not have to give up and we do not have to settle for always being bad.
--What other messages?
--The second: the spiritual exercises were performed by more than five hundred people who for days all participated together in the same place.
Relatives of the viceroy, members of the Buenos Aires aristocracy, simple families, even slaves.
Ten days all together, beyond the differences in ideas, origins and social class.
We Argentines don't even have five minutes to be with someone else, but rather we are fighting.
With which I believe that Mama Antula teaches us to put aside differences and live the fraternity, which is so necessary among us.
--There is more?
--Yeah.
Thirdly, a characteristic note is joy.
Mama Antula was a devotee of Saint Philip Neri.
She carried a relic of him, who is the patron saint of joy.
I think there is also a message there to put aside the constant complaining, the diagnoses that only generate panic.
We Argentinians are specialists in making diagnoses of reality, but I think that sometimes we have to have a more purposeful outlook, we have to encourage ourselves to seek joy, which is not a stupid optimism, but is the joy of the gospel, of which Francis speaks so much, which is knowing that Jesus died, rose again and accompanies our lives.
And for Christians that is the best good news.
The image of Mama Antula, in an audience in which this Thursday the Pope received Argentine pilgrims.
Photo Vatican Media
--Are we Argentines very complainers?
--I think we have to have a grateful heart that something good always happens to us.
We cannot always have a negative outlook and only look at the half-empty part of the glass.
This generates a sadness that corrodes our soul.
The holy fathers said that sadness ends up being a worm that eats our hearts.
I think we have to take care of that and Mama Antula helps us with her joy.
--How many messages does it detect...
--There is a short message.
He wanted to reach everyone with the gospel.
So, it teaches us once again to be a Church that is going forth that Francis speaks so much about.
A Church with a missionary heart.
A field hospital Church that receives the wounded of life who so much need this good news that I spoke of before, which is the news of Jesus, who died and rose again because he loves us.
--What does it mean that the president of the Nation is present at the canonization?
--I think it has an important institutional meaning, it means the institutional link that must be between the States, in this case between the Argentine Republic with the current president, Javier Milei, and the Holy See.
I think that the president perceives that this is an important fact for the Argentine Church, the first saint, and at the same time for the country: what is this much played figure of the 18th century and, then, institutionally, he participates in the canonization and subsequent audience with the Holy Father.
Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva this Thursday at the Vatican, during a presentation with journalists for the canonization of Mama Antula.
Photo EFE
--Will the Pope visit Argentina?
--The Pope is eager.
That's how he expressed it.
And the people want to see his shepherd.
I hope it comes to fruition.
Vatican City. Special delivery
ACE